Like others have said "if only I had first read this as an 11 year old it would have been the perfect story". I love Shannon Hale's writing style, she can change it to suit what she is writing about and that boads well for her as an author. I am just not into the middle school books anymore as a 25 year old but definitly would recommend it for those who want to introduce a coming of age and a heroine that finds her way eventually to their daughter because for that this book would be perfect. It won a Newbery for a reason after all!