A very well written book, but depressing as hell. The prose was beautiful- I would definitely pick up something by Karen Russell again. Unfortunately, however, I will never ever listen to another audio book narrated by the female narrator (Arielle something, Sitrick maybe?) Terrible narration. She wasn't acting, just talking in a normal voice, and really not doing justice to the gorgeous writing. (Fortunately I could only find one other book she's narrated, so good.) Male narrator was fine. 
 I'm not so sure that this novel was really magical realism, as I've seen it described, so much as the faulty impressions of a few misguided teenagers with psychological problems...