Alienation and Loneliness
Ellen Foster's journey is one of transformation, moving from a state of alienation and loneliness to finding acceptance and belonging. Ellen initiates this significant change through her own determination. She comes to the realization that her family "is and always has been crumbly old brick," never meant to hold together. She sets her sights on a "foster" family that seems appealing and decides she wants to be part of them. She diligently saves her money and, on Christmas Day, shows up at the foster family's home, ready to offer $160 to her new mama in hopes of securing a place in their family.
Before Ellen chooses the foster family as her target, she is almost entirely alone in the world—her mother has passed away, her father is neglectful and abusive, her aunts and grandmother reject her, and her only friend, Starletta, is a young black girl who eats dirt and rarely speaks. Although Starletta's parents are kind, Ellen is constantly aware they are "colored," and in the context of their Southern town, she feels she is not "supposed to" befriend them.
Ellen's outsider status is highlighted by the fact that most of the happy families she observes are black, and she "wanted one [that is] white." She feels disconnected from both Starletta's and Mavis's families, which are tightly knit. Ellen's belief in herself as "not just a face in the crowd," but as someone worthy of a place in a loving family, ultimately allows her to find such a place and achieve a sense of belonging.
Coming of Age
Ellen Foster is a coming-of-age novel that depicts the pivotal events in Ellen's young life: her mother's death when Ellen is ten, her realization that her remaining family isn't truly a family, her efforts to be accepted into a new, more supportive family, and her understanding that her black friend Starletta deserves her love and admiration, regardless of her skin color and background.
Ellen's coming of age begins when she is thrust into the world following her mother's death and her father's attempted sexual abuse. She embarks on a quest to find a new family, and her unique perspective on life and people empowers her with the lessons she learns.
While living with her mother's remaining family, Ellen learns that cruelty manifests in various forms and discovers what she does not want in a family. Likewise, she identifies what she desires by observing other, happier families. She notices that the happier families she encounters are often "colored" and concludes that racism is unfounded and based on falsehoods.
At the age of eleven, Ellen begins to shape her own life with a clear vision of what she wants and pursues it with determination.
Friendship
Ellen finds solace in her friendship with Starletta, a younger black girl, throughout much of the novel. Despite Starletta's quiet nature, she and her family provide a safety net for Ellen. At Ellen's mother's funeral, Starletta and her mother attend, and Ellen wishes she could join them because they are the only mourners who aren't mean-spirited in her eyes.
During lonely Christmases or when her father turns abusive, Ellen seeks refuge at Starletta's home, confident that Starletta's family will welcome her and offer her a sense of security.
Starletta's presence offers another layer of comfort for Ellen. Ellen feels superior to Starletta, criticizing her for eating dirt, picking at bug bites, and breaking crayons. Ellen acknowledges that she "isn't supposed to" be friends with a black girl, yet she finds Starletta "more fun" and knows Starletta will always be glad to see her. Through this friendship, Ellen learns empathy and humility, understanding...
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that Starletta's life is more challenging than her own and that she has no right to feel superior to anyone. Her connection with Starletta also teaches Ellen about happy families, helping her find her own secure place in the world.
Race and Racism
Ellen is influenced by her rural Southern upbringing to look down on black people. She tries to understand if "colored" people are different—do they have different germs, different food? At Starletta's house, Ellen avoids drinking from the same glass or eating the "colored" biscuits offered by Starletta's mother. Despite feeling superior, she genuinely likes Starletta and feels sympathy for her.
Ellen closely observes Mavis and Starletta's families, noting the love and kindness they share, which contrasts with her own extended family's lack of warmth.
By the novel's conclusion, Ellen understands that race doesn't matter. Her own white family, given the chance, would betray her. "Sometimes I even think I was cut out to be colored and I got bleached and sent to the wrong bunch of folks."
Her wish for Starletta to sleep over at her new home signifies her growth. She wants to make Starletta feel special by having her new mother embroider towels with Starletta's initials. Initially, Ellen feels self-conscious about breaking "every rule in the book" by hosting a black girl overnight, but then she recalls, "that they changed that rule. So it does not make any sense for me to feel like I'm breaking the law." Ellen has learned that her own beliefs are more important than societal "rules," recognizing that those in authority don't always know what is right or best for her.