This was the last story I finished before the May Reread project began but I’m not sure when this will be coming out. But either way, I heard about this way before I read it, when Trinna Writes talked about it on Instagram.
Story Girl follows a group of children: Felix and Beverly, brothers who move to P.E. Island for the summer as their father goes away, their cousins Dan, Felicity and Cecily, and friends Peter, Sara Ray, and Sara Stanley (the titular Story Girl). There isn’t much of a plot as the book consists of the group living their lives, punctuated with stories from the Story Girl.
Honestly, I didn’t like the book as much as I expected. I was thinking about the wonder of Anne of Green Gables, and the Story Girl certainly resembles her, but because the book is told from the point of view of Felix, a lot of the magic was lost for me. We’re told repeatedly about how you have to hear the Story Girl tell the story to believe it, but we don’t actually get to hear it for ourselves. Felix can tell me all he wants about how he almost believed the Story Girl turned into a snake during one of her stories, but it’s not the same as me seeing it for myself.
Apart from that, the story itself is pleasant and calming. While the gang do get into a few scrapes, it’s nothing serious. Felix and Beverly have a great summer and it shows. I’d like to have such a summer too (albeit with modern plumbing and comforts).
I wasn’t terribly impressed with this – it’s definitely not Anne of Green Gables – but I don’t hate it either. I thought it was a sweet book, and I kinda wish I read this earlier. I think rereading it now, having loved it as a kid, would be great but as a first time read, it wasn’t what I was hoping for.
This is one of the few Montgomery books that I don’t think I’ve reread. It is notable for being told from Felix’s point of view, since Montgomery typically focuses on girls, but, you’re right in that it doesn’t seem to have quite the same magic as some of Montgomery’s other books.
The only other books of hers that I’ve read are the Anne of Green Gable series, so it’s good to hear this is a one-off. Perhaps I’ll try the Rilla series next.
I love Rilla of Ingleside! She’s quite different from Anne, but I think she has a wonderful character arc!
I’m also partial to the Pat books. I like Pat because she’s not really “special” or “talented” like Anne or Emily. She’s just a normal person, but she still gets to be a heroine!
Ooooh that sounds fun!! I’ll definitely check out both series!
I haven’t read this one but I read The Golden Road, which is about the same crowd of friends a year or two later. The Story Girl plays a smaller role but there is a funny scene where she’s telling a story at a talent show and Sara Ray steals her punchline because she thought the Story Girl forgot it. The Golden Road was episodic but I didn’t find it meandering or boring. You could see the kids growing in character and they were all such neat personalities that it was fun to spend time with them even if their mishaps were minor.
Have you read A Girl of the Limberlost? It’s slow-paced like this but really fantastic.
I’ve not read The Golden Road, but I think I might skip that. Haven’t read A Girl of Limberlost but I will check it out! I generally don’t mind slower-paced books, I just wasn’t enchanted by this one
I am sorry this wasn’t better. My daughter and I never did finish Anne of Green Gables, and need to get back to it. We had been enjoying it, and so I’m not sure why we stopped reading it exaclty . . .
I second Jennifer in her recommendation of The Girl of the Limberlost. One of my favorite childhood books.
I’ve definitely got to check out The Girl of Limberlost now! Thanks so much for the recommendation 😊
Felix is not even the one narrating, it is his brother Beverly. and Sara Stanley (the story girl) is also their cousin
Ah I see! somehow I spent the whole book thinking it was Felix.