Oh, do I love everything that Schmidt writes. I did want to stop the book after the first chapter (Wednesday Wars introduced me to his writing, so I have a special place in my heart for the characters from that book.)

I very much enjoyed Meryl Lee, and Matt, and Heidi Kitter, and Marion Elders. Schmidt just knows how to write in a way that I love. ("Sticks down" is now something I want to say all the time.) I didn't even think too hard about the Maine setting and whether or not there were Catholic schools in Harpswell. The Portland was realistic enough to slide by me.