Rainbow Valley

Montgomery, L.M. 1919. Rainbow Valley.

This book in the series has very little to do with Anne and very much to do with a set of imaginative children. The Blythe children: Jem, Walter, Nan, Di, Shirley, and Rilla. The Meredith children: Jerry, Faith, Carl, Una. And the prone-to-trouble Mary Vance whom Mrs. Marshall Elliot (a.k.a. Miss Cornelia) adopts. The children spend their time (when they're not in school or church) playing together in Rainbow Valley. The focus on this one, however, is not on the Blythe children. No, the stars of this book are the Meredith children. Their father is the preacher. He's a widower. And the kids have a bit of time behaving themselves. For one thing, their father doesn't have any inclination what his children are up to. There is no structure. There are no clear rules. He's a bit of a lost soul...and very unobservant. If it wasn't for good old "Aunt Martha" then the children would be quite alone. (Unfortunately, Aunt Martha isn't that great a cook...or a housekeeper...or a nanny.)

There is a bit of romance in Rainbow Valley. A concerned citizen (any guesses who???) tells the preacher he needs to find a wife, a good woman who can raise his children because someone needs to do it. He finds the perfect woman too...Rosemary West...unfortunately their courtship isn't a sure thing because of a long-ago-promise between siblings.

Full of humor and heart, this one is an enjoyable read.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews