It is a struggle to get into the book as the change in perspective is hard to follow, especially in the first half. However, the story is worth the effort. Although it certainly is not an uplifting book, the struggle of this 8 yr old to work beyond his grief for the loss of his father is woven into a larger, very interesting history of a family plagued by loss and regret. Framed in the recent tragedy of 911, you find yourself contemplating your own, surreal account of that day, and empathizing with this fragile, extraordinary boy.