Before Green Gables

Before Green Gables, by Budge Wilson, is a prequel to the Anne of Green Gables series. This book begins with Anne's parents. Bertha and Walter Shirley are happy newlyweds with a relationship so ideal that it depresses the neighbors. Their wonderful life becomes more wonderful still when their daughter Anne is born. Unfortunately, the Shirley's seem to have used up a lifetime's supply of good fortune, because within three months they have both died of a fever and left their precious daughter to the kindness of strangers. Most of Anne's time in this novel is spent with the Thomas family. She cares for their children, barely younger than herself, and tries to reason out the motives behind Mr. Thomas' alcoholism and domestic abuse. Luckily, she finds silver linings that help to develop that notorious Anne Shirley optimism and imagination when she begins attending school and meeting a different set of people. Anne's life seems to revolve around one disaster after another and she is forced to move from home to home, including a brief stint in an orphanage. The resolution, of course, comes when Anne makes the trip to Prince Edward Island to what she knows will finally be home.

This book was a fun read, and I think anyone who likes Anne of Green Gables would agree. But... some things in the story are a bit much. Like, that  Anne, at age three, is as verbose as she is when she arrives at Green Gables. (Although, I will admit that by the end of the book she really does seem to have grown into the character you see in Anne of Green Gables.) Or, that her parents' relationship was so sweet and sincere that their neighbor just couldn't bear to be around them both because her own life was so sad. Of course Anne has a dramatic flair, but these weren't part of that. There were definitely some eye roll moments for me.

One aspect that I really enjoyed about the book, though, was seeing how Anne, who has had such a sad life, develops her enthusiastic personality. Most of the positive experiences Anne has as a child revolve around stories, learning, and developing her imagination. I really enjoyed the romance of the Word Man and her teacher.

I'd give this book three stars. It's a fun read if you already love Anne, but I wouldn't recommend starting here.