Anne of Avonlea, the second novel in the Anne of Green Gables series, is the heralded sequel that brings readers back to the second chapter in Anne Shirley’s life from age 16 to 18. First published in 1909 by Canadian author L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea is set in the latter part of the 19th century in fictional Avonlea, a small town on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Filled with many familiar characters from the first novel, such as Marilla Cuthbert, Mrs. Rachel Lynde, Diana Barry, and Gilbert Blythe, the sequel introduces new major characters in Anne’s life and traces her development from young adult to womanhood. Featuring themes such as the importance of second chances and the leaving behind of childhood fantasies, the novel also explores the power of education and the importance of remaining optimistic in times of trial. This literary guide uses the SeaWolf Press paperback edition published in 2020.

Plot Summary

Anne Shirley is now a bright-eyed girl of 16 on the verge of becoming Avonlea’s newest schoolteacher. Still, her impetuous nature and imaginative fantasies prove to be her undoing in many cases. Fortunately for her, Marilla takes in two orphan twins—Davy and Dora Keith—and much of Anne’s energy is spent answering their many questions and keeping young Davy out of trouble.

Teaching school is much harder than Anne anticipates, and her solemn vow to earn students’ love and respect from affection instead of physical punishment goes awry when she meets Anthony Pye, a young man who remains obstinate in the face of Anne’s methods. In a moment of weakness, Anne breaks her vow and whips the young man but strangely earns his love and respect soon after.

Led by Anne and Gilbert, the young people of Avonlea form a Village Improvement Society, which is met by disdain from most of the townspeople. It is not until the Improvers meet with bad luck that the tide of public opinion turns for them. Soon, they are welcomed as an integral part of Avonlea. In the meantime, Gilbert works hard to win Anne’s affection, but she only sees him as a good friend and nothing more.

Paul Irving, a student in Anne’s class, quickly becomes a “kindred spirit,” and Anne sees a part of herself in the young man’s imagination regarding the rock people he envisions down at the shoreline. Rumor has it that Paul’s father, Stephen Irving, was once engaged to a woman named Lavendar Lewis from Grafton, but they broke off the engagement after a meaningless fight. One day, on a walk with Diana to have tea with a friend, the girls take the wrong road and end up at Miss Lavendar’s house, Echo Lodge. Anne and Miss Lavendar become fast friends, and the older woman reveals to Anne how she and Stephen Irving broke up long ago. Anne makes up her mind to try and bring the two back together.

Meanwhile, the twins take quite a toll on Marilla’s life. Dora is the picture of perfection, but Davy cannot stay out of trouble. He constantly plays jokes on his sister, eats entire bottles of jam after he has been banned from the kitchen, and pulls the tail feathers out of the rooster to make native headdresses. Though Marilla tries to keep a stern hand with him, it is Anne who speaks to him best and tries to teach him how to be a gentleman. After a year at Green Gables, Davy starts to improve.

When Paul’s father, Stephen, returns to Avonlea, he visits Miss Lavendar at Echo Lodge, and they rekindle their romance. While planning the wedding, Anne contemplates her ideal husband—the tall, dark, melancholy hero of her dreams. Though all of Avonlea expects her to end up with Gilbert, she does not want to view Gilbert as anything but a good friend. Gilbert, who plans on attending Redmond College in the fall, tries his best to meet the definition of Anne’s ideal. When Mrs. Rachel’s husband, Thomas, dies, Marilla takes the opportunity to ask Anne if she’d like to continue her education as well. Though Anne does not want to leave Marilla alone with the twins, Marilla assures her that she will manage just fine, especially since Mrs. Rachel will be moving in with her at Green Gables. This gives Anne the reason she needs, and though she is heartbroken at the thought of leaving home, she is excited at what the future may hold.

After Miss Lavendar and Stephen Irving marry and leave for their honeymoon, Anne feels strangely emboldened by their love story. However, when Diana becomes engaged to another Improver, Fred Wright, Anne feels the two best friends separate in ways she cannot understand. Everyone seems to be growing up and getting engaged or married, and Anne feels left behind. When Gilbert reminds her that the best love stories are not interrupted but continue from beginning to end, Anne begins to see what love could truly be and learn to let go of some of her more irrational ideals.