Ellen Foster-V757

Kaye Gibbons. Vintage Books USA, $7.95 (126pp) ISBN 978-0-394-75757-5

The appealing, eponymous, 11-year-old orphan heroine of this Southern-focused debut survives appalling situations until she finds safe harbor in a good foster home. ""Some readers will find the recital of Ellen's woes mawkishly sentimental,'' PW remarked, ``but for others it may be a perfect summer read.'' (May)

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