35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent and Provocative Prose for Pre-Teens, June 29, 2000
This review is from: The Great Gilly Hopkins (Paperback)
Contemporary. Absorbing. Insightful. Reflective. Dramatic. Humorous. These are just a few adjectives that can be heaped on this excellent novel for children. Ms. Paterson has written a book that can stand the test of time with its multiple themes: conflict resolution, facing reality, the universal need by all for security, and to a lesser degree, the inhumanity of man to man. As Gilly may have put it, "This is one damn good book!'
As I began to read the selection, I was unnerved somewhat by Gilly's frequent uses of profanity. I thought this be unsuitable in a book intended for children. However, as I progressed, I realized that his provided the reader with an essential character trait of the young lady. From years of being shuffled from one home to another, Gilly had become angry and mistrusting of others. Her language and actions were defense mechanisms she used to cope with her feelings of unworthiness.
I could relate to the child's prejudices because as an African-American, I have been witness to some of the same ignorance possessed by the story's central character. It is admirable of the author to include such thinking for it promotes discussion about how we see each other.
The supporting characters are memorable and well developed. From the kindness of the overweight Maime Trotter to the poetry-reciting blind Mr. Randolph, the "people" in the story are so realistically portrayed that the reader cannot help but have concern for them. Honestly speaking, I almost shed a tear when Gilly had to leave her new "family."
Speaking of Gilly, the young lady changes from an angry child to a loving individual who discovers that life is not always the way it's supposed to be.
In an era when foster families and abandoned children abound, this book speaks to all of us. It shows how important the family unit is, how children need support, and how we are dependent on each other.
Such a simple message this is, unfortunately, forgotten by most.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Wacky Family, March 4, 2004
A Kid's Review
This review is from: The Great Gilly Hopkins (Paperback)
The Great Gilly Hopkins
The main character Gilly Hopkins is a self centered unloved 6th grader. In less than 3 years, she's been moved to 3 foster homes. When she meets her new foster family, which consists of a fat lady, named Trotter, a punny retarded 7-year-old William Ernest and a blind black old man Randolph. She tries lots of things to get away from them and the old run down house. She even steals, cleans and gives William Ernest reading lessons. She does all that hard work just to get caught. The one-day she gets taken away to live with her grandma and then she realizes how much she loves and misses her foster Family. Then she meets her real mom and finds out she doesn't love her. Next she figures out that the Trotters love her and she loves them.
I thought it was great how Gilly changed so much and how she learned it was okay to be loved and love. I really enjoyed when she was teaching William Ernest how to fight and stand up for himself and I need to learn how to stand up for myself. I thought it was a wonderful book with lots of detail and feelings that a kid might feel in their everyday life.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
5th grade class captivated with Gilly's life and personality, October 17, 1998
By A Customer
We are class 5T in Holland Elementary School in Holland, Massachusetts. We read The Great Gilly Hopkins for our second literature study book of the year. Our age group is from 10 to 11 years.
Gilly Hopkins is about an angry foster child who has a history of moving through many foster homes. She arrives at Maime Trotter's house hating her foster mother. During her stay at Trotter's house, Gilly learns love, self-control, and respect for others.
This is what we liked about the book. We became emotionally touched by Gilly's situation. Some of us cried while we read the book. Gilly was an interesting character because she changed from having hostile feelings for others to being a loving person. Some of us thought the author used vivid vocabulary that made Gilly seem real and interesting.
There are a few things we did not like about the book. Some of us thought the ending was sad. Gilly uses a lot of swears, and some of us didn't approve of that. There wasn't a lot of action in the story. People who like adventure stories might not like Gilly Hopkins.
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