If I could I wouldn't give this book a star at all. What's the deal with the Newberry award? It seems to be an exclusive club where the same authors win over and over again. Case in point: E. L. Konigsburg. Her first book was terrible; this book hits new lows. The characters are confusing, the plot can be figured out in two chapters (read: very bored seventh graders) and she writes the most awkward sentences I have ever read. There is assuredly much better authors out there than this woman. She's terrible! The John Newberry award seems to be in the possession of a committee that wants only a very few of its club members to win. The fact that this awful dribble has even been considered for an award only furthers this belief.