September’s Title Pick for Children: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Revisiting Anne of Green Gables feels like opening a time capsule. This was a childhood favourite of mine and rereading it confirmed that it is still just as enjoyable. What I did find interesting though is how we can enjoy stories as a child and how differently we absorb stories as adults.

The younger me was swept up in Anne’s funny mishaps and her vivid imagination. Reading it now, however, hit deeper, prompting me to look past the surface at how beautifully it handles adversity and the heavy process of finding where you belong. As the story begins with the complete misunderstanding of Anne turning up instead of a young boy made me think about how sometimes life’s accidental detours can often guide us right where we need to be. Anne arrives with nothing but a lonely past and a heart full of optimism. While the adults in Avonlea initially find her dramatic flair a bit much, her capacity for joy is totally infectious. It made me reflect on how adults look at children’s daydreaming as merely naivety, when it is actually a profound kind of resilience.

As time passes, Anne’s journey completely reframes what ‘home’ really means. It isn’t just about the roof over Green Gables; it’s about the sanctuary she finds in people of safety. As a child, I loved her fierce loyalty to Diana and the fiery, competitive rivalry with Gilbert.  But reading it now, it is her relationship with the quiet, gentle Matthew and the stern but deeply loving Marilla that truly moves me.  They are ones who off her a safe habour, proving that the true homes we inhabit are the people we carry with us.

Ultimately, returning to this book hits deeply personal to me, especially through the lens of The Reader’s work with Care- Experienced young people.  Anne’s journey is a beautiful reminder of what happens to a child who has known instability, and is finally given a safe space.  It mirrors the workspaces like The Reader, showing how kindness, time and patience can truly have such a powerful impact on a young person’s life.  Anne reminds us that every young person deserves a sanctuary, and that our truest homes are found in people who hold onto warmth for us, even when you find yourself in a new world which feels completely unfamiliar.

A fantastic reminder to reread stories you enjoyed as a child.

By Laurie Turner, Reading Heroes Coordinator