Ugh. 7th grade reading list. I would recommend this to some middle-aged English teachers who want to wax poetic on their lost childhoods. The way Spinelli used language and basically made up words was good, but I hated the whole concept. Kids are not nostalgic for their youth. They are still kids. I just don't get who this book is supposed to be written for. I am not recommending it to any 7th graders!