I still think this book is pretty fabulous. From a teaching perspective I would still give it 5 stars. From a "I Like to Read Books on My Own" perspective it would probably be like a 4. I don't typically like to read books where someone meaningful dies right at the end... but that does have to happen at times doesn't it? Especially during the Holocaust when the likelihood of a family member surviving was extremely slim in the first place. With that said, I believe that I will continue to teach this book for several years to come.