"We believe the one who has the power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must always ask yourself, Whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there, you begin to get a clearer, yet still imperfect, picture.”

There obviously isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said about this book. It's captivating, intense, emotional, poignant, deeply moving and unforgettable.

I cried so many times throughout this novel, especially in that last chapter. I closed the book and felt like the breath had been stolen from my lungs. Like I would never again be the person I was before I picked it up. This is not a light read - it's heavy and often times overwhelming, the way true, un-sanitized history often is.

This is a book I will not forget any time soon - these stories, these characters, this tale will haunt me for a long time. All of these characters are so beautifully crafted and fleshed out despite the very short amount of time you get with them. Many of them will stay in my heart forever, they had such an immense impact on me.

I hope this book becomes required reading in high school one day. I hope it becomes such a classic that it's an essential read for every single person. Everyone should read this. Everyone will gain something by doing so.