The Great Gilly Hopkins was an interesting novel with many themes, some were hidden and others were obvious. Katherine Paterson has a way of telling a story in a manner that is interesting to the reader yet has a very strong theme, life is what you make of it. Gilly made life hard for herself and never realized it until it was too late. Paterson also had a hidden theme of prejudice. Family was another main theme to this book. This story will help any child who is having difficulties with family or dealing with who they really are. In the beginning of this book Gilly is a selfish and immature little girl who hasn't learned what life is all about. She has this attitude that she is invincible to pain and will not allow anyone to hurt her. She has it set in her mind that this new foster home will not work and she will do anything in her power to get to her mother. In the first chapter Gilly thinks to herself "Nobody wants to tangle with the great Galadriel Hopkins. I am too clever!.
and too hard to manage. . .Here I come, Maime baby, ready or not." Right from the start Gilly is not even going to give her new family a chance. Gilly has made that decision and she is forced to face the consequences. As the story progresses Gilly begins to realize that she was wrong about Trotter, W.E., and Mr. Randolph. She actually begins to care about them but it was too late. The letter had been written and the her biological family had come to take her away from the life she loved. Gilly didn't realize that she had done this to herself until she went to her grandmothers. This book teaches children that the decisions they make will shape the life they have. Paterson is teaching children a very valuable lesson that they will be able to utilize throughout their life. Hidden within The Great Gilly Hopkins is a very racial theme. This story was written in the !970's and show the signs of the time. Back then people were still very prejudiced and were not as exposed to black p!.
For this last example, we turn to Katherine Paterson's The Great Gilly Hopkins, a book banned for containing swears and using the name of God in an improper manner. Gilly is in foster care and happens to be tough and vocal about her anger until she is liberated by love (Staples). ...