-
A Parent's Review Oct 17, 2005 (19 of 42 found this helpful)
If Louisa Alcott's Little Women are dead to today's young girl readers it's because of characters like Gilly Hopkins being foisted as alternate moral examples past unsuspecting parents and into the reading lives and thoughts of their children. Thanks must go to booksellers, librarians, and teachers who give such books the imprimatur of literary awards and then recommend or assign them as texts worthy of precious reading time.
For why should a child struggle to master challenging vocabulary or learn the historical context of irrelevant olden days of false happy endings? Instead, courtesy of "The Great Gilly Hopkins," your child can be taught in easy language the current gritty reality of this foster kid's life, including all the details of how to
--swear ("h*ll," "d*mn," "d*mmit," "Jeez," and "my g*d/G*d" are throughout the book)
--fight
--lie
--manipulate other children by intimidating and tearing them down
--write racist poetry to a black teacher
-- steal money from a foster mother's purse and from a blind man's home (and be taught where to hide it)
-- run away from home and buy a bus ticket
--make fun of fat people ("lard can," "bale of blubber"), Christians ("religious fanatics"), and blacks ("I never touched one of those people in my life")
All of these life skills are provided complete with Gilly's cynical, sarcastic, and racist interior monologue. What child wouldn't be excited and energized to read about this, and spend time living in this girl's head? Just the thing to "stimulate" "reluctant" readers, whose needs for "relevance" or sensational content are too often used as the excuse to drive the curriculum.
But what of the child who loves to read, and is given this off-putting book, who recoils from the racism and mean-spiritedness as something "weird" and foreign; who finds the "bad words" disturbing and confusing in a book assigned in school? How's a parent to explain to a child of 9 or 10 why his teacher would provide something his mom or dad would kick to the curb?
That Gilly, the repugnant protagonist, eventually sees the errors of her ways and "grows" in a plot about as predictable as the average "I Love Lucy" episode, is probably the reason why anyone could claim to use this novel as a teaching tool--for teaching values, not literature (the writing itself is studded with odd similes and the characters are clumsily overplayed). Unfortunately along the road to this moral the reader learns that aberrant, hurtful, and self-destructive behavior is evidently explained if not excused by virtue of the protagonist being a victim, both of circumstances and her own bad responses. For foster child Gilly, age 11, this is a harsh reality, and a pill too harsh, even in novel form, for many young readers to have to swallow. Older teenagers may find the book amusing or intriguing or affecting beyond mere voyeuristic reasons, as they will have the capacity to understand and appreciate more of the emotional and psychological dynamics of Gilly and the other characters. But most children under 12 would not.
It is a long slog to hang in there through the muck to reach the point where Gilly begins to find some shreds of kindness within herself that the reader can finally warm to. The moral of the story, that life is tough and there are no guaranteed happy endings, can be much more graciously and artfully brought home by a book like Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," where the orphaned children, while never reaching a happy resolution, nevertheless remain likeable, resilient, and resourceful, without ever once resorting to a swear word. This parent wonders: Aren't there better books (and better-written ones) to teach and inspire our preteen children to love reading and to be wise, strong, and kind in the face of harsh adversity?
Barbara Feinberg contends that most of the young adult n
-
Intelligent and Provocative Prose for Pre-Teens Jun 29, 2000 (18 of 20 found this helpful)
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.
-
Great? Honey, she's fabulous. Feb 1, 2004 (16 of 19 found this helpful)
Let me begin by giving full praise to the original cover of "The Great Gilly Hopkins". I've seen the reissued covers and they fill me with sadness. On the original front cover is Gilly Hopkins herself. Hands placed firmly on her waist, elbows akimbo, she's blowing a bubble the size of her head. Her hair is short and mousy colored and she's wearing a shirt that I myself wore, I'm certain, in 1982. On the back cover the bubble has popped all over her face, giving her an odd bubbley mask. Compare such a beautiful illustration of this human being with the current spunky pink cheeked aw-ain't-she-sweet kid on the current covers. For shame, Mr. Publisher. For shame.
Now this book is great. Doggone it, I do this with every Katherine Paterson book. I walk in with the vague hope of not hating the book (paging "Bridge to Terebithia") and end up loving it as much as everyone else in the world loves it. What is not to like about this book? You begin with a thoroughly unlikable character. Sure, maybe she's been having some ups and downs in her life, but she's a racist, thieving, conniving little brat. And doggone it if you don't end up loving the little whelp by the end. Gilly changes, the reader changes with her, and the people around her are great. And the ending is far from perfect for poor Gilly, but she did bring it on herself and she's strong enough to survive it. The book's got pep, the girl's got pep, and the whole thing is thoroughly enjoyable. Two thumbs way way up for the Gilly gal.
-
Made me cry, and I don't like to cry. Jan 22, 1998 (14 of 16 found this helpful)
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson. Another junior literature book--do you sense I have a 9 year old reader? This book made me cry. But I couldn't really cry because I was reading out loud to my daughter; and crying and reading--especially in voice--don't mix. So I just streamed tears and read, in voice, but with a slightly constricted throat. Afterwords I suffered the requisite headache one gets from not crying when you need to cry, which made me feel what was the use of holding back. I don't think Camden noticed any of this because she was completely swept away with the anger and passion of the lead character, Galadriel "Gilly" Hopkins. Gilly is a foster child who is very smart, and tougher than any kid--boy or girl in her school. Her life is based on this toughness born out of a of an indiscrimate hate and resentment of life. Along the way, the hard way, she learns about love and family and committment, and, well, loss and the consequences of one's actions. Did I mention previously about injustice and cruelty of life? Some pretty harsh language that I found myself editing out as I read, but a beautiful moving book.
-
Vulgarity has no place in books targeted for this age group Dec 11, 2000 (13 of 28 found this helpful)
While the subject matter of this book was interesting I was appalled by the foul mouth on the main character in this book. I encouraged my daughter to buy this book from the school book fair based on the summary on the back and the fact that it was a Newberry Award winner.
The references to adultery in the part about Gilly disliking church was equally appalling. Luckily I was reading at the time and quickly skipped past as this part really isn't relevant to the crux of the story anyway.
I will no longer assume any Newberry Award winner is appropriatly written for the age group.
If vulgarity is inappropriate in your house you will not want to purchase this book.