Gilly Hopkins is a little girl who's full of gumption and an attitude to boot. Her life - up until now - hasn't exactly been easy; she's been in and out of foster homes and doesn't let people into see the real Gilly. Having been given multiple warnings, Gilly can't find a place that she fits in and is sent to a new home with the warning that if she doesn't make this foster home work, she'll be put into a teen centre by social services. However much attitude Gilly has, she knows that a teen facility is the last place she should be.
Gilly is welcomed by an older lady named Mrs Trotter who lets her into her home. Though Mrs Trotter is friendly and has dealt with many kids in the past, Gilly takes an instant dislike to the woman and her other foster child, William, who is far younger than Gilly.
Though Gilly is cold and distant towards her new 'family', she soon learns to follow Mrs Trotter's rules and finds that her nightly meals with Trotter, William and their neighbour Mr. Randolph are periods of time she learns to enjoy.
Secretly Gilly wishes that her mother would come whisk her away so when her birth grandmother shows up wishing for Gilly to come live with her, she's shocked and doesn't want to leave the place she's finally come to call home.
Unwillingly, Gilly goes with her Nonnie and she is just as welcoming as Ms Trotter, between the two matriarchs, Gilly might finally figure out just where her real home is.
Starring: Sophie Nélisse, Kathy Bates, Julia Stiles, Bill Cobbs, Billy Magnussen, Octavia Spencer, Glenn Close, Clare Foley, Zachary Hernandez, Sammy Pignalosa