I don't really know how to rate this. It was like being hit repeatedly in the face by a stick of morality; there was nothing subtle about it (though the biblical morals preached on the whole have withstood the test of time). I see some flaws and am not satisfied by some of the ending but I do feel like I truly got to know and grow attached to the characters and have watched them grow up so in that respect it was well done. On the whole I'm glad I've read it but will be unlikely to read it again any time soon.