# Jamie Kent — Pollyanna Grows Up character guide > Jamie Kent in Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Jamie, James Kent, Kent, the lost Jamie, Sir James **First appearance:** 0009-viii-jamie ## Snapshot A crippled, wistful boy whose bond with Pollyanna rests on a shared memory of being unable to walk, and whose identity may be more than it seems. ## Who they are Jamie turns to Pollyanna with a relief he shows no one else, because she alone once knew what it was to be unable to walk. Beneath his gaiety Pollyanna detects a new bitterness, and he avoids the others, sighing with relief when he is alone with her. His dependence on her understanding deepens just as Jimmy's jealousy sharpens, placing Pollyanna at the center of a quiet, unspoken rivalry. ## Relationships ### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier) _friendship_ Jamie Kent is a gentle, invalid boy who becomes Pollyanna's close friend, inspired by her optimism. ### [Aunt Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/aunt_polly) _social_ Aunt Polly is politely sympathetic toward Jamie Kent, but their interactions are limited and formal. ### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier) _friendship_ Jamie Kent is a gentle, invalid boy who becomes Pollyanna's close friend, inspired by her optimism. ### [Aunt Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/aunt_polly) _social_ Aunt Polly is politely sympathetic toward Jamie Kent, but their interactions are limited and formal. ### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier) _friendship_ Jamie Kent is a gentle, invalid boy who becomes Pollyanna's close friend, inspired by her optimism. ## In the story ### [A New Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/vii-a-new-acquaintance) The lame boy in the wheel chair, who loves reading and names the animals after literary characters; he shares stories with Pollyanna. ### [Jamie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/viii-jamie) A boy who cannot walk, lives with the Murphy family, and keeps a Jolly Book. He is in chronic pain and experiences hunger. Pollyanna suspects he is the lost Jamie Kent. ### [Plans and Plottings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/ix-plans-and-plottings) Referenced as the sick boy who sent Jerry to fetch Pollyanna; described as a reader of knightly tales, a feeder of birds and squirrels, and a player of the glad game. ### [In Murphy's Alley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/x-in-murphy-s-alley) Lying sick in bed, he greets Pollyanna warmly, explains how his mother plays the glad game, and shares his fear of being evicted due to unpaid rent. ### [A Surprise for Mrs. Carew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xi-a-surprise-for-mrs-carew) Refuses Mrs. Carew's offer to take him in, feeling she does not truly want him for himself; heartbroken but resolute. ### [A Waiting and a Winning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xiii-a-waiting-and-a-winning) Hesitates to accept Mrs. Carew's offer but ultimately agrees when he perceives her genuine care; participates in the party with stories and games. ### [Jimmy and the Green-Eyed Monster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xiv-jimmy-and-the-green-eyed-monster) Discussed by Pollyanna as a boy she met in Boston; subject of Jimmy's jealousy. ### [Aunt Polly Takes Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xv-aunt-polly-takes-alarm) Now living with Mrs. Carew, in a wheelchair, pale but happy, receiving tutoring and music training. ### [Two Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xix-two-letters) Adopted by Mrs. Carew, uses crutches, and is described as having a free soul despite being a cripple; his great fear is discovering he is not the real Jamie Kent. ### [The Paying Guests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xx-the-paying-guests) Arrives on crutches but with charm and magnetism; engages in storytelling and helps with chores, making Pollyanna forget his lameness. ### [Summer Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxi-summer-days) Persuades Pollyanna to join picnics; struggles with his crutches during the camping trip but tries to hide his difficulties; his storytelling captivates the group. ### [Comrades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxii-comrades) Speaks of his conviction that he is Jamie Kent and his fear of disappointing Mrs. Carew; shows bitterness about his crutches but quickly recovers with the Glad Game; mentions helping Jerry and his mother. ### [XXIII: “Tied to Two Sticks”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxiii-tied-to-two-sticks) Struggles physically on the hike; is devastated by his inability to help Pollyanna during the bull attack, expressing his pain through a bitter outburst about being 'tied to two sticks.' ### [XXIV: Jimmy Wakes Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxiv-jimmy-wakes-up) Shows bitterness beneath his gaiety after the bull incident, and increasingly seeks Pollyanna's companionship, believing she understands his disability. ### [John Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxvi-john-pendleton) Writes a letter mentioning waiting for Mrs. Carew to come home from a social event with Pendleton. ### [Jimmy and Jamie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxviii-jimmy-and-jamie) Celebrates winning a writing prize and book acceptance, reveals his love for Sadie Dean, and mistakenly believes Pollyanna is in love with John Pendleton. ### [Jimmy and John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxix-jimmy-and-john) Mentioned as having won a prize and as the source of Jimmy's mistaken belief about Pollyanna and John Pendleton; also linked to Sadie Dean. ### [After Long Years](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxxi-after-long-years) Mentioned as the boy who believes he is Mrs. Carew's nephew; Jimmy worries about the impact on him. ### [A New Aladdin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxxii-a-new-aladdin) Announces his engagement to Sadie Dean. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/jamie_kent - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters