54 pages • 1 hour read
Ellen Foster
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
126
Novel • Fiction
Southern US • 1970s
1987
Adult
14-18 years
870L
Super Short Summary
In Ellen Foster, by Kaye Gibbons, a resilient young girl named Ellen navigates a tumultuous life in the American South, enduring and overcoming familial abuse and neglect to ultimately find solace and stability in a loving foster home. Sensitive topics include domestic violence, child sexual assault, psychological abuse, child neglect, suicide, and racial prejudice.
Melancholic
Challenging
Emotional
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
32,495 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Kaye Gibbons' Ellen Foster has received praise for its compelling voice and portrayal of resilience in the face of adversity. The protagonist's perspective captivates readers, though some critiques note a potentially harsh tone and underdeveloped secondary characters. Overall, it is lauded for its depth and emotional impact, despite occasional narrative limitations.
Who Should Read Ellen Foster?
Readers who enjoyed the poignant storytelling in The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd or the resilience found in The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls will be drawn to Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons. This novel appeals to those who appreciate narratives of personal growth and overcoming adversity, particularly within a Southern American context.
32,495 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
126
Novel • Fiction
Southern US • 1970s
1987
Adult
14-18 years
870L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.