Title: The Great Gilly Hopkins
Author: Katherine Paterson
Major Themes: Foster Children, Family
Synopsis: Gilly Hopkins is tired of being stuck with one foster family after another, so she decides to contact her birth mother to beg for rescue.
We’ve had The Great Gilly Hopkins on the shelf for quite a while, and although I’ve been curious about the book, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up except I needed to read two books by the same author for a reading challenge. I chose to read Paterson’s Lyddie and this book, and I’m so glad I did! If I’d known what this book contained language-wise before picking it up, I doubt I would have read it; in this case, I’m grateful I didn’t know, because this story is a gem!
Publisher’s description:
The timeless Newbery Honor Book from bestselling author Katherine Paterson about a wisecracking, ornery, completely unforgettable young heroine.
Eleven-year-old Gilly has been stuck in more foster families than she can remember, and she’s hated them all. She has a reputation for being brash, brilliant, and completely unmanageable, and that’s the way she likes it. So when she’s sent to live with the Trotters—by far the strangest family yet—she knows it’s only a temporary problem.
Gilly decides to put her sharp mind to work and get out of there fast. She’s determined to no longer be a foster kid. Before long she’s devised an elaborate scheme to get her real mother to come rescue her. Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t work out quite as she hoped it would.…
My thoughts:
I’ve always enjoyed reading stories about fostered or adopted children. Something about their stories grips me, and because of that and a recommendation from someone I trust, I knew I wanted to read The Great Gilly Hopkins one day. This book is different from many other foster stories I’ve read over the years, because it doesn’t come from a Christian perspective. It’s a very redemptive story, though, and I ended up falling in love with Gilly—even if I struggled with her at times, too!
Gilly is loud, uncouth, and determined, and somehow, I connected with her instantly. Despite her language and penchant for lying and stealing, this needy, broken girl wormed her way into my heart, and I rooted for her from almost the first page. Her inner, snarky dialogue was a delight, and I especially loved the way those around her showed her love—even when she rejected them at every turn. Mrs. Trotter was just a dear; I admired the way she subtly helped Gilly and had such patience with her, even when Gilly was being a jerk.
The Great Gilly Hopkins shows both the heartbreak and the hope for children in the foster care system. It shows just how much these children need love, understanding, and piles of grace—and also illustrates the transformation that can come about when consistent, unconditional love is used on even seemingly hardened, unresponsive individuals. I found this book to be an unexpected delight (despite the language!), and expect it will remain a treasured part of our family’s library.
WARNING: (There are no chapter numbers in this book, just titles.) Racism appears a few times through the book (never shown in a positive light). Welcome to Thompson Park: Cripes, for pete’s sake, jeez. The Man Who Comes to Supper: God!, my god, why the hell, good god (twice), hell, jeez. More Unpleasant Surprises: Oh the devil, what a blinking bore, god, hell, a fight, the whole cussed place. ‘Sarsaparilla to Sorcery’: Arum golly goshee, good lord, hell, like heck you were, that damn first-grade teacher, what in the hell, stealing. William Ernest and Other Mean Flowers: What the heck, double-damn, stealing, what in the devil, gee, lying. Harassing Miss Harris: A bloody genius, cursed creatively. Dust and Desperation: Lying, the little cuss, stealing, hell (twice), I swear, a threat to punch someone, mercy (twice), my god, what the hell, god, oh god. The One-Way Ticket: Who in the hell, good god, stealing, jeez, oh god (twice), mention that a girl was bustless, hell, damn (twice), like hell, where in the hell. Pow: Those damned cops, get the hell outa my way (twice), damn; mercy, girl. The Visitor: Damn, jeez, lying, dammit, oh my god. Never and Other Cancelled Promises: Lying; mercy, boy; hell (twice). The Going: Oh, god; hell, dammit. Jackson, Virginia: Oh, hell; how in the hell, that damn letter. Homecoming: My god; God, don’t let me…; dammit, go to hell.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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