This is a book ostensibly written for kids, but it's really the kind of book that adults read and love and only THINK that kids like. I read it as a child and thought that the characters were uniformly unlikeable (except for Ole Golly, my hero) and the situations unpleasant. As an adult, I enjoyed it, but I'm ready now for more spicy foods. This is like a very hot Bloody Mary, and as a child I was more interested in pina coladas. Does that make sense?