THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS

A kid with an attitude and a wad of gum too big to ignore, Giladreal Hopkins has been worn down by life, by a mother who abandoned her, by four foster homes that didn’t work out. Alyssa Bresnahan captures Gilly’s sharp-edged dialogue with the ideal measure of disdain. Descriptive text is read deliberately, with internal pauses for emphasis and hard end stops to reflect Gilly’s contempt for a world that has failed her. Sweet-voiced Mamie Trotter, Gilly’s enormous end-of-the-line stepmother, is unwavering in her sincerity while Mr. Randolph, the blind neighbor, speaks with the exaggerated drawl of a fine Southern gentleman. Not to be missed, Bresnahan’s reading of this Newbery Honor book and National Book Award winner adds a rich dimension to Gilly’s story. T.B. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 97]