★An entertaining and inspiring early reader celebrating the beloved author of Anne of Green Gables, featuring full colour illustrations.

“You see I had learned the ffrst, last, and middle lesson—‘never give up!’” –L. M. Montgomery

　　Before she wrote the bestselling Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery was just a girl from Prince Edward Island, dreaming of being a writer.
　　She Was the Story Girl tells the fascinating true story of young Maud’s difffcult childhood and her unstoppable enthusiasm for writing. Before Maud was two years old, her mother died and her father moved out west, leaving her to be raised by her strict grandparents.
They didn’t believe children should read or write stories. But Maud couldn’t resist a good tale. She looked for inspiration everywhere, from gossip overheard at the post offfce to ghostly laundry hanging on the line. Everything she experienced or imagined helped her
become the beloved writer we know today.
　　With informational sidebars and charming, full-colour illustrations throughout, this early chapter book will inspire budding young writers and kindred spirits alike.

Joann Hamilton-Barry
　　is a retired librarian and author of the Hackmatack Award–winning book There Be Pirates! Swashbucklers and Rogues of the Atlantic. Her other titles are Oak Island and the Search for Buried Treasure, The North Atlantic Right Whale: Past, Present, and Future, and Boldly Canadian: The Story of the RCMP. Joann lives in Saint John, NB, with her husband, Nick Barry, and her dog, Lucy. Her summers are spent at her cottage on PEI, where you will ffnd her hanging out with her extended family, walking on the beach, or exploring the land of Anne.

Leah Boudreau
　　is a self-taught illustrator from the East Coast of Canada. Her vibrant and whimsical illustrations are inspired by her childhood on Cape Breton Island; nature, culture, and local stories often ffnd
their way into her work. When Leah is not illustrating, you’ll likely ffnd her walking her dog, Maple, baking, reading, or relaxing with a cozy cup of tea.