You can't always go by "awards." I am having to slog through this book with my child for a school reading assignement because he couldn't figure out what was going on. The truth is, nothing is going on. This is a formless, plotless book with dull characters. You take every step, every breath, every bite, every movement with them for 278 pages. There is nothing to drive the story forward, because there is NO STORY. ...