Just David
by Eleanor H. Porter
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If you have a soft spot for Eleanor H. Porter's beloved novel Pollyanna, you should definitely add Just David to your reading list. Written just a few years after Porter penned her best-known work, this emotionally resonant and uplifting tale mines many of the same themes, albeit from a starkly different vantage-point. David is a young boy who has lived an extremely sheltered life in the mountains, with just his father and his beloved violin to keep him company. When his father is beset by a show more grave illness, David is thrust out of his idyllic existence and is forced to grapple with the reality of the outside world. Will this innocent be able to make it through this trying time with his virtue—and his life—intact?. show less
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One of my all-time favorite books, Just David shows the optimism of a young musician, even as he is uprooted and loses his father. The realism of his situation makes it more believable to the reader, while his ineffably bright outlook and hope is the salve that heals himself, his neighbors and the reader.
David has lived alone on the mountain with his father. His father becomes ill and tries to return to the city before his own death. David’s father dies on the trip and a small town takes in the queer boy.
It’s written by the same author as Pollyanna and it felt like author just changed the names of the characters and republished Pollyanna as Just David.
It’s written by the same author as Pollyanna and it felt like author just changed the names of the characters and republished Pollyanna as Just David.
63. Just David, by Eleanor H. Porter (read in 1940) In 1917 this book was the third best selling novel. The author's most famous book was Pollyanna which I never read because it was not in our school library.
Originally published in1916
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First published in 1916
68 works; 4 members
Publisher's Weekly Bestsellers Part I - 1895-1939
399 works; 8 members
Children's Literature 1900 - 1950 in order
413 works; 8 members
Books Read in 2021
5,361 works; 114 members
Author Information
51+ Works 9,347 Members
Author Eleanor H. Porter was born in Littleton, New Hampshire on December 19, 1868. Before becoming a writer, she trained as a singer at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. She wrote numerous short stories, children's literature, and adult novels including Miss Billy; Miss Billy's Decision; Miss Billy - Married; Pollyanna; Pollyanna show more Grows Up; Just David; Dawn; and Little Pardner. She died on May 21, 1920. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1916
- Dedication
- To my friend, Mrs. James Hartness
- First words
- Far up on the mountain-side the little shack stood alone in the clearing.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)There in a quiet kitchen he plays to an old man and an old woman; and always to himself he says that he is practicing against the time when, his violin at his chin and the bow drawn across the strings , he shall go to meet his father in the far-away land, and tell him of the beautiful world he has left.
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- Members
- 536
- Popularity
- 55,394
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (4.05)
- Languages
- English, Japanese, Romanian, Turkish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 50
- ASINs
- 21
