The Great Gilly Hopkins - Katherine Paterson

A great choice for reluctant readers.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

Common Sense rates it
4
Read the book?
1500_orig.jpg
Book details
  • Author:Katherine Paterson
  • # of pages: 148
  • Publisher:HarperTrophy
  • Original Publication Date: 01/01/1978
  • Genre: Fiction - Family Life
  • Paperback: $5.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Ages 9-12
  • Read Aloud: 10+
  • Read Alone: 11+

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book is highly appealing, especially to kids beginning to rebel against authority. Fresh and inventive writing keeps readers engrossed.

Families can talk about expectations. Why are Gilly's expectations for her mother so high? How does Gilly try to protect herself from disappointment?

Message

Social Behavior:

Gilly begins with severe prejudice against African-Americans but grows to love both the black people in her life. The main character steals from a blind man, sends a racial taunt to her teacher, beats up kids, and defies all authority.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Sex

Language

Occasional religiously themed profanity.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Amy Brotman

Gilly is one tough kid. She intends to destroy every one of her foster mothers so she can live with her mysterious real mother. She meets her match in Mrs. Trotter, an overweight, uneducated woman who's only weapon is total love for her foster kids. Can Gilly prevail against that? A great choice for reluctant readers.



Is it any good?

4

She beats boys up. She terrorizes teachers. She drives unsuspecting foster parents to nervous breakdowns. Paterson has created a believable character in Gilly, and readers learn how pain drives the bad behavior of this foster kid.

Gilly thinks she's smarter than any authority figure--until she meets a woman who has had little education but who has wisdom in spades. Mrs. Trotter knows kids, and she knows how to handle Gilly.

On her first morning at Mrs. Trotter's, Gilly refuses to comb her hair, expecting to upset her foster mother, but Mrs. Trotter simply ignores the problem. That upsets Gilly, who runs upstairs and combs her hair, outraged that Mrs. Trotter would allow her to go to school in that condition. Only when Gilly hurts others does Mrs. Trotter firmly take charge.

Gilly ridicules Mrs. Trotter's deep religious faith and defies her at every turn, but she just can't escape the woman's relentless love. Readers are satisfied with the ending, as Gilly resolves her issues and learns to love and be loved.

Those who enjoy this book may also like Paula Danziger's The Divorce Express.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

4

Posted on 07/26/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great for discussion with adults, but know your kid

The main character of this book is Gilly a foster child who has been moved around a lot. She struggles with fears, anger, and feeling alone and unloved. She lies, steals, bullies other kids, is prejudiced, and uses profanity. She learns to eventually trust and love her foster family before being removed to live with her grandmother. At the end of the book, she finally meets her biological mother only to find that her mother does not love her and is not interested in living with her. This is a great book for discussion but it may be disturbing for kids reading it on their own. Ages 13+ should be fine reading this book. Ages 11-12 may or may not be okay reading it. Kids 10 and under will probably be disturbed by the themes unless they have a troubled past. My 10 year old was uncomfortable after she read it on her own. She did feel better after we discussed it. I wish we had read it together and discussed it throughout.
5


Posted on 03/11/08 by Mojo02 Kid contributor, age 12

I read this a while ago...

7+
3


Posted on 03/01/08 by bookluver101 Kid contributor, age 14
0

Posted on 02/12/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 10/31/07 by VICKY227 Kid contributor, age 12
4

Posted on 10/08/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

i laughed

great gilly hopkins was the best book in the whole world. it was about a girl who has been sent to alot of foster homes. she hated all the mothers. then this one foster mother mrs.totts, i call her, is all about her kids. can gilly stand it or will she try to do something?
3


Posted on 03/12/05 by Vijay Kid contributor, age 9

I laughed out loud!

The Great Gilly Hopkins is a good book despit the language that I winced at a bit. Gilly gets sent to a foster home and absouloutly despises the mother. Gilly (or Galdriel) swears round the clock but you can laugh at how she talks. Example: Gilly says "Good god!" and the Mother looks at GIlly sternly and Gilly says "Okay, okay, I didn't say it! Hell, a girl can't even talk around here!" You don't want to laugh, but you have to! Gilly mensions Adultory once, and my Mom had to explain to me what that was. Gilly beats up other kids and has a strong hatred against blacks. She refers to the Mother (Trotter) as "A religious freak" because she is christian. Gilly teaches a little boy to fight convincing him to swear, punch and do anything to be a bad influence.

See all 7 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

4

Posted on 07/26/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great for discussion with adults, but know your kid

The main character of this book is Gilly a foster child who has been moved around a lot. She struggles with fears, anger, and feeling alone and unloved. She lies, steals, bullies other kids, is prejudiced, and uses profanity. She learns to eventually trust and love her foster family before being removed to live with her grandmother. At the end of the book, she finally meets her biological mother only to find that her mother does not love her and is not interested in living with her. This is a great book for discussion but it may be disturbing for kids reading it on their own. Ages 13+ should be fine reading this book. Ages 11-12 may or may not be okay reading it. Kids 10 and under will probably be disturbed by the themes unless they have a troubled past. My 10 year old was uncomfortable after she read it on her own. She did feel better after we discussed it. I wish we had read it together and discussed it throughout.

Kids Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/11/08 by Mojo02 Kid contributor, age 12

I read this a while ago...

7+
3


Posted on 03/01/08 by bookluver101 Kid contributor, age 14
0

Posted on 02/12/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 10/31/07 by VICKY227 Kid contributor, age 12
4

Posted on 10/08/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

i laughed

great gilly hopkins was the best book in the whole world. it was about a girl who has been sent to alot of foster homes. she hated all the mothers. then this one foster mother mrs.totts, i call her, is all about her kids. can gilly stand it or will she try to do something?
3


Posted on 03/12/05 by Vijay Kid contributor, age 9

I laughed out loud!

The Great Gilly Hopkins is a good book despit the language that I winced at a bit. Gilly gets sent to a foster home and absouloutly despises the mother. Gilly (or Galdriel) swears round the clock but you can laugh at how she talks. Example: Gilly says "Good god!" and the Mother looks at GIlly sternly and Gilly says "Okay, okay, I didn't say it! Hell, a girl can't even talk around here!" You don't want to laugh, but you have to! Gilly mensions Adultory once, and my Mom had to explain to me what that was. Gilly beats up other kids and has a strong hatred against blacks. She refers to the Mother (Trotter) as "A religious freak" because she is christian. Gilly teaches a little boy to fight convincing him to swear, punch and do anything to be a bad influence.
Review It
Which fantasy book creature has the best name?
Fluffy (3-headed dog, Harry Potter)
33%
Mister Grin (giant crocodile, Peter and the Starcatchers)
17%
Vermicious Knid (shapeshifting monster, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator)
0%
The Incredibly Deadly Viper (harmless snake, Series of Unfortunate Events)
8%
Bunnicula (vampire bunny, Bunnicula series)
42%
12 votes