Book Review: L. M. Montgomery

This summer I read a biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery; while I'd been a fan of her novels, I didn't know anything about her personal life. It was enlightening to see how much of her life made it into her works, sometimes as idealized events and redeemed outcomes from her actual life experience.

When I saw L. M. Montgomery by Isabel Sanchez Vegara in the Little People, Big Dreams series, I had to read it. I wondered how they would condense events into material accessible and engaging to younger readers.

It is beautifully done. The illustrations are engaging and accurately convey pivotal moments in Maud's life and there's a good balance between text and pictures on each page. The only published work of hers mentioned by name is Anne of Green Gables, but as that is her iconic work, it's appropriate for it to be the focus and for details of her inspiration to be mentioned.

One small quibble I had revolves around when the book mentions her accepting a job at the post office in order to submit stories without anyone else being aware. In truth, the post office was run out of her grandmother's home, where Maud was raised, so while Maud did help with the post office, this book makes it seem like she sought it out when in fact, she was stepping up to help out as her grandmother aged. A perk was being able to send out stories, but that wasn't the primary reason she helped out.

There are multiple titles in the Little People, Big Dreams series, and this is another winner.

(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)