wow, i've just finished the book and if i weren't at work, i would probably be crying for the first time in my life because of a book. can i give it ten stars, please? 
 this book has blown my mind completely. it's so utterly perfect without being perfect at all and so mind-bloggingly realistic in every possible way that it's impossible not to relate to the characters and the situations: from francesca's mum's illness and how she copes with it, to her relationships with new and old friends and the boy she loves and her family. everytthing, absolutely everything in this books is meaningful and important and wonderful. 
 i could talk about the characters' development and how francesca is so well defined that you can feel it real next to you, or how the relationships are so fantastically described, managed and written that it feels the most natural thing to relate to them and the people. but i prefer not to overanalyse everything and enjoy the enthusiasm this book has aroused in me. 
 it's a pity that this book is not translated in spanish or better promoted and known (i will force my sister to read it even if it has to be in english). my GR friends, thank you so much for showing me francesca. i cannot believe i've spent so many years without her xDD 
 the piper's son is the next book to buy in my never-ending shopping list for books :)