I read this book in one day. It was amazing. Intense. I feel...shaky...now that I'm done. I feel like this is one of those books that really makes you question things, everything. One secret (albeit a big one), and one night (one betrayal) plunged him into more problems in one year of his short life than almost anyone I know has had to face in their WHOLE lives. I just...cannot imagine. I have never read a coming of age book quite like this before. Eye-opening, real, heartbreaking. It make my heart ache and swell all at the same time. I read the author's note and she mentioned wanting to write a book about everyday heroes and man did she succeed. Every character in the book faced so much and did everything they could for the people around them. I think Sylvie especially was very impressive to me. I have been wondering since I finished how I would have reacted in her shoes and I can only say that I hope I could have been like her. There is so much sadness, hopelessness, here, and yet the end holds so much promise for the future, such compassion. This was just an overwhelmingly emotional book. Wow.