Rilla of Ingleside (Anne of Green Gables #8)

Synopsis

Anne's children are almost grown up, except for pretty, high-spirited Rilla. No one can resist her bright hazel eyes and dazzling smile. Rilla, almost fifteen, can't think of 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 is endangered by a far-odd 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 changes her forever.

Loved

• Rilla. I absolutely adore this youngest Blythe daughter. Rilla enters the story as a frivolous, unambitious, and fairly immature 15-year-old, but experiences beautiful character development throughout the story and becomes a graceful woman radiating selflessness, strength, and wisdom. She is forced to mature as she sends her three brothers, two best friends, and her fiancee off to war, and virtually adopts a newborn baby for a few years. I loved watching this transformation in Rilla, and also loved that she was still relatable with her awkward moments and endearing lisp.

• The history. This is such a fascinating historical novel in that we get the perspective of the Canadians in WWI. We experience a taste for what it was like for these people to send their boys across the ocean and hope and pray they would return. This is such an interesting way to learn the history as we learn about each battle over Gilbert's morning newspaper, or Susan's listening in on the telephone line to the store. I haven't read very much WWI literature, so I thought it was fascinating to relearn about this war and see how much it impacted every life, even in the remote countryside of Prince Edward Island.

• The strength. Each character in this story, especially Rilla and Anne, experience heart-wrenching sorrow, anxiety, and despair. Each day is a battle of its own waiting for a phone call or a telegram to hear that your brother or son has died. I was struck over and over again by the strength and spirit of all the women in this story and how each day they made the decision to keep fighting and keep on keeping on for their boys in the trenches. I loved Susan's optimistic, yet sarcastic attitude and how she constantly told the Kaiser just what she thought of his warfare, especially when it disrupted her kitchen.

• Walter. Ah, Walter. I won't spoil his story, but I just adore this boy. He is for sure my favorite of the Blythe children because he is the most like Anne- extremely passionate, held aloft by his high ideals, and somewhat elevated from this world with his mind fixed on other spheres. He develops very much in this story as well, and he is in many ways the bravest character in this whole story. 

• The reality. This story is definitely romanticized in many ways, but in many ways it is very relatable. My favorite awkward moments happen with Kenneth Ford. I won't spoil, but in Rilla's romantic moments that in most Anne novels would go perfectly, real life silly things happen that make it awkward and uncomfortable. Scenes like this happened throughout the book and I loved that Rilla had the sense of humor to realize that romance is usually not flawless as it is in novels and fairytales.

• Dog Monday. This sweet dog. He waits at the station and greets every single train hoping for his precious soldier to return. I cried more than once reading about this loyal creature and the many years he became arthritic and old waiting faithfully for his master.

Didn't Love

• I absolutely love this story and wouldn't change a thing :)

Content

• Language: 
• No language.

• Sexual content: 
• A few sweet kisses.

• Violence:
• This story references much more violence than any other in the series because it takes place in WWI. There are many references to soldiers dying in battle, war injuries, and devastation caused by the war. Mentions of the "Huns" murdering children with bayonets and sinking ships with women and children aboard.
• Much talk of death and waiting to hear if someone has died or not, and imagining the worst.
• References to being held as a prisoner of war and being mistreated and abused.

Overall Thoughts

I LOVE this book. Beside Anne of the Island and the original Anne of Green Gables, this is my favorite book in the series. It feels much more dramatic and intense than any of the other books because the characters are constantly waiting for news of their boys overseas, and each day brings the suspense of bad news and not knowing who has died that day. I adore Rilla and her moving character development throughout this story. Her strength keeps her family going, and I loved watching Rilla, Anne, Gilbert, and Susan bond together through these trials. The history and WWI context is fascinating and exciting, and the strength of these people, especially the women, to send their boys overseas and then keep on with normal life is astounding. Overall I think this is one of the very best books in the series, and I think it is often overlooked since it is the last. This beautiful, dramatic, and moving story is not to be missed- and be sure you have your tissue box on hand.