This is the adult version of my favorite YA novels that made me fall in love with reading. I relate so much to Mona Gray, being a young teacher, her pain, her inner (in)balance. The book is so carefully and cleverly written, suspenseful in its own way, laced with motif and metaphor. I loved the kids SOOO much (reviewers who said that the dialogue was unrealistic are a.) mostly wrong, and b.) missing the point), especially Lisa. Oh my goodness, little Lisa.