I have not read this, but I really want to after seeing all the awards and honors for it listed on the back:
-A Boston-Globe Horn Book Honor Book
-An American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
-An American Library Association Notable Book for Chidren
-Winner of the Regina Medal
-Booklist Editors' Choice
-A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
-John Newberry Medal Winner for "Most Distinguished Contribution to American Literature For Children"

I was surfing BC and came across mention of a boy who died of cancer and their was a link to a website dedicated to him. It was so sad and touching. BCer Dusties was doing a release of this book, one of his favorites, in his honor. I wanted to contribute, so I went out and found this copy.
I plan on reading it and seeing if my son Jsport is interested in reading it before the release.

I just finished this book and think that all of the awards it has recieved are well deserved. It was a wonderful story with an obvious message about how life is filled with good and bad, beauty and sorrow. Usually a book with an obvious moral to the story is preachy and in your face, but this one was not like that. It is a wondeful tale, and I enjoyed reading it.
I mentioned in my previous post about sharing this book with my son, but I don't think he is ready for it yet. He is eight and while it seems to be at his reading level, I don't think he would "get" it yet. The lives the people lead are different from ours so he may not understand fully what he is reading yet. I am definately going to keep this book in mind as something to share with him in a year or two though.
I intend to pass on this copy to Dusties for her memorial release.

Dusties has decided to have individual BCers release copies of this book rather than have them all sent to her to release. I will be releasing this in memory of Hunter today. Here is the link to his website.
We Love Hunter

For anyone who catches this book in the wild, know it is a very special book, a favorite of a special boy.
Also this is something special being done for this particular book. All BC books are not wild released in memory of someone, they are frequently just released to share for no reason at all except the idea of sharing and following the journey of the book. I am honored however to participate in this memorial release.

RELEASE NOTES:

I left this inside the entry on the free magazine rack. The place I chose for the release has nothing to do with the memorial release in a "themed" sort of way, but I decided to leave it there on a walk with my kids since I have had pretty good luck releasing there.