Review by Sophia Thomson
Tundra, Penguin Random House of Canada Limited, October 2023
72 pages, Hardcover, $12.99 CAD, 9780735272101
Picture Book, Ages 6-9
Fiction
“Anne turned to Diana. “I must do it, Diana. I must. My honor is at stake. I shall walk that ridgepole or perish trying.””
To be daring doesn’t always have to be dangerous. In Kallie George’s fifth instalment of the early chapter book series inspired by Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic children’s novel, Anne of Green Gables, we return to Avonlea for Anne Dares.
When Anne Shirley Cuthbert is invited to Diana Barry’s house for a party, she can’t wait! Everything’s perfect until the girls start playing a game of dares. When Josie Pye’s mean side comes out, Anne challenges Josie, but in the end, finds herself agreeing to a dangerous dare that leads to an injury. As Anne heals, her class gets ready to put on a Christmas concert and Anne’s tasked with a recital. Scared to let down the school and the audience, Anne isn’t sure if she can take the stage…should she even dare? As the concert approaches, Anne practices her part, however, she can’t stop worrying about the upcoming performance. It’s only after her quiet but adoring adoptive dad, Mathew, tries something he’s never dared to do before that Anne realizes how brave he is, and in turn, sees how brave she can be.
Anne, with her affinity for puffed sleeves, extraordinary imagination, and zest for life with her lovely family and kindred spirits, is as inviting and exciting as ever in Anne Dares. This is a perfect chapter book for those new to and familiar with Anne of Green Gables. Between the words on the page and Abigail Halpin’s gorgeous illustrations, readers will be immediately pulled into Anne’s world.
The text manages to be accessible to early readers but is sure to be a great resource in expanding their vocabulary when they encounter words like ‘perish’ and ‘ridgepole’ which aren’t as common today. George has done a fabulous job modernizing the text while keeping the essence of Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. While I’d recommend reading the other four instalments before Anne Dares, it’s mostly for the joy of the works, rather than for backstory. George succeeds in providing enough information so readers can understand who Anne is without having to read anything else.
We also get so much from Halpin’s illustrations. Most of the pictures cover one page, however, we’re treated with a few two-page spreads throughout the book. No matter how much space they take up on the page, each pencil, graphite, and watercolour digital drawing is a stunning creation full of rich colours and vibrant details against the white backdrop.
Each illustration is a snapshot of a key moment from the prose, and I was consistently impressed by the ability to convey expression from each character drawn. Chapter four, page 34 was a particular favourite of mine. Anne’s facial expressions perfectly encapsulate her suspicion that Josie is only apologizing because she has to. Readers will understand exactly what each character feels because of the level of attention to detail given to the illustrations, which is a great resource for teaching early readers how to recognize emotions and learn empathy. Halpin’s illustrations are works of art that anyone of any age would enjoy.
Anne Dares is a true joy to read and I can’t wait for more from Kallie George and Abigail Halpin.
Sophia Thomson lives and writes from North Vancouver. She earned her BFA from the University of British Columbia School of Creative Writing where she focused on TV writing and YA fiction. She’s currently writing her debut novel, For the Love of Flowers. Mainly, she writes funny love stories.
YOUNG ADULTING 