Anne of Avonlea

Anne of Avonlea is the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Ann of Avonlea, covers the years 16 to 18 of Anne’s life on Prince Edward Island. Anne Shirley, the beloved redheaded girl of Green Gables who, due to the death of Mathew Cuthbert her guardian, has decided to postpone her education. Watching as her friends leave for college Anne remains home to help Marilla with the farm. It does not take long for Anne to become embroiled in new adventures as her life suddenly changes, with an offer of a job in Avonlea to teach at a private girls' school.

Anne is introduced to a completely different lifestyle as she becomes involved in the teaching of young girls from affluent Prince Edward Island families. Love, conflicts and emotion surround Anne as she involves herself in the lives of her students; she is soon drawn beyond the borders of the school and into the families of her students. As always Anne handles the challenges of life and relationships that come her way with the same fiery, emotional and loving charm she is famous for.

This is the second book in the continuation of the coming-of-age series of children's novels about Anne Shirley, a young orphan girl. It is set in Prince Edwards Island, Canada around the turn of the twentieth century.

Main Characters of the Novel

Books in the Series

Synopsis

With the death of her beloved guardian Mathew Cuthbert, Anne must forgo her continuing education to help Marilla run the farm. Anne watches many of her friends leave the Island to go off to College as she settles into life on the farm and community. Anne becomes even more popular in the community much to her disapproval of such things, after winning the major prize in a writing contest that she did not enter.

With Gilbert Blythe leaving for Medical School, a position as a teacher at the Avonlea School becomes open, which Anne is asked to assume. While teaching, Anne continues to write and dreams of becoming a famous author, though her works continue to be rejected.

Love is in the air but not for Anne as her lifelong best friend Diana Barry announces she is getting married. Anne’s reception of the news is a mix of emotions that at first causes strain in her friendship. Anne soon resolves her emotional confusion and as the maid of honor, she watches as her friend moves on with her life to become a new wife. During the wedding, Gilbert Blythe who has been in love with Anne all his life proposes to Anne, which she of course rejects as only Anne can do.

With the end of her first year of teaching, Anne is offered a teaching position at a private girl’s school. This is an opportunity that is presented to Anne that she is drawn to, through the direct influence of a trusted friend and mentor Miss Muriel Stacy. Anne’s life is about to change, as she takes up the position at Kingsport Ladies College, where she soon becomes embroiled in the affluent lives of her students and their families. Anne’s ways are not approved of by the existing schoolmarm and head of the school Miss Brooke, who has been interned at the school for many years. Miss Brooke has accepted her life and position in a life surrounded by those she sees as her betters, and is strongly disproving of the actions and manners of Anne. Anne of course takes it upon herself to win over the disapproving and judgmental Miss Brooke.

While teaching and interacting with the families of some of her students, Anne is introduced to the rich and recently widowed Morgan Harris who she immediately opposes because of his aloof treatment of and relationship with his daughter Emmeline. Through Emmiline, Anne is drawn into the feud between the powerful Pringle family, who rule the community and school, and the Harris family. Ultimately Anne’s unique way of influencing others wins out, and she is successful in her endeavors to bring resolution and repair the estranged and dysfunctional relationships within the Harris family, and between the Harris’ and Pringles.

Love and relationships that Anne is not ready for continue to enter her life, and Anne returns to Avonlea to reflect and make decisions about her life. Though Anne has become a success at the Kingsport Ladies College and with the students and families, Anne decides to pursue a new path. Here ends the second book in the series and opens a whole new path in the life of Anne of Green Gables, which a third book in the series covers.