Akin to Anne is a collection of early published stories by the creator of Anne of Green Gables.
tThe stories in Akin Anne are unmistakably early work. Each one follows the same formulaic plot: Poor Orphan is plucky, yet miserable in a house with no love. Orphan does a good deed. Orphan is reunited with a long-lost family member.
tThe selections are charming in their own way, but are not nearly as sophisticated as her later short stories collected in Chronicles of Avonlea, and Further Chronicles of Avonlea. However, the seeds for those stories (as well as her novels) can be detected in Akin to Anne. It is fascinating reading for the L.M. Montgomery enthusiast.

Found a box of my old books in the garage. So I am currently re-reading the books I loved when I was a child. Maybe it's an effort to reclaim my youth or maybe it's just an effort to remember the girl I once was so I can better relate to my own children. However, I'm not sure what I really loved about this book...possibly the happy endings. It is nauseatingly cheesy! I know the short stories compiled here were originally published in a number of different magazines, but publishing them all together may not have been the best idea. Regardless, I do love L.M. Montgomery.

Great little collection of stories set (where else) on P.E.I. with happy endings of orphans finding family (long lost or new). However, for me, it was just a little too much at once. Reading one of the short stories maybe every other week would have been much more enjoyabe. They just weren't meant to be read all at once.

LM Montgomery is primarily known for her novels...but she's never given enough credit for her skill as a short story writer. This collection of stories manages to show Montgomery's ability to create an entire world using only a single moment and a single character -- as evocative as any of her epic Anne & Emily novels. It's also a beautiful comfort read that will give you hope that love and compassion will always win out in the end.

This has not been my week, and I desperately needed some comfort reading. I reached for a collection of short stories by LM Montgomery and found exactly what I wanted and needed.

This is, as the title says, a collection of stories about orphans. The introduction says that these stories culminated in the making of LMM's most famous work, but actually, only *some* of these stories were published before Anne of Green Gables. There is a common thread to all, however: people longing for family. The orphans in this collection range in age from young children to grown adults. Almost all of them follow the same story arc: a poor orphan discovers long-lost blood relatives who welcome them with open arms, generally because they bear an uncanny resemblance to long-dead siblings.

My personal favorites are "The Running Away of Chester" (by far the longest story, with the best developed characters), "Charlotte's Quest," and "Freda's Adopted Grave."

If you're looking for variety, look elsewhere: this is all about the cozy feeling that these sorts of sentimental stories evoke. If you need or want a good dose of it, this is an excellent collection!

For the most part the stories were very similar and it got a little old.

I read this in high school at the Piqua Library, and I hadn't seen a copy anywhere since. I finally ordered it from a used book site. The "Oh, you're the daughter of my half-sibling I lost touch with!" formula gets a little old, but I love the story "Charlotte's Ladies."

I found these stories amusing and charming in their own way. Especially those without rich and handsome lady or gentelman asking that dreadful question about particular orphan's mother's maiden name and then claiming to be the orphan 's long-lost family member who would immidiately take care of him or her. In my opinion, such a twist is not only annoying but also harmful. It carries a message that the noble character, cheerful disposition, good manners, even beutiful features are nothing when you're a poor orphan, daughter of God-knows-who and nobody takes interest in you till it would be found out that you're child of some stepsister/ cousin / childhood friend.

If you've read one you've read them all

Some of these stories are as touching as if each one had been lengthened into separate novels, and even more effective, in my humble opinion, to get across in fewer words a potent and touching story. Amongst my favourites of Montgomery's writings! I am glad I read this book. . . It reminds me of the beloved Anne. . . I was deeply touched by this book and very much inspired as well!

Read it. Know they were all orphans, but I don't remember anything else.

5 stars. I have always loved this story collection (AND ITS COVERRRRR). It’s just so sweet and heartwarming!

n  Charlotte’s Questn
3 stars. So this story starts out with “Witch Penny” and a few rigmaroles about witches & fairies. However, the story makes it rather plain that Penny is NOT a witch, just by the tone and Charlotte's thoughts, though the last two lines are silly. So for that matter, Penny being called a “witch” doesn't much bother me. Aside from that, I really enjoy the story. The mood and descriptions are lovely, and the characters are splendid—though poor Charlotte, and I dislike her father! I think personally I could edit the story well and enjoy it without the witchy parts.

n  Marcella’s Rewardn
5 stars. Marcella is a brick and a wonderful inspiration, and Miss Draper is just hilarious. An excellent story!

n  An Invitation Given on Impulsen
4 stars. This is a sweet, short story, heartwarming and satisfying, with very good characters, plot, and setting for such a little thing! I love school stories—though this one doesn’t take up MUCH time at school—and I love the reunion at the end, though it may be a little stretched… and I really like Ruth and applaud Carol.

n  n    Freda's Adopted Graven  n
3 stars. A very short but very sweet little story. :)

n  Ted’s Afternoon Offn
4 stars. This story is so brief and little described but somehow it really stands out. I’m not sure how Montgomery made it work! Ted’s a sweetheart (and the Js are awful) and Mr. M is so nice...

n  The Girl Who Drove the Cowsn
5 stars. This story is sweet and touching and vintagey and humorous all at once. It’s just delightful.

n  Why Not Ask Miss Price?n
3 stars. Again, a very short but sweet little story with lots of feels. <3

n  Jane Lavinian
4 stars. Sweet Jane Lavinia! Here's another story that I really liked <33 What a great plot!

n  n    The Running Away of Chestern  n
5 stars. I have always loved this story, ever since I first read it. It’s sweet and heartwarming, with the loveliest characters—hardworking Chester, innocent Miss Salome, hardboiled and kind-hearted Clementiny… and a hateful villain. Chester’s adventures captured my adventures as a child and still command all my interest, and of course the writing style and humour are excellent. The dénouement is perfectly satisfying, and I adore the old-fashioned, countryside, and small-community feels of the whole piece.

n  Millicent’s Doublen
3 stars. A short, cute little story with a fun plot and great characters. :)

n  Penelope’s Party Waistn
3 stars. A really short but super sweet and heartwarming story :)

n  The Little Black Dolln
3 stars. A very short but sweet little story.

Content: A mention that “all music is from God."

n  The Fraser Scholarshipn
4 stars. Elliott is a brick and I really like him. This is a very short story without many characters, but they're all amazing.

n  Her Own Peoplen
4 stars. Aww... this story. <33 So sweet! I really like Constance, Aunt Flora, & Uncle Henry; and I loved the message!

n  Miss Sally’s Companyn
4 stars. Oh, Miss Sally is so sweet! And I love the message of the story! Mary and Ida are so nice, too. <3

n  The Story of an Invitationn
4 stars. It’s a tiny story, but so sweet and heartwarming! I love Bertha for her unselfishness, and Grace sounds SO lovely, and I love Aunt Meg… Also, for some reason I love college stories.

n  The Softening of Miss Cynthian
3 stars. What a heart tugging story. <33

n  Margaret’s Patientn
4 stars. This is a sweet little story with a very good moral. I really enjoyed it.

n  n    Charlotte’s Ladiesn  n
3 stars. This is a sweet little story with some good characters. It’s a little poignant/wistful, all about orphans and widows and motherlessness and loneliness. <3