Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons is a realistic fiction about an eleven year old girl, named Ellen, who suffers through physical, psychological, and sexual abuse from many adult figures throughout her childhood. Her best friend, Starletta, who is a disadvantaged black girl indirectly aids Ellen through some of her worst times. The story is a first person narrative that consists of many grammatical errors. There are also two time periods in the novel, one being Ellen’s comfortable present and the other is her difficult life beginning from her mother’s death and leading up to the present.

Kaye Gibbons writes a fantastic piece of writing that many people can learn from. As the reader progresses into the book, he/she gradually gets more interested