I've had a bit of an odd relationship with this book. I have had a hard copy on my library shelves for years. It's survived the purging as I whittled down books I was keeping. I had started this years ago ... reading, then switching to audio (back before I was really doing audio) but I didn't finish it. It's only around 100 pages, should have been such a quick and easy read. Why didn't I ever finish? I remember going back once ... and again not finishing. No reason, not an official DNF, just ... peetered out. 

During my #MiddleGradeMay challenge, I figured I should finally finish the book. And I did. It's just over two hours in audio (and that's if you go at 1.0 speed, which I did not).   MC is young Rob, and it's basically all from his POV, 3rd person, past tense. 30 chapters (no headers). 

My initial thoughts? Well that was sad, and why is this considered a classic? It wasn't something I connected with. 

There were some discussion questions in the text ... I had both the Kindle and physical book. Just six questions in the Kindle, more (same six to start, then eight more and some suggested tie-in activities. The physical book was a Scholastic 2002 printing).  I Googled, and found quite a few "school" sites with questions/activities too.  While I like simply reading for enjoyment, when there is an "assignment" (school/bookclub) to dive a little deeper, that often ups the appreciation. And that happened here.  The more I read and thought and re-read portions. Looked up the trailer to the movie adaptation ... and I do feel a pull to watch it (it's on Hulu/Disney, not currently one of our streaming services). One website had a compare/contrast the book/movie, what changes, and how did that impact things, and even without having watched the movie, it did make me think about things. 

So ... not one I LOVED, one easily dismissed with a quick read, but after more thought, it has its moments and it will be one I'll remember.