I truly enjoyed this, but as with other favorites this year, I struggle with who the non-adult audience for it might be. I guess it'd be older elementary and up who are bookish and quirky themselves, and who don't mind sadness. 
 Because I found this to be pretty heartbreaking. And quite an honest look at how imperfect adults can be. I'm not sure how many younger readers are ready for Dell. I particularly enjoyed how the characters, their situations, and the setting are all original and unusual for a kids' book. 
 I was bothered by the fact that (view spoiler)[we learn how Pattie has all this money stashed away, yet she allowed her children to live in such bad conditions. I don't get that. Did I miss an explanation? (hide spoiler)]