Anne of the Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Anne of the Island

First edition
Author	Lucy Maud Montgomery
Cover artist	H. Weston Taylor
Country	Canada
Language	English
Series	Anne of Green Gables
Genre	Canadian literature
Publisher	L. C. Page & Co.
Publication date	1915
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Preceded by	Anne of Avonlea
Followed by	Anne of Windy Poplars
Text	Anne of the Island at Wikisource

Anne of the Island is the third book in the popular Anne of Green Gables series. It was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery and continues the story of Anne Shirley.

This book was published in 1915. It came out seven years after the first book, Anne of Green Gables. In Anne of the Island, Anne Shirley goes to Redmond College in Kingsport. She is studying there to get her university degree.

What Happens in the Story

Anne leaves her home at Green Gables and her teaching job in Avonlea. She goes to Redmond College in Nova Scotia to continue her education. This was a dream she had given up earlier.

Her friends Gilbert Blythe and Charlie Sloane also enroll. Anne's friend from Queen's Academy, Priscilla Grant, joins them too. In her first week, Anne becomes good friends with Philippa Gordon. Philippa is a charming girl from Anne's hometown, Bolingbroke.

College Life and Friendships

The girls live in boardinghouses during their first year. Later, they decide to rent a lovely cottage near campus called Patty's Place. They are very happy there.

Sadly, Anne's childhood friend Ruby Gillis gets very sick. She dies from tuberculosis soon after finding love. Life continues in Avonlea too. Diana Barry marries Fred Wright. Davy and Dora, the twins, keep Marilla very busy.

Anne's Love Life

In the middle of their college years, Gilbert Blythe proposes to Anne. Gilbert has always loved Anne. But Anne says no. She and Gilbert are very close friends. However, Anne still dreams of a perfect hero for true love. She doesn't realize her true feelings for Gilbert yet. Gilbert leaves with a broken heart, and they grow apart.

Later, Anne starts spending time with Roy Gardner. Roy is a handsome student at Redmond. He gives her a lot of attention and writes her poems. After two years, Roy proposes to Anne. Anne suddenly realizes that Roy is not the right person for her. She was only in love with the idea of him. He seemed like her childhood dream hero.

Anne feels very bad about how she treated Roy. She worries that her whole college experience is ruined. She returns to Green Gables with her university degree. But she feels a bit lonely. Diana has her first baby. Jane Andrews, an old school friend, marries a rich man.

A Change of Heart

Anne plans to be the principal of the Summerside school in the autumn. One summer day, she hears that Gilbert is very sick with typhoid fever. Anne is shocked. She finally understands how much she truly cares for Gilbert. She spends a sleepless night, afraid he might die without knowing her feelings.

In the morning, Anne is relieved to hear that Gilbert will get better. Gilbert recovers over the summer. He feels much better after getting a letter from Phil. The letter tells him that Anne and Roy are not together. Gilbert visits Green Gables many times. One late summer day, Gilbert and Anne walk in Hester Gray's garden. They finally get engaged!

Why the Title "Anne of the Island"

The book's title shows how Anne grows up. When she studies away from Prince Edward Island, she realizes something important. Even when she visits her birthplace, she feels that Prince Edward Island is her real home. She often says she is not a "Bluenose" (a nickname for people born in Nova Scotia). Anne truly sees herself as an Islander.

Main Characters

Anne Shirley - She is now a student at Redmond College. Anne has become a graceful and smart young woman.

Marilla Cuthbert - The strict but kind woman who took Anne in as a girl. She lives at Green Gables with Davy and Dora Keith. They are twins and orphans, and Marilla is taking care of them.

Gilbert Blythe - Anne's childhood friend and rival. Gilbert is also studying at Redmond College. He is in Anne's class. After many years, he tells Anne he loves her and proposes. Anne says no at first. But after he gets sick and proposes again, Anne says yes.

Charlie Sloane - An old schoolmate who likes Anne. Anne has never felt the same way about him. He is now in her class at Redmond College. He proposes to Anne but she rejects him.

Priscilla Grant - Anne's friend from Queen's Academy. Priscilla is one of Anne's roommates at Patty's Place.

Stella Maynard - Another friend of Anne's from Queen's Academy. Stella is also one of Anne's roommates at Patty's Place.

Philippa Gordon - Anne's new friend from Redmond College. Philippa (or Phil) is fun and charming. She has trouble choosing between her boyfriends. She is also a very loyal friend. She helps Anne and Gilbert get together at the end of the story.

Roy Gardner - A handsome student at Redmond. Anne first thinks he is her dream man. He spends two years trying to win Anne's heart. Anne likes his romantic gestures at first. But she later finds him a bit boring and not very funny. She rejects his proposal.

Diana Barry - Anne's best friend since childhood. They remain best friends, even after Diana gets married and starts a family.

Davy Keith - One of the twins Marilla took in. Davy is playful but has a sweet heart. He looks up to Anne. He has curly hair, one dimple, and mischievous hazel eyes. He is often smiling.

Dora Keith - Dora is Davy's sister. She is very different from him. She always does what she is told and is very gentle. She has smooth curls, hazel eyes, and a neat mouth.

Rachel Lynde - Marilla and Anne's former neighbor. She moved to Green Gables after her husband died. She is outspoken but means well and is kind.

Ruby Gillis - Anne's childhood friend. Ruby is pretty and was planning to get married. But she discovers she is very sick and dies later in the book.

Jane Andrews - Anne's childhood friend. Jane is a teacher who marries a rich older man. Her mother is very happy about this.

Billy Andrews - Jane's brother. He is not very smart. He is the first person to propose to Anne. He is too shy to ask Anne himself, so he uses his sister to ask for him. Anne is disappointed but also finds the situation funny because it's so unromantic. She rejects him.

The Anne of Green Gables Series

Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote more books about Anne Shirley. Here they are in order of Anne's age in each story:

Here are some related books where Anne Shirley appears less:

Adaptations

• The last two parts of the 1975 TV miniseries Anne of Avonlea are based on Anne of the Island. Kim Braden starred in it.
• The second part of the musical Anne & Gilbert is based on Anne of the Island. The first part is based on Anne of Avonlea.
• The TV miniseries Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987) was mostly inspired by this book. Megan Follows played Anne.

See also

In Spanish: Ana, la de la Isla para niños