Gilly Hopkins

Gilly is an eleven year old girl who is the main character and principal protagonist of Katherine Paterson’s novel, “The Great Gilly Hopkins”. Gilly is a notorious foster child whose foster parents end up in the hospital due to stress, or moving to other states because of her antics. Her hair is the color of straw, and she always wants to make sure she is in charge. Whenever Gilly thinks of her mother, Courtney Rutherford Hopkins, she starts to become emotional, and shuts away her emotions. She secretly wants to be reunited with her mother, whom she has not seen in eight years. Gilly is placed into the home of Mrs. Trotter, who helps care for her blind and elderly neighbor, Mr. Randolph. She also cares for a foster child named William.

Gilly attempts to escape from Mrs. Trotter’s by stealing money from both her...