Not an easy book to get into initially, but well worth the effort. It provides a perfect antidote to the current stream of North American protagonists with a narcissistic outlook. In part the difficulty of access is due to it being set in an unfamiliar time (1860's to 1930's) and place (Limburg, Netherlands), and therefore not fitting into the YA's usual schema of expectation.
It is however a rewarding book for those who stick to it, dealing with many complex themes in an uncompromising manner...
outsiders, travellers, uneasy love, disability, financial difficulties, homelessness, bullying, parents who don't meet up to children's, society's or even their own expectations. The female characters are strong and feisty, with the men and boys a backdrop - a welcome change.
Probably a book for students who are up for a bit of a challenge.