I love the straightforwardness of kids'/YA books. Sometimes it feels so much more sincere to say, "Caleb slipped his hand into mine as we stood on the porch, watching the road. He was afraid" than to perform some literary acrobats attempting to show not tell the same thing. Especially, of course, because this story is told from the perspective of a young girl. This is a tender, quaintly written book that totally pulls on my heart strings without an ounce or pretension of manipulation. One to keep as comfort and reminder of the emotional impact of simplicity.