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Jennifer's Reviews > Much Ado About Anne
Much Ado About Anne
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I read this for a YA/adolescent lit class. I found the book while looking for books relating to L. M. Montgomery for a book group I run (we are studying L. M. Montgomery for this year), and Much Ado About Anne came up as a suggestion at one of my local libraries. When it came on hold I realized it was perfect to use for my YA lit class as well.
It was a fast read. I probably read it over two days, although I had to set it aside for almost two weeks in the middle of reading it.
This is the second in The Mother-Daughter Book Club series. I haven't read the first, but I found it wasn't absolutely necessary to have read the first book. Will I read more in the series? Absolutely! In fact, I wish I had a daughter who would enjoy sharing these books with me.
Although this volume was themed around Anne of Green Gables, I enjoyed all the other literary name dropping: a family named Hawthorne with children Emma and Darcy, a cat named Melville, a middle school newspaper called the Walden Woodsman, etc. Other literary references include Little Women (the theme for the first book), The Hobbit and Tolkien, Treasure Island, The Count of Monte Cristo, and more.
As for Anne of Green Gables, one of the main characters is reading a little known autobiography of L. M. Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables), several events in this novel mirror those in Anne of Green Gables, and the main characters often reference characters, actions, and events in Anne of Green Gables such as Josie Pye and Gilbert, and the naming of ponds and other places, and certain mishaps that happened to Anne (no spoilers).
Much Ado About Anne mainly follows the friendship of four middle school girls, Jess, Megan, Cassidy, and Emma. Other characters include their families, especially their mothers, their friends from school, their crushes, their enemies (typical mean girls). The girls are involved in one main conflict with the "mean" girls. Additionally, each girl faces her own set of challenges. Cassidy's widowed mother is dating again and Cassidy struggles to come to terms with what she considers is a man replacing her father. Jess's family is in danger of losing their farm (a nod to Anne of Green Gables when Marilla and Anne almost lose their farm), Emma struggles with her weight and self-confidence, and Megan is torn between groups of friends and experiences major embarrassment because of things her mother does. These and other struggles are a lot to juggle in one little book and the author does it well. Not only is this a book about collective and individual struggles, but also it is a book about community uniting together to solve problems, groups overcoming differences, and the importance of friendships and family in one's life.
Some quotes I would like to remember:
Much Ado About Anne
P. 18
It's funny how your own problems fade when you have a friend who's in trouble. (Cassidy about Emma's problem of working with Becca on newspaper)
P. 42-43
This world is a bit like a garden... Each flower is unique, just like each person is unique. There are daisies, and lilacs, and roses, and peonies--all sorts of lovely flowers. Now, wouldn't it be silly for a tulip to mope around wishing it were an iris? (Mrs Hawthorne to Emma)
Emma's mom:
Emma, this world is a bit like a garden... Each flower is unique just like each person is unique. There are daisies, and lilacs, and roses, and peonies--all sorts of lovely flowers. Now, wouldn't it be silly for a tulip to mope around wishing it were an iris?
Emma:
I guess it would depend on how fat the tulip was.
Emma's mom:
You need to try and appreciate your own uniqueness instead of worrying so much about comparing yourself to others.
Emma:
That would be a lot easier if my own uniqueness wasn't quite so round.
P. 139
It just shows you how important it is to be persistent. You can't give up. (Mrs. Wong to Jess)
P. 176
". . . Exercise always helps. No matter how horrible things get, no matter how cranky or tired I am, just getting out and moving makes a difference." (Emma)
P. 315
Deep down in my heart, though, I already know what my father would say. Always bring your best, Cassidy. Bring it to every game.
Have I really brought my best to this game? (Cassidy, reflecting on her actions regarding her mom's relationship with Stanley Kincaid)
It was a fast read. I probably read it over two days, although I had to set it aside for almost two weeks in the middle of reading it.
This is the second in The Mother-Daughter Book Club series. I haven't read the first, but I found it wasn't absolutely necessary to have read the first book. Will I read more in the series? Absolutely! In fact, I wish I had a daughter who would enjoy sharing these books with me.
Although this volume was themed around Anne of Green Gables, I enjoyed all the other literary name dropping: a family named Hawthorne with children Emma and Darcy, a cat named Melville, a middle school newspaper called the Walden Woodsman, etc. Other literary references include Little Women (the theme for the first book), The Hobbit and Tolkien, Treasure Island, The Count of Monte Cristo, and more.
As for Anne of Green Gables, one of the main characters is reading a little known autobiography of L. M. Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables), several events in this novel mirror those in Anne of Green Gables, and the main characters often reference characters, actions, and events in Anne of Green Gables such as Josie Pye and Gilbert, and the naming of ponds and other places, and certain mishaps that happened to Anne (no spoilers).
Much Ado About Anne mainly follows the friendship of four middle school girls, Jess, Megan, Cassidy, and Emma. Other characters include their families, especially their mothers, their friends from school, their crushes, their enemies (typical mean girls). The girls are involved in one main conflict with the "mean" girls. Additionally, each girl faces her own set of challenges. Cassidy's widowed mother is dating again and Cassidy struggles to come to terms with what she considers is a man replacing her father. Jess's family is in danger of losing their farm (a nod to Anne of Green Gables when Marilla and Anne almost lose their farm), Emma struggles with her weight and self-confidence, and Megan is torn between groups of friends and experiences major embarrassment because of things her mother does. These and other struggles are a lot to juggle in one little book and the author does it well. Not only is this a book about collective and individual struggles, but also it is a book about community uniting together to solve problems, groups overcoming differences, and the importance of friendships and family in one's life.
Some quotes I would like to remember:
Much Ado About Anne
P. 18
It's funny how your own problems fade when you have a friend who's in trouble. (Cassidy about Emma's problem of working with Becca on newspaper)
P. 42-43
This world is a bit like a garden... Each flower is unique, just like each person is unique. There are daisies, and lilacs, and roses, and peonies--all sorts of lovely flowers. Now, wouldn't it be silly for a tulip to mope around wishing it were an iris? (Mrs Hawthorne to Emma)
Emma's mom:
Emma, this world is a bit like a garden... Each flower is unique just like each person is unique. There are daisies, and lilacs, and roses, and peonies--all sorts of lovely flowers. Now, wouldn't it be silly for a tulip to mope around wishing it were an iris?
Emma:
I guess it would depend on how fat the tulip was.
Emma's mom:
You need to try and appreciate your own uniqueness instead of worrying so much about comparing yourself to others.
Emma:
That would be a lot easier if my own uniqueness wasn't quite so round.
P. 139
It just shows you how important it is to be persistent. You can't give up. (Mrs. Wong to Jess)
P. 176
". . . Exercise always helps. No matter how horrible things get, no matter how cranky or tired I am, just getting out and moving makes a difference." (Emma)
P. 315
Deep down in my heart, though, I already know what my father would say. Always bring your best, Cassidy. Bring it to every game.
Have I really brought my best to this game? (Cassidy, reflecting on her actions regarding her mom's relationship with Stanley Kincaid)
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Reading Progress
May 2, 2018
–
Started Reading
May 2, 2018
– Shelved
May 2, 2018
– Shelved as:
ya-lit-class
May 15, 2018
–
Finished Reading
