Though starkly different from Pollyanna, the book that propelled author Eleanor H. Porter to worldwide acclaim, the engrossing novel Dawn plumbs some of the same themes as its predecessor, including the importance of always maintaining an optimistic outlook on life, no matter how dire the circumstances you are facing. Set against the backdrop of World War I, the novel's protagonist is a young man whose vision is gradually degrading. Will he continue to wallow in his despair, or will he find a way to accept his encroaching blindness?