You know at the beginning of the movie Annie (circa 1982), when Annie saves Sandy from the gang of ruffians who tie a string of cans to his tail? Sandy licks Annie’s cheek in gratitude and Annie deflects, saying, “I didn’t do nothing any decent person wouldn’t have done.”
Please meet Magnolia Rose Vandiver, one of the most decent people in Maine. Magnolia’s not an orphan and her hair is not curly, red, or big like Quvenzhané Wallis’ but she does possess Annie’s sense of determination and compassion.