Say A Prayer for the Youth of America Ellen Foster is the compelling story of a young girl who is thrust into reality at a very early age. Written by Kaye Gibbons, the novel is a documentary of the saga of growing up. It is a recurring theme, growing up, depicted through many events over the course of this girl^s childhood. This growing up theme is evident through the experiences she has, as well as the many hardships she faces.
Ellen^s awkward situation of two dead parents forces her to lose her innocence at a young age, and mature much faster than any other person her age. This is shown through her in-depth observations about the world and people around her, such as ^He was a big wind up doll of a man.^ This metaphor depicts her father, a lazy drunk who dies early in the book, probably from alcohol poisoning. Her life with him is one of constant fear and hatred. She blames him for the death of her mother, who overdoses on heart medicine to escape from her life. His drinking habits take over his life, and Ellen is left at home alone, sometimes for days at a time, to fend for herself. This is only one of the many hardships she must face. After her father^s death, Ellen is forced to move from house to house. She is miserable in all of them, but they are still better than what she had to put up with before. When she finally does reach a house which she likes, her aunt Betsy kicks her out after the weekend, telling her that Ellen was only meant to visit for two days. The torment she receives is not limited to her father. Relatives like her aunt Nadine, who blames everything her daughter Dora does on Ellen, instead of paying her the attention and love she needs, toss her around like an Christmas fruitcake no one wants. These events, though somewhat exaggerated in Ellen^s life, are all a part of growing up. Unbearable parents, relatives you can^t stand, being betrayed by someone you care about, they are all part of life, and life...