As a young girl growing up with no cable, a favorite pastime was watching Anne of Green Gables on public television....even during the membership drives! I love the movie, and my fondest memories are of my best friend and I re-enacting every scene and fighting over who got to play Anne, Diana or Gil. I did not read the books until I was in high school, and I enjoyed them even more. It's such a heart warming tale, and Anne's imagination and precocious personality was the perfect dose of confidence that I needed to survive middle school. I was thrilled to know that Anne's ginger locks, abundant freckles and highly imaginative mind were characteristics that made her interesting and beloved by all who met her. She's a fantastic role model for young girls, and the relationships that each of the characters have with Anne make for a wonderful read and memorable plot.

Next month I'm seeing a staged version of "Anne of Green Gables" and decided to re-read the book. Despite a vast interval between readings, I must be going through some kind of second childhood because I really liked it! Our little red dynamo has to be one of the most endearing characters in all children's literature. The author's Robert Browning quote describing Anne is right on:

The good stars met in your horoscope,
Made you of spirit and fire and dew.