This book is essentially a slice-of-life kind of story set in late 1800s Lousiana. The writing is very well done, anad it's clear that Williams-Garcia did her research on the time period. Everything about it felt authentic, really pulling you into the story. It's definitely not a fast-paced, plot driven story, though. It's slow moving, giving you a clear picture of the time period. I also appreciated the inclusion of LGBTQ characters, because so often they are left out of historical fiction.

There is definitely a dark side to this book, depicting slavery, sexual violence, and rape. I'm not sure that most teens would just pick this up off the shelf, I do think it's an important side of history that many people don't get in American history classes.

Anyway, I underestand why this is getting so much buzz and I think it's definitely well placed. It's just not a book that would be for everyone.