I mainly read this because a song I like has the phrase "Pollyannish paradise". I was pleasantly surprised. It made me smile, laugh, and, at moments, feel sad. It reminded me that some of the most enduring fiction is centered around human relationships, which may change over the years, but stay relatable to most people.

I was also surprised at how biting the societal critique was in this book. Through innocent, childish observations of how adults act, Pollyanna was often confused by the mismatch between the stated values and actions of the adults around her. The church ladies who wouldn't help her orphan friend because they wanted their donation to top the list of donors to a group in India. Nothing like direct, innocent questioning to reveal the absurdities of the justifications people make for themselves.