This was one of those books whose existence makes me happy, whose execution was flawless and that I would recommend pretty much unreservedly. Everything about it worked for me, the story was deftly handled and I thought Sherman did a wonderful job evoking both 1960 and 1860. She wrote her characters well and, in particular, the way she handled race (and wrote a white girl mistaken for a slave) was superb.

Why a three? Well, the beginning was a bit slow and I found myself unable to get beyond my teacherly self who was...assessing the book rather than reading it. I wish I had gotten more into it and I'm pretty sure that was my fault rather than the books. And it seems unfair to the book, but I don't know what else I can do. It was really good and I really cared and devoured it, but ... I so wish I had read when I was 12.