The Great Gilly Hopkins

Title: The Great Gilly Hopkins        

Author: Katherine Paterson

Copyright Date: 1978                   

Genre: Realistic Fiction                                     

Pages of Book: 148 Pages

Publisher: Harper Collins                                                

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Summary: Gilly is an eleven year old foster child who is moved to a new home with the Trotters. Gilly won't let anyone love her because she is sure that her mom is going to come get her. She tries to hate the Trotters though they make it very tough fro her. Finally she decides that she needs to get out of there before she starts to like them even more. She steals money from the black man next door and Miss Trotter and tries to go see her mom. However she is caught and sent back. She really starts to like living with the Trotters until her grandmother shows up to get her. She is forced to go live with her grandma. Her mom comes to visit and Gilly is very excited until she learns that her mom doesn't love her and only came because her mom paid for her to come. 

Reaction: Even though this is a controversial book, I loved it. I do agree that you would need to explain and discuss this book with children after they read it. 

Problem: Gilly want to live with her own mother. She doesn't treat the Trotters very nicely. 

Recommendation: I would recommend this book, like I said before I would use some caution. Though it really didn't have anything that major.