the first time i read this book i was 13 or 14 years old. i understood what was happening in the book but i didn’t understand the true meaning of the book. i didn’t understand why this particular summer was so important. this book is SO raw and honest, to the point where it is physically uncomfortable to read - but that’s the point. it’s a totally unfiltered meditation on how young people see the world. i think the biggest  thing i took away from the book is how important it is for adults to communicate with teens, and to do so honestly.