Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
I was skeptical of this book. I generally do not enjoy prequels by different authors than the original classics. Plus, it's been so many years between the original Anne books and this prequel. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed reading the sources of Anne's window friend, Katie Maurice. I also enjoyed imagining where her 'depth of despair' and 'bosom friend' ideas came from.
Parts of this story were heartbreaking but Anne's life was also visited by hope and she never lost her 'light.' She endured a lot and reading about her hardships helps to appreciate the other books more.
Overall I thought the book was well written and most of the time along the same vein as the original classics. If you enjoy the Anne of Green Gables stories, this is a good companion book.
