Sandy B

I enjoyed this story and these characters. The book really went places and in directions I didn't predict. At times I expected some sort of tragedy or violence would intrude, but that's not what the book was about. At times I wondered if a romance would take center stage, but again, not what the book is about. The book also avoided the over-done plucky heroine trope - Del is plenty strong and resourceful, but you see her struggles and worries and failures alongside her victories. The characters are complicated and real - no absolute villains and no absolute heroes, just real people whose stories help you understand them all. I won't say I totally understood the main quest in the book, but I certainly won't ever think about houses and how they are built or what they mean to the families who live in them in the same way. The book was quiet and a rewarding read.