Kim Reads Books About Things

I've only read this and "Flipped," but Wendelin Van Draanen is already one of my favorite authors to read. She has a way of telling her stories with great details and in a way that makes it impossible to put the book you're reading down. "Flipped" this is not, however. This is a story that starts out mildly amusing with a hint of fascinating darkness, and the darkness builds from there until the tension and sadness becomes nearly unbearable. I really don't think this book is best for kids, as it seems a tad iffy for them due to these disturbing elements, but I would've liked it a lot back when I was eleven or so. But man, is it disturbing. I'll be remembering this one for a while, for many reasons, and my desire to read more of Van Draanen's work has increased significantly.