While this book wasn't a new favorite, I like what it's trying to do.  This book has a strong message of empathy, and presents the reality of death in a way that is not scary to kids.  I believe the author would like to normalize the idea of death, instead of treating it as this horrible thing that society tends to loathe and dislikes talking about.  This deals with the grief of losing family, of a child losing a parent, of a situation where the child doesn't want to be with their biological father due to abuse, etc.  There are some pretty heavy themes, but the happy ending more than makes up for it.  The second half of the book is stronger than the first half, in my opinion.  I think the fantastical elements added to the story because it may have been a little duller without that.  I enjoy that the friendship between the two main characters was exactly what each of them needed.  A grieving father and husband having the boy as a new son, and a little boy having someone to be the kind father he always deserved.  You can have broken parts, but still deserve and attain good things and relationships.  Your brokenness doesn't have to define you, nor the trauma inflicted by others.  *Spoiler*  In the end, they row away to a new land, using a coffin as their boat to a new life.  As a nonreligious person, I still thought that had a nice, poetic touch to it. *End Spoiler*