I enjoyed Zusack's other book, The Book Thief, even though it was a bit on the melancholy side (how could it not be, having been set during a war, right?) So since I read mostly Teen Fiction anyway, I thought I would try this new book. I was very disappointed. And to be quite honest, I did not even finish the book. The first few chapters felt flaky and unorganized to me. I tried to keep reading, hoping the pace would pick up, but then got to a scene where Zusack is unnecessarily graphic and goes into detail where eluding to such would have sufficed. Does he think his readers have no imagination? Must a violent portrait be painted in such a manner, especially in a book that is supposedly for Teens?? As a parent and as a teacher, I would never recommend this book for teens. I strongly encourage parents to read the book before allowing their children to do so.