i first read this book back home in Ghana, when i was about 10. my impression? short version: "one of the the best books i've ever read, made me fall in love with reading, and it took me another 10 years before i could find the sequel to that. i mean, its Africa, so you know what i mean... I couldn't hide my joy. today someone told me that it's a book for 12 year old girls. i think that's rubbish!" i owe my reading life to L.M. Montgomery. God rest her soul!