The classic coming-of-age story of love and acceptance. Elderly, unmarried siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert send word to an orphanage that they would like to adopt a young boy. Their primary reason for bringing a male child into their home is to help Matthew with the farm work on their property, Green Gables, now that he’s getting on in years. To their shock, the child who appears on their doorstep wears a dress, sports bright red pigtails and is named Anne Shirley. Clearly the orphanage made a mistake and the orphan would have to be returned. The child is everything the siblings do not want in the twilight of their lives. First off, she’s not a boy. She’s mischievous, precocious, romantic, headstrong and talks up a streak. But something else shines through, a sincere sensitivity and a desperate need to be loved, to fit in, so they give her a chance.

As Anne settles into life at Green Gables, she continuously proves her innate ability to cause and get into trouble. Marilla is completely distraught and beside herself trying to cope with the rambunctious girl, but shy Matthew recognizes Anne’s inner gentleness and is quick to defend her on every count—whether she’s managed to insult the town matriarch, cracked her slate over classmate Gilbert Blythe’s head for teasing her about her red hair or accidently gotten her best friend drunk! And with Anne’s wild imagination and daredevil attitude, trouble was never far away and always in need of Matthew’s support.

Anne may not fit in when it comes to beauty, charm and grace, but when it comes to academics, she soars. Soon she and Gilbert vie for honors and awards, and as they grow up and progress through all their school years together, it becomes clear that not only do these rivals feel mutual respect, but they’ve also developed a growing affection for each other, and it just might blossom into love. It seems their lives are destined to be entwined. However, Marilla has her own private reasons for wanting the couple to part, and one turn of events will set in motion how their future will play out.