Summary
Pollyanna follows the story of Pollyanna Whittier, an eternally optimistic and cheerful 11-year-old orphan who is sent to live with her stern and wealthy Aunt Polly in a small New England town after the death of her father.
Armed with her father’s teaching of “the glad game”—a way of finding something to be glad about in every situation—Pollyanna transforms the lives of those around her.
From grumpy neighbors to hopeless invalids, her relentless positivity challenges the bitterness, sadness, and cynicism that dominate many of the adults in her life.
However, when tragedy strikes Pollyanna herself, the story takes a more serious turn, testing whether her own philosophy can survive in the face of real hardship.