Pollyanna

It would have been easy to gush through this five hanky classic, but Hannah Gordon presents a realistic, yet warm and human, interpretation of each of the various dour and happy characters. Her narrative style reminds me of the late Elizabeth Montgomery of BEWITCHED as she describes the effect a glad orphan girl has on her maiden aunt's vinegary universe. The book is full of tears and laughter, and Gordon evokes them with small catches in her voice, trembling hesitations and sudden babbles of enthusiasm. She doesn't hit a false note anywhere, a master at her craft. D.W. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

July 1, 1998
Gr 7 Up-Unloved and unwanted, orphan Pollyanna Whittier boards an eastbound train to live with her Aunt Polly, a wealthy spinster. Aunt Polly treats the child insensitively, giving her a musty room in the attic and expecting her to keep quiet and stay out of the way. Pollyanna, with her optimistic outlook on life, turns all the lemons thrown her way into lemonade; punishments are viewed as rewards, unfriendly people in town are befriended. Pollyanna's "Glad Game" is soon played by all the people of the town. A terrible accident with a motor car as she is crossing the street finally breaks Pollyanna's spirit. When long-held secrets are finally revealed, even Aunt Polly comes around to warming up not only to her niece, but to a relationship she had long denied herself. This recording is based on the book by Eleanor H. Porter, originally published in 1913. It remains a charming, albeit old-fashioned, classic. Barbara Caruso's narration is faithful to the text, with a few minor changes sprinkled throughout. Caruso makes use of vocal inflections to differentiate characters. There is no background music or sound effects to distract listeners. Comparable in quality to Pollyanna read by S. Patricia Bailey (Blackstone Audiobooks, 1996), this recording is preferable to the same title available from Chivers (1995).-Stephanie Bange, Dayton & Montgomery County Public Library, OH

Copyright 1998 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.