Christina Reviews *Ellen Foster* by Kaye Gibbons

         Ellen Foster tells the story of spunky pre-teen girl who is shuffled back and forth from one home to another after the death of her mother.  Her father is a nasty drunk who dies not long after she is taken away from him.  In the movie adaptation of the novel, Ellen is little more than an eternally grateful child who can be quite stubborn and has righteous anger against those who wronged her.  The movie ends when Ellen’s quest for a home is complete.  The book, on the other hand, is more about Ellen’s inner journey.

        The dialect is a little distracting, but it lends authenticity to the story so I wouldn’t say that I didn’t appreciate it.  Ellen’s voice is strong and she is a likeable character.  She dubs herself Ellen “Foster” because when she heard about a foster family nearby, she assumed that their last name was “Foster”.  There is an innocence about her that is endearing.  And, at the same time, she understands things that the adults around her don’t.  She has a friend named Starletta who is black, and the compassion she has for Starletta is far beyond what one would expect of a girl her age.  It’s not abnormal for children to be more tolerant than adults, but the wisdom in the final paragraph of this novel is what makes this character stand out as someone exceptional, in my opinion, and I think that is the true difference between the book and the movie.  The book Ellen is an extraordinary character whereas the movie Ellen is flat and two-dimensional, though Jena Malone certainly does the best she can with the script she was given to work with.

           I would strongly recommend this book.  And I would recommend the movie for Jena Malone’s acting alone.

           Four and a half stars.