42 pages • 1 hour read
The Great Gilly Hopkins
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Book Brief
160
Novel • Fiction
Maryland • 1970s
1978
Middle grade
8-12 years
800L
Super Short Summary
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson follows 11-year-old Gilly Hopkins, a tough, intelligent foster child, as she navigates life in a new foster home in Thompson Park, Maryland during the 1970s. Despite her resistance, she begins to form bonds with her foster family, including Maime Trotter, a shy boy named William Ernest, and a kind elderly neighbor, Mr. Randolph. Gilly dreams of reuniting with her biological mother, leading her to scheme and make difficult choices, but ultimately, she learns the true meaning of family and belonging.
Challenging
Emotional
Bittersweet
Heartwarming
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
23,769 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson offers a heartfelt exploration of a resilient foster child. Reviews praise its emotional depth, complex characters, and candid portrayal of the foster care system. However, some readers find the protagonist, Gilly, challenging to empathize with due to her abrasive nature. Overall, it's a poignant and thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read The Great Gilly Hopkins?
A reader who would enjoy The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson likely appreciates heartfelt, character-driven stories about young people overcoming adversity. Fans of Anne of Green Gables and Bridge to Terabithia will find similar themes of personal growth, resilience, and the search for belonging.
23,769 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Maime Trotter
Maime Trotter
Gilly's foster mother in Thompson Park, Maryland, who is kind, nurturing, and fiercely loving towards her foster children, including Gilly and William Ernest.
William Ernest Teague
William Ernest Teague
The younger foster child in Maime Trotter's home, he is sweet but timid, wearing large glasses and slowly gaining confidence with Gilly's influence.
Mr. Randolph
Mr. Randolph
An elderly, visually impaired neighbor who is a close friend of Maime Trotter's family, enjoys poetry, and forms a friendship with Gilly.
Agnes Stokes
Agnes Stokes
A sixth-grade student who seeks friendship with Gilly despite Gilly's rude demeanor, presenting a more passive and clingy personality.
Miss Harris
Miss Harris
Gilly's sixth-grade teacher, who is intelligent, calm, and insightful, and presents a challenge to Gilly's usual manipulative tactics.
160
Novel • Fiction
Maryland • 1970s
1978
Middle grade
8-12 years
800L
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