Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

A Girl of the Limberlost, by Gene Stratton-Porter – The sequel to Freckles, this beautiful story takes the reader back to the Limberlost and picks up a few years after Freckles’s story. It focuses on Elnora Comstock and her mother, Katharine, as they navigate the ups and downs of relationships and life. The prose is poetic, describing the nature of the Limberlost and people in a way only Stratton-Porter can. There is heartache, romance, hope, and grit as the reader sees the world through the eyes of these two strong women. It would make a great read aloud.

Kilmeny of the Orchard, by L. M. Montgomery – When I finished this book I held it close, smiled, and breathed in, remembering the simplicity and beauty of the world Montgomery described. Set during the summer months on Prince Edward Island, this lovely novella, the third of Montgomery’s books, follows Eric Marshall, a recent college graduate who takes a substitute teaching post in the community of Lindsey. He happens upon a young woman, Kilmeny Gordon, who is unable to speak, but is able to beautifully play the violin to give voice to her thoughts. Montgomery’s use of imagery and description is so lovely I wanted to start the book again after I closed it. I think this would make a great read aloud.