Anne of Avonlea

Name: Anne of Avonlea
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery

#8 in Coming-of-age this month #1 in Young Adult this month

Anne of Avonlea is a novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery, first published in 1909. It is the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series.

Now sixteen, Anne Shirley remains at Green Gables and becomes the teacher at Avonlea school. Determined to replace harsh discipline with imagination and encouragement, she soon discovers that guiding a classroom is far more complicated than planning lessons.

Outside school, Anne and Gilbert Blythe help establish the Avonlea Village Improvement Society, where their ambitious plans collide with old habits and comic accidents. At home, Marilla takes in the orphaned twins Davy and Dora, bringing new responsibility and plenty of mischief into Anne's life.

New friendships, including Anne's bond with the imaginative Paul Irving, widen her understanding of loneliness, family, and belonging. Her changing relationship with Gilbert also hints that childhood companionship may be growing into something deeper.

Warm, humorous, and rich in Prince Edward Island scenery, Anne of Avonlea follows Anne as she learns that maturity does not require giving up wonder. It is a gentle coming-of-age story about education, community, kindness, and the lasting effects of small choices.

This is book 2 in the Anne of Green Gables series.

Why Read Anne of Avonlea in 2026?

Anne grows into a teacher with the same bright imagination, now turned toward real responsibilities. The charm remains; the lessons deepen—community, kindness, and craft sit at the center.

Today's connection

This sequel celebrates everyday leadership: managing a classroom, mending neighborly friction, and keeping curiosity alive. It’s excellent for young readers and teachers alike—gentle humor, vivid nature writing, and conflicts that reward patience over spectacle. Use it to talk about creativity as service and about how small acts improve shared life.