I read this when I was in 7th grade, and it has stuck with me to this day. I remember this was one of the first times I ever cried over a book, and, after finishing it, I considered it to be one of my favorites of all time. It has been a long time, so I cannot tell you if it would remain in high esteem if I were to read it again now. After all, my reading tastes have evolved so much since then. However, I can say that thinking about this book makes me sad even now, and it is a sadness born of fondness. My stomach aches with grief over these characters I have not read about since 5 years ago. I can vividly recall certain emotionally charged scenes, such as Jimmy's death, even though I only read it once. I can even remember small details, like Jimmy's jacket and Morgan's acting classes. I loved this book and, one day, would really love to read it again. Based on the impact alone, I would recommend to anyone!