This book gave me...feelings. Rather strong ones. I thought it was depressing. Why do all these people have to die? I suppose it is historically accurate, but wow. I'm not sure I would have chosen to stay in Phippsburg. Also, it made me wonder, after having read some of this other books, if Schmidt isn't writing some version of the same thing over and over (which is not to say it is bad; quite the opposite: Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now are two of my favorites). However, all three seem to feature a dad that is kind of a jerk who somewhat reforms at the end, with a stoically sweet mom. There are crazy (in a good way) adults in the male children's lives who make them feel better, and a female sidekick turned potential love interest. Although this book did make me want to drive down the coast to Phippsburg, I was quite horrified by what actually happened on Malaga Island--bad Maine! This book wasn't as strong for me as his later works. Too depressing.