Paterson, Katherine (1978 ). The Great Gilly Hopkins. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. 1979 Newbery Honor Book
Gilly Hopkins is eleven years old and is again being taken by Miss Ellis to another foster home. She has been waiting for so long for her mother to come back for her. She can take care of herself, though, and doesn't need her new foster mother Maime Trotter! Gilly is surprised however to find that Trotter doesn't seem as affected by Gilly's strategies to get under her skin and this drives Gilly crazy to the point of actually letting Trotter, William Ernest, and blind Mr. Randolf get into her skin and unknowingly into her heart! That has never happened in all of Gilly's life! Miss Harris her new teacher at school seems to be doing the same thing as Trotter and things are not turning out the way Gilly planned to control them!
Then annoying Agnes Stokes adds to the confusion while becoming Gilly's so-called friend.
Before these people start messing with Gilly's emotions, she somehow manages to write to her mother and tell all the imaginary horrors of this foster home. She forgets about the letter after some interesting incidents and comes to soften up to her new family.
The letter comes back to bite her when her biological grandmother, Nonnie, comes to get her. Gilly wants to stay now, but the law forbids it! What is she to do? She will definitely miss her home with Trotter, but maybe her mother will have her back after all!
Disappointing is the meeting with her mother, but Gilly has been taught well by Trotter, William Ernest, and Mr. Randolph: Family sticks together and helps each other out. That is what she plans to do with Nonnie.
Paterson is a master of dialog and understatement! She definitely placed me into the action and I was lost in Gilly's life and she sure makes me proud at the end! I want to grow up to be just like her, so courageous and dignified! Thanks, Trotter!
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