Anne of Manhattan: A Novel

Anne of Manhattan: A Novel (2021) by Brina Starler is an adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's novel Anne of the Island, the third book in the Anne of Green Gables series. This romance novel and coming-of-age story is 336 pages in length, and it is a modern re-imagining of the classic tale. 

In Starler's retelling, Anne Shirley is a graduate student working towards her master’s degree in education at Redmond College in Manhattan. When Anne's old rival Gilbert Blythe transfers to Redmond from Berkeley, Anne must come to terms with her feelings towards him.


Here is the description of the book from HarperCollins Publishers:

L. M. Montgomery’s classic tale, Anne of Green Gables, gets a romantic, charming, and hilarious modern adaptation, set in New York City.

After an idyllic girlhood in Avonlea, Long Island, Anne has packed up her trunk, said goodbye to her foster parents, Marilla and Matthew, and moved to the isle of Manhattan for grad school. Together with her best friend, Diana Barry, she’s ready to take on the world and find her voice as a writer.

When her long-time archrival Gilbert Blythe shows up at Redmond College for their final year, Anne gets the shock of her life. Gil has been in California for the last five years—since he kissed her during a beach bonfire, and she ghosted him. Now the handsome brunette is flashing his dimples at her like he hasn’t a care in the world and she isn’t buying it.

Paired with the same professor for their thesis, the two former competitors come to a grudging peace that turns into something so much deeper...and sexier than either intended. But when Gil seemingly betrays her to get ahead, Anne realizes she was right all along—she should never have trusted Gilbert Blythe.

While Gil must prove to Anne that they’re meant to be together, she must come to terms with her old fears if she wants a happily-ever-after with the boy she’s always (secretly) loved.

Reviews

"Full of warmth—and heat!—Anne of Manhattan is a blast for fans of the original Anne books. What fun to recognize “our” Anne, with all her quirks and passions, in this story of a thoroughly modern woman."
—Jenny Holiday, author of A Prince for Christmas

"If you grew up reading Anne of Green Gables, you won't want to miss Brina Starler's Anne of Manhattan, a contemporary retelling of the classic love story…. Starler brings in many of the high points of the original series, and she delivers the snap and spark between Anne and Gilbert — as well as his slow burn love for Anne. Like the original, this isn't a story of two people falling in love, it's about two people realizing they've been in love the whole damn time."
—Maya Rodale, NPR (full review)

"This is a sweet update to a classic story with an Anne Shirley fans will recognize and a Gilbert Blythe as dreamy as ever."
—Publishers Weekly (full review)

ISBN-13: 9780063020740


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Book cover of Anne of Manhattan: A Novel.

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Created June 18, 2021. Last updated September 18, 2025.
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Marilla Before Anne

Marilla Before Anne by Louise Michalos was published in May 2021 by Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press. This work of historical fiction extends the world of Anne of Green Gables to tell the story of Marilla Cuthbert's early life. What was Marilla like before Anne Shirley entered the picture?

Louise Michalos set out to answer this question in her own way. Michalos was born in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia and raised in Halifax. Her mother was raised in a lighthouse, and her father, like L.M. Montgomery, was raised in a house that served as the local post office. She has knowledge and awareness of the community ties in the Maritimes, and wanted to explore Marilla's backstory with an authentic voice.

Here is the description of the book from Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press:

A heart-rending work of historical fiction telling the story of Marilla Cuthbert, long before Anne came to Green Gables farm.

Marilla Cuthbert was fifty-two years old when the plucky red-headed Anne Shirley came to live with her and her brother, Matthew, at Green Gables farm on Prince Edward Island. A seemingly cold and dour spinster, her heart eventually softens to the loveable orphan girl. But for over a century readers have wondered, who was Marilla before Anne?

In Louise Michalos’s remarkable debut novel, readers are introduced to a spirited eighteen-year-old Marilla Cuthbert—a girl not unlike Anne herself—who is desperately in love, and whose whole life is spread before her. But when a moment of defiance brings life-changing consequences, a new Marilla begins to take shape, one who would learn to bear tragedy like a birthright, and loss as an inevitability, and who would hold steadfast to the secrets that could shatter the lives of everyone around her.

Weaving its way from Marilla’s early life in Avonlea to her coming-of-age in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and back, Marilla Before Anne is the story readers of Anne of Green Gables have longed for. Told with a refreshingly original East Coast voice, this exquisite, heartbreaking work of historical fiction takes readers on a journey back in time, to the Green Gables where Marilla Cuthbert lived, loved, and learned, long before Anne.

Reviews

"Beloved characters live in our minds. For those who think they know Marilla Cuthbert, Louise Michalos creates a heart-rending and imaginative fantasy of who our Marilla might have been."
—Lesley Crewe, author of The Spoon Stealer

"Taking us back to Marilla's passionate youth, this book is part old-style romance, part history, with complicated heroes, heroines, and villains. It plays fast and loose with the Marilla and Matthew who may already live inside readers' heads―those willing to take that leap are in for a galloping ride."
—Liz Rosenberg, author of House of Dreams: A Biography of L. M. Montgomery

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Book cover of Marilla Before Anne.

Reference:
Author spotlight: Louise Michalos. Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia. Retrieved from: https://writers.ns.ca/author-spotlights/author-spotlight-louise-michalos/.

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Created June 10, 2021. Last updated October 23, 2024.
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Baby's Classics: Anne of Green Gables Board Book

Anne of Green Gables (Baby's Classics) is a board book adapted for babies by Alex Fabrizio with illustrations by Greg Paprocki. This adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's classic story Anne of Green Gables is 24 pages long and geared towards children aged 0 to 3 years old. The book was published on April 6, 2021 by Starry Forest Books.

Here is the book's description from Starry Forest Books:

Explore Green Gables as you've never seen it before in this little book—perfect for little hands!

When siblings Matthew and Marilla take in orphan Anne Shirley, they get more than they bargained for. Anne promises she'll be good but trouble finds her everywhere she goes! She has a tea party, but serves cough syrup. She goes for a boat ride, but sinks the boat. She dyes her hair black, but it turns green. Can she prove she belongs at Green Gables all the same? Find out in this must-have board book edition of L. M. Montgomery's classic Anne of Green Gables.

With foil on the cover and engaging illustrations throughout, Baby's Classics: Anne of Green Gables is a delightful addition to baby's first storytime collection! The perfect option to refresh this essential story about making friends and discovering where you belong.

From Starry Forest Books, Baby's Classics will delight your little one with the world's best stories. Collect them all!

ISBN-13: 9781946260574


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Cover of Anne of Green Gables (Baby's Classics).

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Created May 1, 2021. Last updated December 30, 2025.
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Classic Stories: Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables (Classic Stories) is a children's book adapted by Saviour Pirotta with illustrations by Thai My Phuong. This adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's classic story Anne of Green Gables is 40 pages long and geared towards children aged 3 to 7 years old. The book was published on January 5, 2021 by Starry Forest Books.

Here is the book's description:

Discover the magic of one orphan girl’s story in this illustrated picture book edition of Anne of Green Gables. Is there anything more powerful than friendship, kindness, and home?

Young Anne Shirley is an orphan who was sent to the wrong home. But now that she’s seen Green Gables, she wants to stay! Can the impulsive and imaginative redhead learn to control her tongue, and convince Matthew and Marilla that she belongs?

Young readers don’t need to grow up to enjoy the classic tale of L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. Crafted for young audiences by Saviour Pirotta, Thai My Phuong, and Martina Peluso, this exciting adaptation brings the classic novel to life. Beautiful illustrations throughout and foil on the cover make this a book to cherish for a lifetime.

Give your child the world’s greatest characters and stories—now in picture book format. With beautiful art and fresh storytelling, Classic Stories introduces young readers to timeless literature, from favorite folktales to beloved novels. Collect all 17 classic stories!

ISBN-13: 9781946260697


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Cover of Anne of Green Gables (Classic Stories).

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Created February 2, 2021. Last updated December 30, 2025.
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If I Couldn't Be Anne

If I Couldn't Be Anne is a children's book by Kallie George with creative illustrations by Geneviève Godbout that was inspired by L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. It is a story about the wonders of the imagination and introduces young readers to Anne Shirley. The 40-page long picture book is written for children aged 3 to 7 and was published by Tundra Books, a division of Penguin Random House Canada in May 2020.

Here is the description of the book from Penguin Random House Canada:

A beautiful read-aloud picture book about the power of the imagination, inspired by the best-selling Anne of Green Gables.

In this whimsical and magical picture book, Anne’s boundless imagination takes flight! She imagines being all the things she loves so dearly. If I Couldn’t Be Anne, Anne with an e, what would I be . . . Anne wonders what it would be like to be the wind dancing round the treetops. A tightrope walker, breathless and brave. A princess in a palace made of apple blossoms. A magical frost fairy or a plain little wood elf. . . . But even as Anne’s imagination soars far and wide, she comes back down to earth, recognizing that some things – like friendship! – are even better than the imagination.

With adorable illustrations, and a heartfelt message, this picture book is a perfect read-aloud introduction to L.M. Montgomery’s beloved Anne and will delight her brand-new fans and lifelong readers alike.

ISBN-13: 9781770499287

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Book cover of If I Couldn't Be Anne.

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Created June 20, 2020. Last updated October 29, 2024.
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Anne's Kindred Spirits (An Anne Chapter Book)

Anne's Kindred Spirits by Kallie George is the second book in the Anne Chapter Book series, which was inspired by L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. The children's book series features charming illustrations by Abigail Halpin. In Anne's Kindred Spirits, Kallie George retells the story of Anne Shirley's new friendship with Diana Barry. Geared toward early readers, the 72-page long picture book was published by Tundra Books, a division of Penguin Random House in May 2019.

Here is the description of the book from Penguin Random House:

The sweet and funny second book in a new early-reader series, starring the spirited and outspoken Anne Shirley as she makes friends and settles into life at Green Gables — with a few hijinks along the way, of course!

Anne is nervous and excited to meet Diana, a neighbor girl who she just knows will be a kindred spirit. She’s even more excited when she learns that she’s invited to her very first picnic! Until Marilla’s precious brooch goes missing and it looks like it’s Anne’s fault. That is, Marilla is upset and Anne’s picnic adventure is now in jeopardy. Ultimately, the misunderstanding with the brooch is resolved and Anne is able to go to the picnic. Anne and Diana’s friendship blossoms and Anne’s bond with Matthew and Marilla grows stronger.

Lovingly adapted by Kallie George with beautiful nostalgic illustrations by Abigail Halpin, this series is perfect for fans of Anne, new and old.

ISBN-13: 978-1770499324

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Book cover of Anne's Kindred Spirits.

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Created June 3, 2019. Last updated November 19, 2024.
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Marilla of Green Gables

Marilla of Green Gables: A Novel by Sarah McCoy was published in October 2018 by William Morrow Paperbacks, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. This work of historical fiction expands the world of Anne of Green Gables to tell the backstory of Marilla Cuthbert. Did you ever wonder about her early life and romance with John Blythe? Anne Shirley was curious, and I'm sure many readers of Anne of Green Gables were too.

Here is the description of the book from HarperCollins Publishers:

A bold, heartfelt tale of life at Green Gables . . . before Anne: A marvelously entertaining and moving historical novel, set in rural Prince Edward Island in the nineteenth century, that imagines the young life of spinster Marilla Cuthbert, and the choices that will open her life to the possibility of heartbreak—and unimaginable greatness.

Plucky and ambitious, Marilla Cuthbert is thirteen years old when her world is turned upside down. Her beloved mother dies in childbirth, and Marilla suddenly must bear the responsibilities of a farm wife: cooking, sewing, keeping house, and overseeing the day-to-day life of Green Gables with her brother, Matthew and father, Hugh.

In Avonlea—a small, tight-knit farming town on a remote island—life holds few options for farm girls. Her one connection to the wider world is Aunt Elizabeth "Izzy" Johnson, her mother’s sister, who managed to escape from Avonlea to the bustling city of St. Catharines. An opinionated spinster, Aunt Izzy’s talent as a seamstress has allowed her to build a thriving business and make her own way in the world.

Emboldened by her aunt, Marilla dares to venture beyond the safety of Green Gables and discovers new friends and new opportunities. Joining the Ladies Aid Society, she raises funds for an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity in nearby Nova Scotia that secretly serves as a way station for runaway slaves from America. Her budding romance with John Blythe, the charming son of a neighbor, offers her a possibility of future happiness—Marilla is in no rush to trade one farm life for another. She soon finds herself caught up in the dangerous work of politics, and abolition—jeopardizing all she cherishes, including her bond with her dearest John Blythe. Now Marilla must face a reckoning between her dreams of making a difference in the wider world and the small-town reality of life at Green Gables.

Reviews

"Great for lovers of Anne who need more Avonlea in their lives. This book was very well done in the style of L.M. Montgomery that I had to remind myself that it wasn't actually written by her..."
― Alison Frenzel, Fabled Bookshop and Cafe, TX

"Fans of the Anne of Green Gables series will rejoice at this warm and heartfelt addition to their world. McCoy’s love for the characters is palpable, and with an insightful eye she illuminates the original Avonlea, while also offering glimpses into the turbulent history of the time."
— Madeline Miller, Author of Circe

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Book cover of Marilla of Green Gables.

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Created November 6, 2018. Last updated October 5, 2024.
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Goodnight, Anne

Goodnight, Anne is a children's book by Kallie George with dreamy illustrations by Geneviève Godbout that was inspired by L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. It is a bedtime story about gratitude that introduces children to Anne Shirley's story. The 36-page long picture book is written for children aged 3 to 7 and was published by Tundra Books, a division of Penguin Random House Canada in September 2018.

Here is the description of the book from Penguin Random House Canada:

A beautiful bedtime picture book based on the best-selling Anne of Green Gables, introducing the irrepressible and beloved Anne to younger readers. It’s time for Anne to go to bed, but not before she wishes goodnight to everyone and everything she loves!

Under the watchful eye of her adoptive mother Marilla, Anne has come to cherish life at Green Gables — the dearest, loveliest spot in the world, and her true home. Every night before she goes to bed, she thinks of all the people and places she loves: her family, her bosom friend Diana, her splendid teacher Miss Stacy, beloved tree Snow Queen, the Lake of Shining Waters and the brilliant sky above. Anne even wishes goodnight — or good riddance! — to pesky classmate Gilbert and nosy neighbor Mrs. Lynde. And through it all, Anne’s imagination takes flight on a whimsical journey through Avonlea.

This sweet and heartfelt picture book is a perfect read-aloud introduction to L.M. Montgomery’s beloved Anne and will delight her brand-new fans and lifelong readers alike.

ISBN-13: 978-0735271739

Reviews

"“A nearly flawless book that invokes nostalgia in older readers and will undoubtedly make newcomers clamor to know what happens next."
— Kirkus Reviews

"[A] perfect introduction to the timeless and beloved story of Anne of Green Gables."
— Toronto Star

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Book cover of Goodnight, Anne.

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Created October 25, 2018. Last updated October 29, 2024.
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Anne Arrives (An Anne Chapter Book)

Anne Arrives by Kallie George is the first book in the Anne Chapter Book series, which was inspired by L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. The children's book series features charming illustrations by Abigail Halpin. Kallie George retells the story of Anne Shirley's arrival at Green Gables. Geared toward early readers, the 72-page long picture book was published by Tundra Books, a division of Penguin Random House in September 2018.

Here is the description of the book from Penguin Random House:

The charming first book in a new early-reader series, starring the spirited — and outspoken — Anne Shirley as she first arrives at Green Gables.

Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert need help on their farm, so they’ve adopted what they hope will be a sturdy, helpful boy. Instead, Matthew finds Anne awaiting him at the train station — imaginative, brash, redheaded Anne-with-an-e. With her place at the Cuthberts’ at risk — particularly if nosy neighbor Mrs. Lynde has anything to say about it — Anne will have to learn patience, understanding and what it takes to make Green Gables her true home.

Lovingly adapted by Kallie George with beautiful, nostalgic illustrations by Abigail Halpin, Anne Arrives is perfect for new fans of Anne and old.

ISBN-13: 978-1770499300

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Book cover of Anne Arrives.

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Created October 12, 2018. Last updated November 19, 2024.
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Diana of Orchard Slope: A Green Gables Variation

Diana of Orchard Slope: A Green Gables Variation by Libbie Hawker was published by Running Rabbit Editions in December 2017. This work of historical fiction imagines the story of Diana Barry from the Anne of Green Gables series. Hawker explores Diana's relationships, adventures, and deep friendship with Anne Shirley.

Here is the description of the book:

Growing up is never easy. It's even harder when you have a mother who doesn't understand, a nagging sense of self-doubt, and a secret crush you can't confess...not even to your bosom friend.

L. M. Montgomery's timeless classic, Anne of Green Gables, has been reimagined from the perspective of Diana Barry, Anne's best friend and kindred spirit. As Diana and Anne navigate the path from childhood to their grown-up lives, parents, schoolmates, and Anne's well-meaning blunders contrive to keep them apart. But two girls destined for lifelong friendship can't be separated so easily...can they?

With the sweet charm and dreamy atmosphere of Montgomery's original story, Diana of Orchard Slope is sure to delight Anne fans, historical fiction readers, and lovers of the Jane Austen Fanfiction genre.

ISBN-13 978-1947174184

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Book cover of Diana of Orchard Slope: A Green Gables Variation.

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Created January 20, 2018. Last updated November 1, 2024.
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Ana of California: A Novel

Ana of California (2015) by Andi Teran is a modern retelling of L.M. Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables. Published on June 30, 2015, the story is 368 pages in length. Teran's tale is about a Mexican-American teen named Ana Cortez is who has been expelled from her fifth foster care home in East Los Angeles. When Ana is given the choice of either living at a group home or entering a trainee program on a farm in Northern California, she takes her chances on the farm. The farm is run by Emmett Garber and his sister Abbie. When Ana arrives, Emmett (like Matthew Cuthbert) is expecting a boy.

Andi Teran is a native of El Paso, Texas. In an interview with Penguin Random House, she spoke about her love of Anne of Green Gables saying, "I was enchanted by Anne’s boldness, conviction, and wild imagination. I so wanted to be in her story club and start one of my own (which, sadly, never happened). Anne was virtually incapable of being anyone other than herself, which is an important message for young people. She was stubborn at times but willing to consider someone else’s opinion. She was also willing to grow and change despite the difficulties of her past, and she had a true compassion for others. It’s both a brave and difficult thing to open up to others, but Anne did it with gusto whatever the hilarious consequences. L. M. Montgomery masterfully created a character that became both a role model and a bosom friend to all of her readers; one that many of us still feel is a friend today." Reflecting on her contemporary retelling, Teran said, "As a mega fan of the original, it was important to me to keep certain iconic scenes, too—not all of them; just a few—and I hope fellow fans enjoy the modern interpretations."

Here is the description of the book from Penguin Random House:

A modern take on the classic coming-of-age novel, inspired by Anne of Green Gables

In the grand tradition of Anne of Green Gables, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and The Three Weissmanns of Westport, Andi Teran’s captivating debut novel offers a contemporary twist on a beloved classic. Fifteen-year-old orphan Ana Cortez has just blown her last chance with a foster family. It’s a group home next—unless she agrees to leave East Los Angeles for a farm trainee program in Northern California.

When she first arrives, Ana can’t tell a tomato plant from a blackberry bush, and Emmett Garber is skeptical that this slight city girl can be any help on his farm. His sister Abbie, however, thinks Ana might be just what they need. Ana comes to love Garber Farm, and even Emmett has to admit that her hard work is an asset. But when she inadvertently stirs up trouble in town, Ana is afraid she might have ruined her last chance at finding a place to belong.

Reviews

"In this modern adaptation of the beloved Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, the red-haired heroine from Nova Scotia has been updated to a curly haired Mexican American teen from East Los Angeles. Fitted with a similar, tragic backstory, Ana has a penchant for getting into scrapes, and her hard-won resilience echoes her predecessor's example. However, in this tale, Ana channels her creativity through art and her appreciation of punk music instead of writing, and the cast of the small town that she gets sent to as part of her road to emancipation is more diverse. Gender-flipped roles and contemporary issues make this a fresh take that even the uninitiated will appreciate. The brother/sister pair who take her in to help with their ailing farm have their own drama, and her love interest (Cole) and best friend (Rye) are troubled teens themselves, adding to the realism that permeates this work. Farm life, social issues, and small minds are threads that young adults will relate to, and Ana's memories of her past life with a loving grandmother and a gang-ridden upbringing will add a level of poignancy. The latter half picks up the pace, and here is where Teran departs from the original story line. Even secondary characters are well-developed, and the food descriptions will make mouths water. Despite some harrowing scenes, Ana's place at Garber Farms is never in doubt. VERDICT A heartwarming homage to a classic with a diverse twist that will be a hit with fans of realistic fiction."
—Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

"Anne of Green Gables fans will rejoice; newcomers will find a satisfying tale; and Ana’s high jinx will leave both types of readers smiling and asking for more."
–Kirkus Reviews

"Debut fiction author Teran’s contemporary reimagining of Anne of Green Gables brilliantly captures the essence of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic story of a girl who will win your heart with her well-meaning imperfections. Highly recommended."
–Library Journal

ISBN-13: 978-0143126492


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Book cover of Ana of California: A Novel.

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Created July 13, 2015. Last updated January 4, 2026.
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Anne of Galactic Gables by Tom McHenry

Have you ever wondered what Anne Shirley would be like if she traveled to outer space? Well, comic and zine creator Tom McHenry has imagined it out for you.

In McHenry's one-off webcomic, Anne and Matthew Cuthbert are traveling through space. Anne is ashamed to be wearing a "horrid old wincey" spacesuit. Then she lightens up, smiling and asking Matthew about the blue planet they arrived at. When Matthew explains that it's called Earth, Anne replies, "They shouldn't call it 'Earth.' There's no meaning in a name like that. They should call it 'The Azure Orb of Delight.'"

McHenry's sci-fi comic based on Anne of Green Gables was featured in an article called, "When Classic Literature Gets Updated" by Graeme McMillan at io9.com. McMillan writes, "Move over, Pride and Prejudice And Zombies, a new updating of classic literature has come along to win your heart... Or at least make you laugh. Yes, it's Anne of Green Gables... in space."

On his livejournal, McHenry explains his inspiration: "Sara and I have been reading the original Anne novels (not my ill-fated science fiction sequels including Anne of Lavaworld and Rilla of Planetside) aloud before bed."

At io9, McMillan goes on to say, "The strip was just one of McHenry's "Future and Space Things" themed week of comics, alongside Space Yuppies. More proof that more people should be forced to come up with science fiction when they least expect it." I heartily agree. I enjoyed reading this fantastic and fun comic.

Created February 16, 2009. Last updated April 17, 2024.
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