Anne’s Kindred Spirits

Anne’s Kindred Spirits is the anticipated follow-up to Kallie George’s Anne Arrives both based on the beloved Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables. A chapter book meant for early readers, this continuation relates Anne Shirley’s experiences at Green Gables with her adopted parents, siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, and particularly the first time she meets her future best friend, Diana Barry. Anne experiences a great deal of angst, wondering if Diana will like her. Sure enough, Diana and Anne quickly become the “bosom” friends that Anne so desires. As Anne anticipates an upcoming picnic lunch, trouble ensues when Marilla’s expensive broach goes missing – and Anne’s participation in the picnic becomes uncertain.

As with the first title in this series, Anne’s Kindred Spirits makes a self-contained Anne Shirley story accessible to a younger audience. The plot is set at a fast and interesting pace, with an anticipatory impression throughout. Older readers will appreciate the archaic words that are peppered through the text. The story also provides readers of all ages with a genuine and thought-provoking message about truth-telling and forgiveness.

The text is complemented by the descriptive and colourful illustrations by Abigail Halpin. She captures the green and lush countryside of Prince Edward Island in a particularly pleasing manner, complete with rolling hills, forested areas, and calm lake. Character expressions effectively portray the variety of emotions conveyed in the text, especially worry, shame, and angst, along with excitement, hope and bliss. Both illustrations and text work together in Anne’s Kindred Spirits to create a compelling book for young readers – and will appeal to adult readers who grew up with Anne stories, now sharing them with a new generation.