I had thought this was a children's book, but it is NOT. Decidedly not. The plot seems like it ought to be funny, but it isn't. The characters appear to be interesting, but they aren't. The dialogue gives every promise of being witty, but fails miserably. I'm not sure what exactly is wrong with this book. Maybe I'm just in the wrong mood for reading it. It's just the sort of book that usually entertains me, but somehow this one bored me to death.