Pollyanna

About the book

Pollyanna comes to live with her Aunt Polly after her father's death, bringing a game that asks her to find something to be glad about in difficult circumstances. Her aunt's sense of duty provides shelter without immediately supplying warmth, while the child's curiosity draws her towards neighbours with worries of their own. Porter builds the story through encounters in which optimism can be irritating, surprising, or unexpectedly useful. The game does not remain merely a phrase repeated to others; events place pressure on Pollyanna's ability to practise it herself. The narrative explores how attention changes relationships, particularly when people have become accustomed to being seen chiefly through their grievances. Its appeal rests on the exchange between a child's hopeful energy and a community's capacity to respond.

• Hope
• Community
• Mutual care

Why read it

For a warm account of an idea tested through relationships, including the difficulties faced by the child who offers it.

English text