Adele Doring of the Sunnyside Club

In Short

This narrative follows the "Sunnyside Club," a tight-knit circle of girls who dedicate their time to kindness, friendship, and collaborative mischief. Through a series of seasonal adventures—from cleaning a neglected cabin to hosting parties for orphanage residents—the girls learn that true contentment stems from helping others. The book persists as a gentle artifact of its era, capturing an idealized childhood where social responsibility is woven into the fabric of play. It remains a heartwarming exploration of how small, deliberate acts of generosity can ripple outward to change lives.

The Story

The story begins with the formation of the Sunnyside Club, a group of seven friends who turn their shared energy toward community projects. Led by the charismatic and compassionate Adele Doring, the girls secure a cabin they dub their "Secret Sanctum," which becomes the hub for their schemes. Their focus quickly turns to the local orphanage, where they become determined to provide a birthday celebration for Eva Dearman, a girl who has lost her parents and been left with nothing but a seemingly worthless deed to desert land.

As the seasons shift, the girls' activities range from the mundane to the mysterious. They host fudge parties, organize a play-house for the younger orphans, and even investigate the local rumors of ghosts and misers. Each chapter introduces a new challenge that the girls meet with characteristic enthusiasm and a sense of duty. Alongside these adventures, they navigate the complexities of school life, including the stress of examinations, which they manage to overcome through mutual support and a refusal to give in to anxiety.

The plot gains depth when the girls learn that Eva has been sent to live with a harsh guardian, Mrs. Cyrus Green, leaving her friends and the young Amanda Brown behind. The girls are devastated, yet their commitment to Eva remains steadfast. The resolution arrives with a dramatic turn: Eva’s long-lost uncle, Richard Dearman, returns from the West, having survived his supposed death in an Indian raid. His sudden appearance not only rescues Eva from her unhappy circumstances but reveals that the "worthless" Arizona land is a valuable asset, securing her future.

The book concludes with a celebratory departure. Eva and her uncle prepare to return to the Bar-X Ranch in the West, promising that Adele and her friends will visit during the summer. As the train pulls away, Adele reflects on the story-book nature of their recent experiences, finding both sadness in the farewell and excitement for the future. The ending provides a firm sense of closure for the club’s initial chapter, leaving the characters standing on the threshold of new, wider horizons.

How It Unfolds

The gathering of friends Adele and her companions establish the Sunnyside Club as a vehicle for their shared joy and spring-time energy. They quickly find a focus for their collective efforts by identifying the needs of children living in the local orphanage.

The secret mission The girls organize a birthday party for Eva Dearman, bringing a touch of celebration into a stark environment. They manage to secure the help of their brothers for the logistics, turning their service into a group project that fosters local unity.

The ordeal of separation The narrative shifts when Eva is sent away to a difficult home, challenging the girls' faith and resolve. They must reconcile their desire to help with the harsh realities of a child without family, leading to a period of communal anxiety.

The return of hope The arrival of Richard Dearman transforms the story from one of charitable sympathy to one of restored kinship. His emergence validates the girls' devotion to Eva, proving that their kindness was the catalyst for her rescue.

The departure for the west The final scenes focus on the bittersweet nature of growth as the girls prepare to send Eva toward her new life. The ending leaves the reader with a sense of completion, as the girls look forward to the adventures promised in their next series installment.

The People

Adele Doring is the heart of the club, possessed of a natural leadership style that is rooted in genuine empathy rather than ego. She acts as the primary bridge between her comfortable home life and the world of the orphans. Eva Dearman begins as a vulnerable, isolated figure, whose grace under pressure endears her to the others; by the end, she moves from the position of a dependent orphan to the mistress of a ranch. Richard Dearman provides the necessary adult intervention to resolve the central conflict, representing the "lost" family connection that Eva has desperately missed. Meanwhile, characters like the practical Bertha Angel and the imaginative, slightly timid Rosamond Wright offer a balance of temperaments that keeps the club dynamic, ensuring that every project is met with a mix of strategy and spirit.

In Its Own Voice

“I don’t believe that there’s a thing in the whole world that I have to wish for; I’ve mother and father and Jack and a happy home and such nice friends.”

Adele expresses her profound gratitude for her simple but full life during a spring outing.

“If you will go for a time, I will try in every way to have you recalled as soon as possible.”

The matron of the orphanage attempts to comfort Eva before she is sent to live with a cold, unloving guardian.

“Mumsie, dear, I feel as if I were living in a story-book, and that one chapter was finished, and now I am so eager to know what the next chapter will be.”

Adele reflects on the closing of the current adventure while standing on the train platform.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book examines the concept of "sunniness"—a deliberate cultivation of optimism and kindness as a moral duty. It argues that a happy home life is not just a personal comfort but a foundation from which to reach out to those who are lonely or neglected. The narrative explores the transition from the sheltered, play-filled world of childhood to the adult responsibilities of advocacy and care. It probes the question of how to maintain one’s spirit in the face of systemic hardship, suggesting that social institutions like orphanages need the warmth of human connection to be truly humane.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy vintage juvenile fiction will find this a charming, if sentimental, journey into a bygone era of girlhood. It feels like a time capsule of 1919, characterized by its polite tone, clear moral boundaries, and a distinct lack of the cynicism common in modern literature. For those who appreciate the "secret society" trope—where children create their own meaningful worlds through clubs and codes—this book offers a quintessential example of the genre.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific language and attitudes, particularly regarding the use of dialect and certain social assumptions of the time. The pacing is deliberate, focused more on the accumulation of small, virtuous deeds than on high-stakes conflict. While the story is predictable and occasionally leans heavily into the "everything works out perfectly" trope, it provides a warm, nostalgic reading experience. It is a book best suited for those looking to revisit an idealized vision of community and kindness, where the biggest problems are solved by the goodness of one’s heart and a bit of luck. Its length is manageable, and its earnestness makes it a comforting, lighthearted choice for a quiet afternoon.