Maybe it's my fault... I did have high hopes for this book so maybe that's why I found it to be so disappointing. (But really, I think it was the book's fault).
It was so very slow paced. I really didn't need to know Crow's exact laundry routine and all the detail during mealtimes was very unneeded, especially considering how bland their food was. Trust me, normally I am all for authors making a special mention of food in books - but the way it was included in this story was just terribly boring.
I read this book because it was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal this year, and also because I read Lauren Wolk's last book, Wolf Hollow, and loved it to pieces. It was harrowing, thought provoking, yet still very suitable for the age group it was aimed at.
But this story... it was just uninteresting.
The only parts of this story I found mildly interesting were the setting - I knew nothing about the Elizabeth islands before and now I feel at least slightly educated - and the history about the "lepers" that lived there. Other than that, I would have to say that nothing about this story particularly grabbed me, or held my attention. At least I've finished it now.