For a middlegrade book, this is good. It's well written, and it has a defined and thoughtout plot. I started listening to the audio, but it wasn't for me. I had seen good reviews for it, but I didn't know it was full cast. That bugs me. It was not written to be read that way. I ended up reading physically instead, and that was much more enjoyable. I can also mentally add some years to the girl so that I find her less annoying. It's frustrating being stuck in a child's perspective. I'm starting to think middlegrade isn't for me. I loved Harry Potter, but nothing else I've read has had that same magic. I do want to continue this series. But it's going to be difficult to get me to pick up a middlegrade series after this.