The Life All Around Me by Ellen Foster
by Kaye Gibbons
Buy book: $14.94

This sequel to Gibbons's beloved classic Ellen Foster stands on its own as an unforgettable portrait of a redoubtable adolescent making herself up out of whole cloth. Now fifteen, Ellen is settled into a permanent home with a new mother. Strengthened by adversity and blessed with enough intelligence to design a salvation for herself, she still feels ill at ease in the world.

 

While I have to admit that I never read the previous book by this author, I am enjoying the letter by young Ellen and dying to know just how Harvard responds to it. I am looking forward to the next few days and will probably end up reserving this book at my library.

I really don't know if I want to borrow this book. Do you think it's necessary to read the first book first? It's a great premise, but Ellen's letter doesn't pique my interest.

Don't know if it's necessary to read the first book first, but I did read the first book and thoroughly enjoyed (?) it - the story of the little girl and her very sad upbringing, but her undaunted spirit - I would recommend the first book first, but that's only my opinion - Doris -

So far I am loving this! I read Ellen Foster in college for a lit class and am glad that I learned that there was a sequel.

So far I am loving this! I read Ellen Foster in college for a lit class and am glad that I learned that there was a sequel.

Melissa

What a joy to read a sequel to Ellen Foster, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. When I completed that book, I remember thinking about all the possibilities that might ensue for Ellen. I now have the chance to see what Kaye Gibbons had in mind for our heroine, and how it compares with my imaginings. One thing for sure, Ellen is still the same bright, self-reliant Southern girl I remembered. Just the thought of a 15 year old writing to the selection committee at Harvard, listing all her accomplishments (some quite humorous) in spite of her tumultuous past is reason enough to follow her journey in finding herself.