In "The Only Hard Part Was the Food: Recipes for Self-Nurture in Kaye Gibbon’s Novels," Veronica Makowsky shows Gibbons’ parallels between food and nurturing in Ellen Foster. She contends that Ellen "[seeks for] the perfect recipe for happiness: how to provide nurturance for others, how to receive it for themselves and, most importantly, how to nurture themselves" (103). Although Makowsky effectively argues that the majority of characters in Ellen Foster do not provide sufficient care for Ellen, she fails to acknowledge those who do nurture Ellen, such as Betsy and Julia.

Makowsky recognizes that Ellen’s mother, father, grandmother, aunt, and Stella’s family do not give Ellen the nurturing that she needs; however, she fails to show that Ellen’s aunt Betsy gives Ellen nurturing love and care. When Ellen first asks Betsy if she can stay at her house, Betsy replies, "It will be nice to have a girl around" (Gibbons 40). Ellen remarks, "That is sweet. Music to my ears" (Gibbons 40). By telling Ellen that she will feel happy to have her around, she makes Ellen feel wanted and appreciated. Betsy takes Ellen shopping and buys her clothes and gloves. By giving Ellen new things, Betsy nurtures Ellen’s wants and needs. Ellen says, "All afternoon and night and on into the next day is like magic . . . This is the life" (Gibbons 41). Ellen, not accustomed to this kind of loving attention, feels she lives in a life of luxury when at Betsy’s. Betsy shows Ellen that people who care about her do exist by providing Ellen with material things and emotional comfort.

Furthermore, Makowsky also leaves out the fact that Julia, Ellen’s art teacher, does nurture Ellen. When Ellen comes to school with a bruise, the school tries desperately to find a place for Ellen to live (Gibbons 44). Julia volunteers to take Ellen into her own home and, in turn, gives Ellen care and loving that she lacks. Julia opens her home and her heart to Ellen to show Ellen the care she deserves. Together, they do fun activities such as drawing, reading, and going to the movies. These activities nurture Ellen’s playfulness and creativity. They help restore the childhood Ellen’s family stole from her. Ellen says, "Sometimes she would grab me and say you are so NEAT!" (Gibbons 47) By saying this, Julia shows Ellen that she cares for Ellen and thinks highly of her. Julia and her husband Roy also have a celebration for Ellen’s birthday, complete with cake, friends, and movies. They do all this for Ellen, when she says all she usually does "is [turn] the next age during the day then . . . go to bed and feel different" (Gibbons 50). They even buy her an art set for her birthday, which she loves. This nurtures Ellen’s creativity and imagination. They encourage her to develop her artistic side, showing they care for Ellen’s esteem. By failing to recognize them in her essay, Makowsky overlooks a positive influence in Ellen's life.

Although most characters do not provide sufficient care for Ellen, two characters do. Both Betsy and Julia give Ellen the nurturing and love that she craves. However, Makowsky fails to recognize this and this results in a gap in her argument. She leaves this out in order to strengthen her argument; however, neglecting to recognize them dismisses an important issue in the novel. These two characters reach into their hearts and give Ellen the ultimate gift:  love.

Gibbons, Kaye. Ellen Foster. New York: Vintage, 1987.

Makowsky, Veronica. "The Only Hard Part Was the Food: Recipes for Self-Nurture in Kaye Gibbons’s Novels." Southern Quarterly 30 (1992): 103-111.