Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic children's novel tells the tale of Anne Shirley, a red-headed orphan mistakenly fostered on Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, two middle aged siblings who run a small farm on Canada's Prince Edward Island. The Cuthberts had 'ordered' an orphan boy to help in the fields, but Anne's talkative nature, her romantic nature and irrepressible optimism gradually charm the staid old couple. She is allowed to stay and is soon popular with her schoolmates, especially her bosom friend Diana, and the handsome and annoying Gilbert Blythe, whom Anne refuses to speak to after he jokingly calls her 'Carrots'.

The author lovingly traces Anne's journey through childhood, following her adventures and misadventures from a naïve, melodramatic child to an intelligent, selfless young woman who, despite setbacks, remains unconquerably optimistic about life and the human condition.