Before Green Gables: The Prequel to Anne of Green Gables by Budge Wilson

     It has been years since I last read the Anne of Green Gables series which  is something that I am planning to rectify soon. When I recently heard about a prequel to the series written by a different author I thought that reading that first would be the perfect way to jump back into the Green Gables series. The prequel is called Before Green Gables and was written by Budge Wilson.
     The story begins with a few chapters about Anne's parents and then focuses upon Anne's life from her birth up until the time she arrives at Green Gables. It is a story full of heartache and grief, but also one of endurance, liveliness, imagination, and hope. My favorite thing about this book is how beautifully written the language and descriptions of Anne's personality are. Much of the plot is believable and the author does a great job in imagining the circumstances that shape Anne into the quirky and lovable character we all know so well from L.M. Montgomery's delightful stories. I especially love the interactions that Anne has with friends, both real and imagined.
     While there are parts of the story that aren't as well-written, specifically in the second half of the book feels underdeveloped and rushed, I still felt like the story was a compelling and interesting read and fits well with the Anne that we all know and love from the Green Gables series.