Ah, the the ultimate Heartwarming Orphan tale! Many of us know Pollyanna Whittier for her saccharine sweetness and undying optimism... for her "Glad Game" and for melting the hearts of all the town grumps. What we may have forgotten is that she also happens to be a clueless innocent with only a mere scrap of a verbal filter, so she ends up saying a lot of hilariously horrifying things. But no matter, everyone loves her. And by everyone, I mean five or six people, though as the book begins to draw to a close, we learn that, oh ACTUALLY, Pollyanna hung out with about fifty people the book forgot to mention until just now, thank you.

David Swift and Walt Disney did an amazing job adapting this book for the big screen, and I honestly prefer the film to the book, but there's enough here to keep me entertained. Characters showing up out of the blue notwithstanding, the writing is solid and well-paced. The Nancy character does that annoying but seemingly true-to-the-time-period thing where she repeats phrases ("I am, I am! I do, I do!" See also: The Secret Garden) but nearly everyone else is palatable.

Also hilarious is the author's clear disdain of "motor cars," which apparently are self-driving and just go around mowing down small children for sport. Ah, to be alive in 1911.

The girls and I listened to this book while traveling in the car. We all enjoyed it! It was my first time reading this book and I really just loved the glad game. As unrealistic as it sounds, it is just a good way to try to live. We all loved the part where people from the town came to tell Aunt Polly about the glad game and to see her transformation in the end.

We both (myself and the 7yo) enjoyed this throughout, though the convoluted talk of past lovers and regrets went right over her head. Well worth the read just to discover and start playing "The Glad Game." I love that attitude.

I read this as a rather pointed attempt to give my kids an example of gratitude and optimism. Lily really liked it, and I was surprised by how much Clark followed and enjoyed the story.

I hadn't read this book since I was around 7 years old. What a beautiful story that everyone should read to their child. Pollyanna saw the world through a very unique perspective and it was a story that I think you should read over and over again throughout your llife just to remind yourself that whilst life can be tough, sometimes you've got to find something to be 'glad' about.

I enjoyed this book, but because I saw both of the movies before reading it (the 2003 movie being the one that's most close to the book!) I already mostly knew what was going to happen, which made it less exciting. I thought Pollyanna was slightly annoying, but it's not because of her gladness (she's cute, sweet, considerate, positive!). But other than that, this was a great book. :)

I absoulutely loved this book i reread it because it stuck with me for years after i first read it. Its a book i will keep with me forever.