Ellen Foster wasn't well written, in my opinion. Not only were Kaye Gibbons' thoughts abstract and random as they were written, but they were disorganized and confusing to read. The subject material and the focus of the story with its many themes was not original (however fine). As another reviewer mentioned, "there is not a quotation mark to be found". This I agree with completely. This makes the dialouge hard to follow. Without at least a slight sense of order, the story loses its power, influence, and impact.