The Great Gilly Hopkins
by Katherine Paterson. 
Novel. 160 pages. Grades 4-9.
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Review
In this Newbery Award winner, we meet Gilly, a foster child who has successfully manipulated the system for years. All that changes, however, when she is placed in the home of Mamie Trotter, an eccentric soul whose household consists of herself and W. E. (William Ernest) another foster child who, unlike Gilly, is fearful and easily intimidated. Next door neighbor Mr. Randolph, a blind African American and elderly gentleman, is a frequent visitor whom Gilly treats with contempt.
Gilly's racial prejudice overflows when she learns that her new teacher is also Black. Gilly knows that she will get true understanding only from her birth mother, Courtney, and plots to be reunited with her. However, she has not reckoned with the wisdom of both her teacher and Mamie Trotter.
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Related Areas Within Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Web Site
- Katherine Paterson, Author Study:
A short biography of the author and an annotated listing of some of our favorite books.
http://www.carolhurst.com/authors/kpaterson.html - Tolerance, Racism and Prejudice:
Featured Subject with classroom discussion and activity ideas and some of our favorite novels, picture books and nonfiction for grades PreK-9.
http://www.carolhurst.com/products/booksetstol.html - Families through Kids' Books:
Featured Subject article with curriculum comments, discussion and research topics and a large selection of our favorite books for the classroom.
http://www.carolhurst.com/newsletters/23bnewsletters.html - See more of our recommended books for fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade or ninth grade.
