Review: Anne of Green Gables (Manga Classics)

Title: Anne of Green Gables (Manga Classics)
Author: Crystal Chan, Kuma Chan (illustrator), L.M. Montgomery
Genre: Manga
Publisher: Manga Classics
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 1, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert were planning to adopt an orphaned boy to help out around their farm, Green Gables – instead, they got Anne Shirley. A plucky redheaded girl with a vibrant imagination, Anne turns first Green Gables and then the rest of Prince Edward Island on its ear. 

Manga Classics® is proud to be the only authorized manga adaption of Anne of Green Gables by the Heirs of L.M. Montgomery, with a foreword by Kate McDonald Butler – granddaughter of the original author! 

This volume presents a faithful recreation of this classic kids novel, from the Lake of Shining Waters to the Dryad’s Bubble!

Review:

Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are adult siblings who wanted to adopt an orphaned boy to help around their house. When Matthew goes to pick up the boy, he finds a girl named Anne instead. They aren’t sure if they want to keep her, but they soon realize they can’t send Anne away. Anne’s imagination keeps them on their toes, but they eventually become a loving family.

I haven’t read Anne of Green Gables since I was a child. It’s a fun Canadian classic. Reading this as an adult, I appreciated Anne’s carefree attitude. There were a few scenes which seem absurd for a children’s book today. One of Marilla’s friend told Anne she was ugly when she first met her. Then Anne had to apologize when she snapped at the woman. I can’t imagine an adult being that rude to a child when they first meet them. There was another scene where Anne accidentally gets her friend drunk when she comes over for tea. This was a funny misunderstanding, but not appropriate for a modern children’s story.

One interesting part of this book was that it had a foreword from the granddaughter of L.M. Montgomery. Her heirs authorized this adaptation of the story, which makes it extra special. I’m glad that they appreciated the way this book has been adapted into a new form.

This is a great Anne of Green Gables adaptation!

Thank you Manga Classics for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What to read next:

Have you read Anne of Green Gables (Manga Classics)? What did you think of it?