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Road to Avonlea #1
The Journey Begins
Threatened with financial ruin, young Sara's father sends her to Canada's Prince Edward Island, the birthplace of her late mother, to live with a family she doesn't know.
138 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1991
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879 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Montgomery
1,863 books13.2k followersLucy Maud Montgomery was a Canadian author, best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908.
Montgomery was born at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 30, 1874. She came to live at Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge Ontario, after her wedding with Rev. Ewen Macdonald on July 11, 1911. She had three children and wrote close to a dozen books while she was living in the Leaskdale Manse before the family moved to Norval, Ontario in 1926. She died in Toronto April 24, 1942 and was buried at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.
Montgomery was born at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 30, 1874. She came to live at Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge Ontario, after her wedding with Rev. Ewen Macdonald on July 11, 1911. She had three children and wrote close to a dozen books while she was living in the Leaskdale Manse before the family moved to Norval, Ontario in 1926. She died in Toronto April 24, 1942 and was buried at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 4, 2014
BOOK: THE JOURNEY BEGINS
AUTHOR DENNIS ADAIR
So I have a habit of borrowing or buying books that do not seem like they would be tiny but end up being a hundred or so pages long. This was one of them.
There isn't much to say about it. It was an enjoyable quick read, probably geared more towards middle school students. I was intrigued by it because it was said to be based on an old popular tv in the library description so I thought I would give it a try.
Young Sara is sent to live with her aunts, uncle, and cousins while her father is facing financial ruin from her company at Prince Edward Island in Canada. She faces trouble with getting along with her cousins and schoolmates as she joins the school a few weeks after her arrival, even worse is her relationship with her aunt but she manages to overcome them after a series of trials.
The only thing I truly did not like about it was the way it ended without a clear resolution.
3/5 STARS
AUTHOR DENNIS ADAIR
So I have a habit of borrowing or buying books that do not seem like they would be tiny but end up being a hundred or so pages long. This was one of them.
There isn't much to say about it. It was an enjoyable quick read, probably geared more towards middle school students. I was intrigued by it because it was said to be based on an old popular tv in the library description so I thought I would give it a try.
Young Sara is sent to live with her aunts, uncle, and cousins while her father is facing financial ruin from her company at Prince Edward Island in Canada. She faces trouble with getting along with her cousins and schoolmates as she joins the school a few weeks after her arrival, even worse is her relationship with her aunt but she manages to overcome them after a series of trials.
The only thing I truly did not like about it was the way it ended without a clear resolution.
3/5 STARS
January 10, 2016
3.5 stars
This actually turned out to be better than I'd expected. I thought it would end up being sort of corny, since it's basically an extended synopsis of the TV show's pilot episode. And at first, it definitely was. The writing was often clunky, bogged down by detailed character descriptions right smack in the middle of conversations. The writing was also "telling" things to the reader a lot more than it was "showing" them. But to the book(and author's) credit, the writing had definitely improved by around the middle of the story, and it actually ended up being a decent novelization.
The dialogue preserved the warmth and humor of the show(though I think much of the dialogue was lifted right from the pilot episode, I'll accept it because it's just a kids' book based on a TV show)and the personalities of the characters felt true to the show as well. Overall it actually turned out to be a sweet, cute little adaptation(of an adaptation) that had made me smile several times by the end.
The TV show itself is much better, but The Journey Begins keeps true to the spirit of Road to Avonlea and is a pleasant light read.
This actually turned out to be better than I'd expected. I thought it would end up being sort of corny, since it's basically an extended synopsis of the TV show's pilot episode. And at first, it definitely was. The writing was often clunky, bogged down by detailed character descriptions right smack in the middle of conversations. The writing was also "telling" things to the reader a lot more than it was "showing" them. But to the book(and author's) credit, the writing had definitely improved by around the middle of the story, and it actually ended up being a decent novelization.
The dialogue preserved the warmth and humor of the show(though I think much of the dialogue was lifted right from the pilot episode, I'll accept it because it's just a kids' book based on a TV show)and the personalities of the characters felt true to the show as well. Overall it actually turned out to be a sweet, cute little adaptation(of an adaptation) that had made me smile several times by the end.
The TV show itself is much better, but The Journey Begins keeps true to the spirit of Road to Avonlea and is a pleasant light read.
December 23, 2008
This was the series based on the Disney Channel show "Avonlea." Most of the first season stories are pulled from L.M. Montgomery's Chronicles of Avonlea & The Golden Road. This series is much more accessible for the middle-grade reader than L.M. Montgomery's novels were.
July 25, 2010
"Shannon, Congratulations on passing to 4th grade! May your "Journey" to Upper "El" be a happy, pleasant, educational one! Love, Mommy and Daddy. June 11, 1992"
October 16, 2024
Didn’t realize these books are short stories less then 100 pages but otherwise not bad
Read
September 15, 2016Un libro infantil/juvenil, ameno, corto, que narra la llegada de la pequeña Sarah Stanley a la Isla del Príncipe Eduardo y su encuentro con una familia que desconoce.
Un libro, primero de una serie, que narra el paso de una niña de una vida de riquezas y privilegios pero también de soledad, a otra de tareas, estricta pero con amigos y familia.
Había visto la serie, pero no leído el libro, Y la verdad, reconozco que este tipo de historias me encanta; no importa la edad.
Un libro, primero de una serie, que narra el paso de una niña de una vida de riquezas y privilegios pero también de soledad, a otra de tareas, estricta pero con amigos y familia.
Había visto la serie, pero no leído el libro, Y la verdad, reconozco que este tipo de historias me encanta; no importa la edad.
April 22, 2014
I'm giving it 5 stars because it was what it was: A very simple, child-like read. I read it because it is in relation to The Story Girl by L.M. Montgomery, and eventhough LM didn't write this herself, it was still in keeping with her tone and descriptions. I'm not sure if I'll read the other ones, only to compare and because I like the characters.
July 2, 2015
I read this book as a child, and then it was very enjoyable. But now, as a teenager it does not nearly have the appeal as it once did. I do not remember very much of the plot so forgive me if I butcher it. It is about a young girl who moves to live with some family relatives(or friends), and about her time there.
August 25, 2013
I remember buying this (or rather mum bought it for me) at a (Christian?) bookstore when I was little. I bet I still have it in a box in my parent's basement. I'd like to find it and read it again.
April 13, 2013
Fantastic! I feel as if everyone should read these books, Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea. I will be forever envious of the life Anne had in Prince Edward Island. The breathtaking read of each and every flower and scene, unseen to me. A must read once in your lifetime!
January 20, 2011
I think this book is a great book. It is very interesting. I like it.
May 16, 2011
good additional storyline to Avonlea tales
April 10, 2013
The is adaptation to the series for younger readers... On the fence on what say exactly it wasn't bad nor was it good ...ok book
Read
May 26, 2014didn't read
October 28, 2016
never knew this was a book. just like the old Disney show. cute quick read
January 27, 2017
The Story Girl wasn't one of my favorite LMM books, and I didn't watch the TV show. I think if I had either the book would have appealed to me more.
January 10, 2020
A Book Review of The Journey Begins (Toad to Avonlea #1)
I had watched the whole series of this long time ago, and since then I have been a huge fan of this story. I had read the series in Japanese as well, but I had never tried out to read the series in English.
A couple of month ago, I found that we can watch the entire series on Amazon prime, and I started watching it with a Japanese subtitles even though I don't like it because I can't get rid of them. Then, I bought the first book of the series in English.
I have still been in love with the story. Everything is so lovely. In the first book, a protagonist, Sara has to struggle with new circumstances, but she is getting use to them. I love the part that Montgomery, the author put some characters from my other favorite characters, Marilla Cuthbert and Mrs. Rachel Lynde from Anne of Green Gables. I can imagine they really live in Avonlea with other characters. This is really cool.
I had watched the whole series of this long time ago, and since then I have been a huge fan of this story. I had read the series in Japanese as well, but I had never tried out to read the series in English.
A couple of month ago, I found that we can watch the entire series on Amazon prime, and I started watching it with a Japanese subtitles even though I don't like it because I can't get rid of them. Then, I bought the first book of the series in English.
I have still been in love with the story. Everything is so lovely. In the first book, a protagonist, Sara has to struggle with new circumstances, but she is getting use to them. I love the part that Montgomery, the author put some characters from my other favorite characters, Marilla Cuthbert and Mrs. Rachel Lynde from Anne of Green Gables. I can imagine they really live in Avonlea with other characters. This is really cool.
September 5, 2021
Lydbok lest av Randi Brænne,en god oppleser.
Denne boken er basert på Disney-serien "Veien til Avonlea,"som igjen er løst basert på L.M. Montgomerys "The story Girl" som jeg har lest tidligere. Selv om den avviker stort fra originalen,og selve prosaen ikke kan måle seg med Montgomerys, var dette et veldig hyggelig gjenhør med en historie,karakterer og et sted,som både store og små i familien min koste seg med da serien gikk på TV på nittitallet. Den får derfor fire hjertelig nostalgiske stjerner fra meg.
Denne boken er basert på Disney-serien "Veien til Avonlea,"som igjen er løst basert på L.M. Montgomerys "The story Girl" som jeg har lest tidligere. Selv om den avviker stort fra originalen,og selve prosaen ikke kan måle seg med Montgomerys, var dette et veldig hyggelig gjenhør med en historie,karakterer og et sted,som både store og små i familien min koste seg med da serien gikk på TV på nittitallet. Den får derfor fire hjertelig nostalgiske stjerner fra meg.
June 15, 2019
It was fine. It was basically exactly what I thought it would be. Everything plays out in a predictable manner with no real surprises or mysteries. But it has charm and is pleasant enough.
February 6, 2020
ITS ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY.
May 21, 2022
Such a riveting tale. I couldn’t put it down. I got so engrossed in the story that I actually felt like I was apart of the story. I also loved the TV series and movies.
July 6, 2024
Absolutely adorable for a grade school read. Some good lessons and we read how Sarah begins to evolve.
October 10, 2023
I loved it. Very good adaptation of the episode. However, I only give it 4 stars for the two instances where Felicity and Cecily each flirted with Andrew, who happens to be their first cousin.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews