My daughter read this a couple years ago and recommended it to me. I couldn't put it down. They say that sometimes fiction can be more true than non-fiction, and this book is a great example. This book is like scripture for the principle that everyone has difficulties, seen and unseen; that people can change for good reason, bad reason, or no reason; that there's good and bad in everyone; that life is a series of challenges that we thrive by overcoming, or learn by succumbing. Truly a beautiful story, accessible to all.