THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS

Newbery Honor Book~1978 This was a really good YA book. What I like about this author is, how she writes stories that are real and full of emotion. Ever character seems to remind you of someone who know of have known and every situation is either one you have been in or you someone who has been in it. And that makes it so much more real. Which in turn, I believe, makes a really great...more

Newbery Honor Book~1978 This was a really good YA book. What I like about this author is, how she writes stories that are real and full of emotion. Ever character seems to remind you of someone who know of have known and every situation is either one you have been in or you someone who has been in it. And that makes it so much more real. Which in turn, I believe, makes a really great story. Gilly is a complex character. And her story is VERY relevant to today. I found myself swept up in her emotions and how she reacts to people and how they in turn treat her. And I watched in amazement as she learns to unthaw her heart towards those who are showing (perhaps for the first time in a long time) kindness and caring towards her. I also fond myself swept up in her desperate search for that elusive thing called love, without even realizing it is she herself, that is keeping it at bay. A truly amazing read.   hide

I hated her and then fell in love with her story. She's a tough one that Gillian. I adore this story as it shows what it's like to feel unloved, alone, and shortchanged by life. She's a bully but the glorious part of Katherine's writing is that she shows WHY Gilly is a bully. Understanding why a person acts a certain way can really open our eyes and hearts to see the truth and...more

I hated her and then fell in love with her story. She's a tough one that Gillian. I adore this story as it shows what it's like to feel unloved, alone, and shortchanged by life. She's a bully but the glorious part of Katherine's writing is that she shows WHY Gilly is a bully. Understanding why a person acts a certain way can really open our eyes and hearts to see the truth and to try and overcome. It's really very deep for a children's book. I'd read this one over and over!   hide

The Great Gilly Hopkins was a great book. It made me realize (again) how kids are all good, but some are just misguided. It was also interesting to see inside a 10 year old's mind.

I had a few weeks to get caught up on some 'kid lit' this winter. This was a good read and a departure from "happily ever after" and clearly defined good vs bad. I love fantasy books and so do my son and his friends, but a dose of reality can instigate some interesting conversations.