Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

Pollyanna, the orphaned eleven-year old, has moved to live with her cold and stern maiden aunt, Polly, after her father's death. She calls it the 'glad game'. Her father had come up with it one Christmas. And ever since, her philosophy of life has centred around it. She brings gladness with this optimism, not just to her dispirited aunt, but also to the other members of the community. Until the day fate puts her optimism to rest. Pollyanna is faced with something so terrible that she is unable to find anything to feel glad about. Will her robust optimism be restored ? Will gladness return to her life ?