This is one of my favorite books of this year. In places I felt the plot was a bit over dramatic, but in contrast to that, it simply has so much going for it. First, it is educational, teaching readers about historical situationa many of us knew nothing about. Secondly, its protagonist is a strong, bright, hard working, kind young woman, one who suffers true rejection but does not allow herself to react negatively to it. I really celebrated when Cussy decided she did not need the pills offered by her doctor and came fully into herself by accepting her illness and loving herself in spite of it. I also deeply appreciated the love of books, literature, and poetry shared throughout this book, as well as the the importance and influence of the library system. It was an emotional read, and as I stated earlier, in places perhaps a bit to over the top, but the characters we meet are so well drawn, their voices so strong and genuine, their conversations so true, the plot so engaging, the writing full of beautiful and descriptive phrases - this book is first rate and a treasure!