I remember being required to read this in 5th grade and finding it the most boring book ever. Every once in a while it pops up on "best children's books" lists and I always think, "All I remember is hating that book...maybe I should give it another try." I finally did, and while I wouldn't say I hated it, I will say that I stand behind my 5th grade self. It was a mix of boring, unrealistic, and the ending with all the "it's nice to keep secrets blah blah blah" was a little too much for me. It just seemed really outdated and old (it was written in the 70s after all). Maybe I would have had more of an appreciation for it when it was first published, but today (and back in the 5th grade) I just couldn't relate.