Book Review: Rilla of Ingleside

Rilla of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery

Recommended For: 10 and up (interest and reading level)

Rating: G

Anne's children were almost grown up, except for pretty, high-spirited Rilla. No one could resist her bright hazel eyes and dazzling smile. Rilla, almost fifteen, can't think any further ahead than going to her very first dance at the Four Winds lighthouse and getting her first kiss from handsome Kenneth Ford. But undreamed-of challenges await the irrepressible Rilla when the world of Ingleside becomes endangered by a far-off war. Her brothers go off to fight, and Rilla brings home an orphaned newborn in a soup tureen. She is swept into a drama that tests her courage and leaves her changed forever.

This was a very interesting book, and a good finale to the Anne of Green Gables series. I got to learn a lot about World War I. I enjoyed reading this book and am happy to have finished another series.

Writing: 4/5

The writing was good and for most of the book, it didn't focus too much on the war. There were some parts where it did focus too much on the war and got a little boring. The book was interesting and wasn't too descriptive unlike many older books.

Setting: 5/5

This book is set on Prince Edward Island, Canada, in the town of Glen St. Mary during World War I. The book begins when the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife are shot and continues until late 1918. A lot of the focus of the book was on the war. I don't know a lot about the details of World War I, but from what I do know, it seemed pretty accurate.

Plot: 4/5

I am not exactly sure what the main point of the story was, and as I said before, it focused  on the war. The story is also about how the war changes Rilla Blythe as her brothers go off to war and she takes in a baby whose mother has died and whose father is fighting in the war. Even though I couldn't see a definite point in the story, it was still enjoyable to read.

Character Development: 5/5

As always, L. M. Montgomery's characters are unique and well written. There wasn't the usual focus on the characters that she usually has, but what there was of the characters was well written. Rilla grows throughout the story and all men who have gone off to war come back changed.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to people who enjoy historical fiction.