What is the recommended reading order for the Lorinda Dauphinee books?

While you can read them by release date, the best chronological order starts with The Best/Worst Christmas Present Ever (where Lorinda is youngest), followed by A House Far from Home , Mystery Lights at Blue Harbour , Lorinda's Diary , and finally Thirteen Never Changes .

Should I read Before Green Gables before or after the original Anne of Green Gables?

Even though it is chronologically a prequel, it is highly recommended to read L.M. Montgomery's original Anne of Green Gables first. This allows you to appreciate the character setups and emotional weight that Budge Wilson built into the prequel.

Are the Izzie books connected to a larger series?

Yes, the Izzie books are part of the larger Our Canadian Girl series, a multi-author historical fiction project. Budge Wilson wrote the four books focusing specifically on Isabel "Izzie" Publicover's life during WWII.

What was Budge Wilson's first published book?

Budge Wilson's debut book was The Best/Worst Christmas Present Ever , first published in 1984 when she was 56 years old.

Which Budge Wilson book won the most awards?

Her short-story collection The Leaving (1990/1991) is her most critically acclaimed original work, winning the CLA Young Adult Book Award and being named one of the best children's books of the last 25 years by the ALA.

What is the subject of her final collection, After Swissair?

Unlike her fiction, After Swissair (2016) is a collection of moving poems reflecting on the emotional aftermath and grief surrounding the 1998 crash of Swissair Flight 111 off Nova Scotia.

Budge Wilson Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Budge Wilson

Budge Wilson was a late-blooming literary treasure who published her debut novel at age 56. Over her four-decade career, she wrote 33 books that captured the complexities of growing up, the beauty of her native Nova Scotia, and the resilience of young spirits. Because her catalog spans across picture books, historical series, short story collections, and a world-famous prequel, the best place to start depends on what you are looking for:

For fans of L.M. Montgomery: Start with Before Green Gables. Published in 2008 to mark the centennial of the original masterpiece, this authorized prequel explores the early life of Anne Shirley before she arrived in Avonlea.
For lovers of short, poignant fiction: Begin with The Leaving (1990/1991). This critically acclaimed collection of short stories won the Canadian Library Association’s Young Adult Book Award and showcases Wilson’s deep, empathetic insight into adolescent struggles.
For middle-grade readers: Start with A House Far from Home (1986), the book that introduces her beloved recurring protagonist, Lorinda Dauphinee.
For historical fiction enthusiasts: Dive into The Christmas that Almost Wasn't (2002), the opening entry of her WWII-era Izzie subseries.

The Lorinda Dauphinee (Blue Harbour) Series

The Lorinda Dauphinee series (sometimes called the Blue Harbour series) is a collection of five middle-grade novels that follow a young girl growing up in Nova Scotia. While the books are typically listed by publication order, there is a minor chronological caveat concerning her debut novel. The Best/Worst Christmas Present Ever was originally published in 1984 as Wilson's debut work, featuring Lorinda at her youngest (around age 7 to 10). However, in later lists and reprints, it is often grouped third. Reading them in chronological story order allows you to watch Lorinda grow organically from a child to a teenager.

Chronological Reading Order:

The Best/Worst Christmas Present Ever (Originally published in 1984, database lists 1990) – Introducing Lorinda as a young child figuring out a meaningful Christmas gift for her challenging family.
A House Far from Home (1986) – Lorinda navigates new domestic situations and relationships.
Mystery Lights at Blue Harbour (1987) – Lorinda and her friends investigate mysterious occurrences along the Nova Scotian coast.
Lorinda's Diary (1991) – Written from Lorinda's direct perspective as she begins to record the trials of entering adolescence.
Thirteen Never Changes (1991) – The final book in the sequence, where a 13-year-old Lorinda finds comfort and guidance by reading her late grandmother's childhood diaries.

The Izzie Series (Our Canadian Girl)

Budge Wilson contributed four historical novels to the popular multi-author historical project Our Canadian Girl. Her subseries focuses on Isabel "Izzie" Publicover, a young girl living on the South Shore of Nova Scotia during the Second World War. These books should be read in chronological order, as they follow Izzie's family changes and the progression of the war years from 1941 to 1945.

Izzie Books Reading Order:

The Christmas that Almost Wasn't (2002) – Set in December 1941, introducing Izzie and her family as they prepare for a wartime holiday.
Trongate Fury (2005) – Set in 1942, tracing the family's move to Dartmouth after Izzie's father joins the Canadian Navy.
Patricia's Secret (2005) – Set later in 1942, exploring Izzie's experiences and secret plans in the town of Woodside.
Homecoming (2006) – Chronicling the final weeks of World War II and the immediate aftermath in Halifax, including historical events like the VE-Day riots.

Before Green Gables: The Authorized Prequel

Budge Wilson's most internationally recognized novel is Before Green Gables (2008). Authorized by L.M. Montgomery's heirs, the novel fills in the tragic yet hope-filled childhood of Anne Shirley before her historic train ride to Prince Edward Island. It traces Anne's life through foster families, orphanages, and her internal survival mechanisms. While it is chronologically a prequel to Montgomery's series, readers are highly advised to read Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables first to appreciate the subtle nods, foreshadowing, and character origins Wilson weaves into the prequel.

Standalone Novels and Collections

Aside from her series, Budge Wilson was a master of the standalone narrative and the short-story format. Her collections and standalone novels offer mature, realistic, and often bittersweet portrayals of family dynamics and regional history.

Standalone Novels:

Breakdown (1989) – A sensitive exploration of a family coping with a parent's mental breakdown.
Madame Belzile and Ramsay Hitherton Hobbs (1990) – A charming tale of connection across backgrounds.
Oliver's Wars (1992) – Follows a young boy named Oliver navigating the social minefields of a new school and family tensions during the Gulf War.
Sharla (1997) – A young adult novel exploring identity, secrets, and maturity.

Short Story and Poetry Collections:

The Leaving (1991) – A highly decorated collection exploring themes of feminine strength, growth, and domestic relationships.
Cordelia Clark (1994) – A collection of stories featuring vivid Canadian character studies.
The Courtship (1994) – Explores romantic and family relationships in Atlantic Canada.
The Dandelion Garden (1995) – Another acclaimed collection of short fiction for young adults.
Mothers and Other Strangers: Stories (1996) – Short stories focused on maternal relationships and familial expectations.
Fractures (2002) – A collection dealing with emotional and physical challenges in teenage lives.
Friendships (2006) – Stories exploring the complexity of young friendships.
After Swissair (2016) – A deeply moving collection of poetry written in response to the tragic crash of Swissair Flight 111 off the coast of Nova Scotia in 1998.

What to Know Before You Start

Budge Wilson’s writing is heavily grounded in the maritime landscape of Nova Scotia, and the sea often acts as a character itself. While her books are simple enough for young readers, they deal with complex emotional realities, such as grief, depression, and changing social structures, with a gentle hand compared often to the writing style of Alice Munro. Most of her standalone novels and story collections can be read out of order, but sticking to chronological order for the Lorinda and Izzie series offers the most satisfying character arcs.