Half a Dozen Girls

In Short

This novel follows six girls—and one spirited boy, Alan—as they navigate the humdrum and the high drama of life in a small town. Through failed reading clubs, disastrous cooking attempts, and elaborate, improvised plays, these friends learn to support one another through the inevitable messiness of growing up. While the setting is firmly rooted in the late 19th century, the book has lasted because it captures the universal, often humorous, intensity of close female friendships and the quiet wisdom found in accepting that not every day can be a success.

The Story

The narrative centers on Polly Adams and her close-knit group of friends as they transition through the seasons of a pivotal year. From the start, Polly displays a fiery, impulsive nature, often struggling against the expectations of her sensible Aunt Jane. When two cousins, Katharine and Jessie, arrive from the West, the group expands, and the girls navigate the social frictions of different upbringings. Katharine, accustomed to a life of "society" and distant parents, initially finds the girls’ simple, active play strange, while Jessie’s ambition to become a doctor marks her as an outlier among her peers.

The girls’ year is punctuated by a series of ambitious, often bungled, projects. They attempt to start a reading club to improve their minds, only to abandon the book for the lure of outdoor play. When a servant leaves the Adams household, Polly and her friend Molly decide to take over the kitchen, hoping to surprise Polly’s father with a gourmet meal. Their efforts, however, result in a comedic catastrophe that leaves the kitchen in disarray and the girls humbled. Similarly, their theatrical ambitions—a play about John Smith and Pocahontas—devolve into a chaotic, hilarious performance that reflects their own creative, if misguided, energy.

Throughout these escapades, the group faces genuine emotional challenges. Polly grapples with her own pride and her relationship with Alan, her frequent companion and target of her sudden outbursts. A moment of intense, misplaced anger leads Polly to drench Alan with a hose, a decision she deeply regrets when she fears for his health. The girls also experience the quiet sorrow of parting as the school year ends and their small world shifts.

As the story reaches its conclusion, the reality of change becomes unavoidable. The girls hold a final, somber dinner as they prepare for the departure of their friends. Despite the heartbreak of separation, the narrative closes with a letter from Polly that highlights the continuity of their lives. She recounts, with characteristic humor and warmth, the latest antics of their old horse, Job, and the ongoing lessons of their daily lives. They have learned that while grand plans often fail, the mundane, persistent effort of "doing the work that's nearest" is where the true, quiet beauty of growing up resides.

How It Unfolds

The Adams family circle Polly’s impulsive nature is established as she clashes with the rigid expectations of her Aunt Jane. She seeks escape from domestic boredom through her deep bond with her friends and her constant companion, Alan.

The girls try to improve their minds An attempt to form a reading club is quickly abandoned, signaling the girls' preference for action over study. They pivot to creative pursuits, deciding to write and perform an original play to capture their shared imaginations.

Polly encounters the servant question Polly and Molly attempt to manage the household in the cook’s absence, viewing their domestic labor as a grand adventure. Their confidence is shattered by the reality of culinary failure, leading to a lesson in humility and appreciation for their mothers.

Katharine’s arrival and transformation The arrival of the western cousins introduces a new perspective on social status and ambition. Katharine slowly sheds her detachment, finding more value in the girls' genuine, simple companionship than in the "society" life she once craved.

Polly’s dark day A moment of unchecked temper leads to a serious quarrel with Alan, causing Polly intense internal distress. She learns the weight of her own actions and the value of the relationships she risks through her pride.

One last glimpse The departure of the cousins marks the end of their formative year together. The story concludes with a look forward, suggesting that while the girls will go their separate ways, the lessons of their friendship remain constant.

The People

Polly Adams is the heart of the story, characterized by her red-gold hair and a spirit that is as quick to anger as it is to love. She wants desperately to be grown up and capable, but her struggle to balance her pride with the need for humility drives her toward growth. Molly, her steadfast friend, acts as the pragmatist of the group, possessing a firm faith in her friends' abilities and a knack for organizing their chaotic projects.

Florence, another member of the core group, represents a quieter, more observant presence, often finding contentment in the simple beauty of their surroundings. Jean, the aspiring intellectual, balances her desire for knowledge with a deep sense of loyalty to her friends. Katharine and Jessie, the cousins from the West, serve as catalysts for change. Katharine arrives with a sense of "toploftical" detachment but ends up finding comfort in the warmth of the Adams home. Jessie, with her cool-headed ambition to become a doctor, stands apart, representing a vision of the future that challenges the girls' traditional expectations. Finally, Alan acts as the essential male counterpart, a boy whose teasing mask hides a deep, protective affection for his female cousins, ultimately learning, as they do, the value of kindness over cleverness.

In Its Own Voice

Describing the moral weight of their friendship, the book quotes a classic poem to set the tone:

"Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; Do noble things, not dream them, all day long: And so make life, death, and that vast forever One grand, sweet song."

Polly reflects on the simplicity of her home life versus the social pressures felt by her cousin Katharine:

"The simple life of the old town and her own mother's devotion to her had not taught her to know that, when the question arises between them, home life must give place to social."

As they ponder their futures, the girls define their varied dreams, with one declaring her intent to enter a challenging profession:

"I think that's what I mean to do," answered Jessie. "I believe I should rather like it, and if I can tease mamma into letting me try, I'm coming East again, in a few years, to study."

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an exploration of the transition between childhood and the responsibilities of adulthood. It argues that character is not built through grand gestures or intellectual vanity, but through the small, repetitive tasks of daily life and the maintenance of human relationships. The narrative consistently contrasts the girls' romanticized dreams of "noble things" with the messy reality of burned dinners and broken promises. It suggests that true wisdom lies in the ability to laugh at one's own failures and to value the "work that's nearest" over distant, ego-driven ambitions. Ultimately, it is a quiet defense of domestic stability, arguing that the security of a loving home and a circle of supportive friends provides the necessary foundation for any future, no matter how unconventional.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the gentle, character-driven pace of Little Women will find a familiar warmth here. The book feels like a long, lazy summer afternoon; it is slow, observant, and deeply rooted in the small details of local life. You will likely stay for the humor—the image of a group of girls and a boy being outwitted by an elderly, obstinate horse named Job is particularly memorable.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes of the late 19th century. The narrative style is leisurely, and the dialogue occasionally leans into the slightly moralizing tone common to children’s literature of the era. The characters are expected to behave with a decorum that may feel restrictive today, and the "servant question" reflects the class-conscious structure of the time. Yet, beneath these period trappings, the emotional arc is timeless. The anxieties of being misunderstood, the sting of a sharp word between friends, and the profound sadness of a changing social circle are as vivid today as they were when the book was written. For those who enjoy character studies that value kindness and resilience over high-stakes plot, this story offers a deeply comforting and authentic look at the architecture of a childhood friendship.