One Sentence Summary:
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons is a heart-wrenching yet hopeful coming-of-age story about a young girl who overcomes poverty and trauma to find a new family and a sense of belonging.
Book Genre:
Fiction, Southern Literature
Main Topic of the Book:
The main topic of Ellen Foster is the resilience and strength of a young girl who faces numerous challenges while trying to find a family that will love and accept her.
Key Ideas:
- The devastating impact of poverty and neglect on a child’s life
- The power of love, friendship, and kindness
- The strength and resilience of a young girl who refuses to be a victim and creates her own destiny
- The importance of finding a sense of belonging and building strong relationships
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary:
Part 1: Early Life with Mama
Ellen Foster begins her story by introducing herself as an 11-year-old girl living with her abusive and neglectful mother. After her mother dies, she is left to fend for herself and escapes to find a new home.
Part 2: New Start with Daddy and Aunt Nadine
Ellen moves in with her father and his new girlfriend, Aunt Nadine. However, her new life is far from a happy one as her Aunt is manipulative and her father is an alcoholic.
Part 3: The Great Escape with Starletta
Desperate for a new family, Ellen befriends Starletta, a black girl of the same age, and runs away to live with her family. But even this utopia is short-lived as Ellen’s Aunt Nadine tracks her down and brings her back to her father.
Part 4: Falling Apart with Aunt Nadine
Ellen’s father dies, and she is left alone with her manipulative and cruel Aunt Nadine. She creates elaborate plans to try and escape her abusive living situation, but ultimately it is Aunt Nadine’s death that sets her free.
Part 5: The Great Escape Part 2 with New Mama
Ellen eventually finds her way to the home of Starletta’s family, who welcomes her with open arms. She helps her new family deal with the death of their youngest child and finally learns what it means to have a real family.
Key Takeaways:
- The power of resilience and determination
- The healing power of love, family, and friendship
- The impact of trauma on a child’s life
- The importance of finding a sense of belonging
Author’s Background and Qualifications:
Kaye Gibbons is an American author who is known for her works in Southern Literature. She was born in North Carolina and grew up in the South, which has greatly influenced her writings. Ellen Foster was her first novel, published in 1987, and it won the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Target Audience:
Ellen Foster is a book that can appeal to a wide audience. It can resonate with readers of all ages, but it is particularly suitable for young adults as it deals with themes of growing up and finding one’s own identity. It can also appeal to readers who enjoy Southern Literature and coming-of-age stories.
Publisher and First Publication Date:
Vintage Books published Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons in 1987.