I started out enjoying the rich language and description in this book. The premise was unique, as we the characters, but this book has some flaws. It spends to long setting the stage and then after an exciting bit, goes to a series of letters written in a provincial style that is infuriating to try to follow, and also, I didn't care enough to. I unashamedly skipped most of that part and skimmed to the end. I set out ready to really love this book, and I did enjoy the first 150 pages, but then it got so heavy and dark and philosophical and gruesome that I decided I didn't have to love it anyway. ( )

I have a serious book crush on M.T. Anderson. This goes right up there with What Is the What. ( )

This book has an amazingly authentic feel. It reminds me of children's books like _Kidnapped_ in its narrative and use of language. It is a fresh take on history told in a primary sources style. The pages of the edition I read were rough edged like pages that had to be cut to read the book. I almost wished the double S's were F's. ( )

started a while ago, tough read

I'm a little in-between on this book. One the one hand, it is beautifully written and it's easily seen why it has won the awards it has. The characters are well developed and their language used is dead on with the historical era the book takes place in. However, it was hard to focus on it... it never really grabbed my attention and held on. Towards the middle of the book, I merely continued reading because of the beautiful word choice and language (hoping I would maybe catch on in my own speech) but it was a rather boring book. I would still recommend it to older teens and adults. ( )