I'd managed to put this one off for this long, despite its appearance on nearly every list under the sun. I won't say it's the greatest book ever written, but I'd give it 4 and a half stars, if I could. Melinda's voice is far more authentic than in most teen novels, and her pain comes through on every page--even when it's not explicitly stated. Not sure why I'd put this book off as long as I did.