I knew nothing about this book besides the infamous scene that lead to many schools banning it from their libraries due to indecency. After reading it I would say that is a huge disservice to the story. I did not like the characters much, but they are relatable, messy, funny, and hopeful. They annoyed me but also made me feel for them because they are teens going through a difficult time and there is no rule book on how to deal with your first loss. The story is divided into two parts, before and after. The before is much more slice of life and focused on Pudges desire to be something, to experience something new. The after is full of the characters being obsessed with the past and the why and how to continue when those are both unclear and unresolved. It might be YA but I think people that aged out of that age range could still find elements of the story touching and introspective.