Little Miss Joy

"Little Miss Joy" by Emma Marshall is a historical fiction novel set in the late 1800s, around the seaside town of Great Yarmouth. It tells the story of a young girl called Little Miss Joy, and how her life crosses with a worried woman, Patience Harrison, awaiting her son, Jack, and others. The book looks at the emotional connections between family members, love, and the problems of youth. The story begins in a quiet Great Yarmouth before sunrise, as Patience hopes for the return of her son, who ran away after a disagreement with his aunt, Miss Pinckney, who made life hard for him and his mom. Little Miss Joy appears as an optimistic girl who uses her innocence and kindness to improve the lives of people around her, including Patience, creating a tone that combines comfort and drama.