From best selling novel to the big screen 'The Great Gilly Hopkins'

“Eleven year-old Galadriel “Gilly” Hopkins has a meeting with her social worker, Miss Ellis.” Sometimes you open a book and the first sentence baits you in like a fish to a hook. If you’ve read the novel, you’ll understand what that means, and why it was grasped by big producers to make a movie out of it. The producers quickly snagged some of the top celebrities in the business to play the important and emotional roles of the characters. Julia Stiles, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close, and Octavia Spencer were chosen specifically the roles, based on their talent of keeping the drama realistic and providing comedic relief. If you haven’t read the book, the movie matches it almost perfectly! Some of the novel fanatics may say differently, but ignore their personal opinions and find out for yourself. Sophie Nelisse plays as the quirky, snarky, and quick-witted Gilly Hopkins that has trouble finding foster homes due to her attitude problems. She acts out and pushes herself away from foster families in attempt to get to her biological mother. Along her journey, she gets stuck with an equally smart and witty foster mom. Without spoiling all the good bits, the movie was made to pull some tears and make you laugh. With its high ratings, it’s just something you’ve got to see for yourself. Unfortunately, this brilliant novel-based movie won’t make it to your local theater until February 19th, 2016. On a positive note, you’ve got something to look forward to! Do you remember the movie The Bridge to Terabithia? It was also based on a novel by the same writer of The Great Gilly Hopkins-Katherine Paterson. Paterson has remained optimistic about her novels being turned into movies, even though it took a whopping 14 years for Disney/Walden Media to grab The Bridge to Terabithia and make it a worldwide hit. Clare Foley and Sophie Nelisse in 'The Great Gilly Hopkins' The amazing thing about Paterson is that she gets her inspiration from her own personal life. What’s more genuine and heartwarming than that? She wanted to make a book that foster kids could relate to, and so she did. She had four children and took in two foster children of her own, and always wished that she could have done more for them. The brilliant author has no shame in getting down to the nitty-gritty details that foster kids deal with every day-feeling unloved or unwanted. Her idea for the book was to make the hardships recognizable for the public, as well as give foster children hope. More people watch movies than read, so luckily this novel has made it to the big screen. Paterson, as well as the actors and production team are striving to make the movie an inspiration to all, which is a very refreshing way to start the new year. We are all tired of bad B-Rated horror movies with cheesy jump scares. Set some time aside on February 19th to fill your heart back up and enjoy the rollercoaster of laughs and tears that The Great Gilly Hopkins will give you. Enjoy the trailer and don't miss this amazing movie!