I was prepared for this to be over-hyped. It's such a timely subject, and I was afraid that it would veer too political and not let the story speak for itself. But I think it works beautifully! I just read and loved Sweet Home Alaska, and it was fun to read a Depression-era coming-of-age tale set here in California. I've seen reviews having 7th and 8th graders read this, and I honestly think my kids will read this a lot earlier. There are some sad events, obviously, but the book ends on such a note of triumph that I can't wait to share it with the kids when we do CA state history next year, and they'll be 6th grade and down at that point. No bad language or bad attitudes, hard-working young people whose character I'd want my kids to emulate, and a really important history lesson, too.