Having just read the full version of this book for the first time a few months ago, I tried to read it out loud with my 9-year-old daughter next. One chapter in, I could tell she wasn't understanding a lot of what was being said. Heck, I had a hard time understanding half of it, but got the gist of it, and figured most of the rest out by context. Enough that I knew I loved it.

We shifted gears and found this version, simplified for younger readers, and I read this out loud to her. She loved it! She's already told me that she wants to read the next book in the series together, even though she knows it won't be simplified like this. We'll see.

This is the second Great Illustrated Classics we've read together (the first being Little Women), and we plan to see what others we can find. ( )

Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, brother and sister who live together at Green Gables, Avonlea, on Prince Edward Island, decide to adopt a boy from an orphanage in Nova Scotia as a helper on their farm. Through a series of mishaps, the person who ends up under their roof is a precocious girl of eleven named Anne Shirley. A child of vivid imagination, Anne takes much joy in life, and adapts quickly, thriving in the environment of Prince Edward Island. She is something of a chatterbox, and drives Marilla to distraction, although shy Matthew falls for her immediately. The rest of the book follows Anne's schooling, her budding friendship with Diana Barry, and her rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, who teased her about her red hair. Eventually, Anne forgives him, though won't admit it. The story also follows her misadventures in Avonlea. These adventures include her games with her friends (Diana, Jane and Ruby), her rivalries with the Pye sisters (Gertie and Josie) and her domestic mistakes such as dyeing her hair green or accidentally getting Diana drunk (by giving her what she thinks is raspberry cordial but is actually red wine). Anne, along with Gilbert, Ruby, Josie, Jane and several other students, eventually go to the Queen's Academy and obtains a teaching license in one year, in addition to winning the Avery Prize in English, which allows her to pursue a B.A. at Redmond College. The book ends with Matthew's death, caused by a heart attack after learning of the loss of all his and Marilla's money. Anne shows her devotion to Marilla and Green Gables by giving up the Avery Prize, deciding to stay at home and help Marilla, whose eyesight is diminishing, and teaching at the Carmody school, the nearest school available. To show his friendship, Gilbert Blythe gives up his teaching position in the Avonlea School to work at White Sands School instead, thus enabling Anne to teach at the Avonlea School and stay at Green Gables all through the week. After this kind act, Anne and Gilbert become friends, and Anne is proud of following the "bend in the road."

Anne of Green Gables was probably the first "literary classic" I ever read. I enjoyed it as a child and apparently enjoy it just as much now. It is an inspirational story I would recommend to girls of all ages. ( )