Anne of Green Gables

Anne Shirley is, for me, one of the great characters of literature

By turning adversity to advantage with lots of spunk, Anne of Green Gables has enchanted four generations of children and their elders since the world's most widely read Canadian novel was first published in Boston in 1908

Anne is a captivating heroine, a whirlwind of energy and good intentions

At heart, Montgomery's ability to incorporate such complex themes into writing that is so accessible to younger readers makes her arguably the grandmother of the YA/adult crossover novel

The dearest, most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice

It's no stretch to suggest that Anne was the Harry Potter of her day