I read this book when I was about 11 years old and never forgot it. It was such an escape for me and was one of the books that launched me into a life of reading. Now, at 47 years old and adopting a Nephew who does not like to read.... I had an idea. I thought that he might enjoy this old favorite as much as I did. Well... I bought it and gave it to him and just like me when I was his age, he could not put it down. he loved it and wants me to buy th eother books written by the same author. If you have a young person in your life who believes that reading is work..... consider this awesome story and then.... take a read yourself! What a great book!