I have so many feelings right now.

On the one hand, this feels way too dark for a middle grade book. But on the other hand, this book addresses topics that are rarely brought up in kids lit, and it does so in a gentle, yet powerful way. We see so many hard things through the eyes of an 11—nearly 12—year old girl, and that helps younger readers too, while also allowing older audiences to understand what’s going on in the background.

This book talks about war. It talks about people who have suffered and the form that suffering takes in a human being. It teaches us not to be so quick to judge.

This book ... there are so many things I could say, and I feel so much right now. I want to hold it in my heart and never let it go. Above all, this is an important story, one I think everyone—young and old—should read.