Galadriel "Gilly" Hopkins , the title character of the story, is 11 years old, with straw-colored hair and an unkempt appearance. She does not care for her given name, Galadriel (after Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings ), and prefers to be called "Gilly". Gilly has spent most of her life in foster care, being sent from one home to another. She is brilliant and creative, but also very bitter, angry and completely unmanageable after years of rejection at the hands of her various foster parents. Later in the book Gilly shows signs of caring for her new foster family, the Trotters.
Maime M. Trotter , called "Trotter", is Gilly's new foster mother. She is a large woman who wears glasses and lives in a messy, small and tight spaced house. Trotter is said to be one of the foster care system's most respected caregivers.
William Ernest Teague is Gilly's foster brother at Trotter's home. He is seven years old, with brown hair and glasses, and has a nervous disposition. When people make sudden movements around him he often ducks, as if he is expecting to be hit. Gilly initially enjoys tormenting William Ernest, but eventually grows to like him and helps him with his reading. She also helps teach him to defend himself from mean bullies. Gilly sometimes calls him W.E.
Ms. Ellis is Gilly's social worker. She has known Gilly for some time, and has shuttled her back and forth to various foster homes.
Mr. Randolph is Maime Trotter's next-door neighbor. He is blind, and lives alone in a house with an impressive library of books. Mr. Randolph is good friends with Trotter, and joins her every night for supper. One of Gilly's jobs at Trotter's home is to escort Mr. Randolph to and from his house.
Courtney Rutherford Hopkins is Gilly's biological mother. She is a former flower child, has not seen or lived with her daughter for most of her life and couldn't or didn't do anything about it, although she does send Gilly an occasional postcard. Gilly's most prized possession is an old photograph of her mother which has been inscribed to her.
Nonnie Hopkins is Gilly's maternal grandmother and Courtney's mother. She is not aware of Gilly's existence until Courtney writes to her, asking her to assume custody. Her other child, Chadwell, died while serving in the Vietnam War.
Agnes Stokes is a girl at Gilly's school. She comes from a troubled background herself, having been abandoned by both of her parents, and lives with her grandmother. She hangs around Gilly and tries to win her friendship. Gilly dislikes her, but uses her to help steal Mr. Randolph's money.
Miss Barbara Harris is Gilly's sixth-grade teacher. Initially Gilly has a very difficult time interacting with her. Eventually, she learns to like Miss Harris and begins to do well in school. After she moves to Virginia, Gilly remains in contact with Miss Harris, writing to her to discuss the Lord of the Rings books. Miss Harris says that she and Gilly are very much alike, because of their angry nature.
"Mr. Melvin Trotter" is Maime's late husband.
You'll need to sign up to view the entire study guide.
