Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Ellen Foster
Book Review: A Tale of the South
Summary: 5 Stars
Kaye Gibbons displays her southern roots in her first novel, a southern tale of alcoholism, abuse and prejudice entwined with hope, optimism and love. Brilliantly written from a child's perspective, Gibbons writes in Hemingway style with a flair for Flannery O'Connors characterization. Ellen Foster recounts the events that brought her into the Foster Family. She describes her life with her alcoholic daddy and her sickly mama and how at one time she was scared, "Everything was so wrong like somebody had knocked something loose and my family was shaking itself to death." As she narrates her story, Ellen Foster bounces back and forth from her life with her new family where she is happy, comfortable, and loved for the first time in her young life, to her past life where she was abused, rejected and scorned by her real family. She endures the deaths of a mama she loved and a daddy she loathed. From the first line, "When I was little I would think of ways to kill my daddy" to the last line, "And all this time I thought I had the hardest row to hoe. That will always amaze me" the story is captivating and engaging.
Wrapped within the bindings of this book are examples of both good and evil within the southern societies. Much like the characters in Flannery O'Connors novels, Gibbons main character exhibits southern innocence, ignorance and charm all in the shape of a little girl, while her mama stirs the image of a weak submissive woman whose main fault is falling in love with an abusive man. Ellen's daddy is lost in alcohol and his only solace is the power he holds over Ellen and her mama. Reminiscent of the antebellum period is mama's mama who owns a cotton farm and seizes control in all situations. Her daughters obtain the fruits of mama's hard work and in the style of southern belles they look down upon those less fortunate than them. A clear picture of the characters develops in the dialogue, which flows like a Hemmingway novel with no quotation marks and no indication to the person speaking. Yet, unlike Hemmingway,this book is easy to read and understand; it offers a view of the southern culture that has been criticized and exonerated over and over for years.
Kaye Gibbons has written an excellent first novel that demonstrates her knowledge of life in the south and reveals her talent for storytelling.
Book Review: A Testament To The Human Spirit
Summary: 5 Stars
Ellen Foster is one of the best books I have read recently. It was different enough to hold this avid reader's attention and well-written enough to see me through to the end. Ms. Gibbon's style of moving back and forth between past and present was expertly done and never left me wondering where I was within the story. Her heroine, Ellen Foster, is a true testament to the human spirit. Enduring a number of horrors that might have brought an adult to their knees, this eleven year old manages to emerge from each with a deeper sense of rightousness and determination to rise above it all. And, there is a sense of truth to this character. You never doubt that she would do and say all that she does in this story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written, honest read with a satisfying and wholly enjoyable ending.Book Review: A Touching Tale of a Little Girl's Struggle
Summary: 4 Stars
A young girl struggles to keep hope alive after being tossed around from family to family in Kaye Gibbon's novel, Ellen Foster. This heart wrenching novel is sure to make everyone appreciate how easy their childhood's were compared to that of little Ellen Foster. Told through the eyes of eleven-year-old Ellen, the novel can be a bit hard to follow because it is written as if Ellen herself is the author. With that aside, Ellen Foster manages to be a painful, yet humorous look at the mind of a brave young girl trying to find a place to belong in the world.
In the beginning, Ellen says that she used to think of ways to kill her father when she was little. She had everything planned out, all the way to how she would stand shaking when they took her father's body away. This gives the reader a glimpse into young Ellen's world. Living with her abusive, alcoholic father and her physically and mentally weak mother has not been easy for her. After her mother overdoses on heart medication, Ellen is left alone with her cruel father. When her home life gets too bad, she runs down the street to visit her "colored" friend Starletta. At her friend's house, Ellen is able to see what a real family is supposed to look like.
Ellen attempts to escape her life by trying to find someone to take her in, but nobody wants her. Social services finally take her away, and she is tossed from one uncaring relative to the next. Through all of this, Ellen continues to keep her sense of humor and hope that she will find someone to love and take care of her.
A beautiful tale of one girl's determination to find a family is sure to touch anyone who has ever felt out of place or unloved. This novel lets the reader take an intimate look into the mind of a girl who has been forced to grow up all too quickly. Make sure to have a box of Kleenex nearby by when reading this brief, but heartbreaking novel of finding hope in a world full of tragedy and chaos.
Book Review: A book that leads to nowhere
Summary: 2 Stars
This book follows the life of Ellen. Growing up in the south, her life is filled with racism, abuse and neglect. It seems that all Ellen wants is a place to belong.I found Ellen Foster to be a very depressing book rather than the uplifting book that it was rumored to be. The writting is hard to follow espesially during Ellen's narrations of her conversations. The book is deeply soaked with symbolism, making even more confusing.
Overall, I guess that this just has to be a genre that you enjoy, for you to like the book. If you like Scifi/Fantasy like I do, this is not the book for you! Instead try the Golden Compass or The Once and Future King.
Book Review: A child's heart is resilient.
Summary: 5 Stars
Ellen Foster is old for her age. But she is the only one who knows it. This gut-turning story makes you thankful for a happy ending. Just when you think there is no hope, Kaye Gibbons delivers, like a miracle, a beautiful savior into this tortured child's life.
The story speaks volumes to the resiliency and purity of a child's heart to see beyond the "rules" of her society. After a life of abuses and neglect, old Ellen's little heart embraces her good fortune and leaves her bitterness for another day.