A great quick read for kids but also entertaining for an adult audience as well.  The writing was engaging and interesting.  Not like anything I had read before.  Entertaining but with an educational worth in its contents and descriptions.  The characters are all unique and interesting and the author does a great job with the atmosphere and setting.  The story tackles some huge issues and mostly very successfully.  The only trap it falls into is the adult ignoring physical abuse and even a statement it is ok.  If a book for children is going to include child abuse it is important it is addressed in a responsible way.  Children often normalise their experiences through the lens of media and if the media tells them reporting abuse will not be believed or if it is a parent or guardian then it is ok then a victim of abuse could be reading a book like this and apply it to their own life.  If that has been addressed then the book would have been 5 stars.