I loved this book, but a definitely would say it is for older teens and not for tweens or young children.

I really enjoyed this book. it was first given to me the second week of school and i'gve finished it that same week. Allthough the father in the story was very rude and IGNORANT his role was some what understandable. Thwe way he took Charlie and shook him, threw him against the wall, locked him in the basement, and thed way he abused his wife were very indescribable. Being punished for beind outside so called "for bad kids" wasn;t a good enough reason. If you were going to have a child why would you lock them up and not feed him or her. The mother wasn't very enthuisiastic either..... all of the beatens and bruises wasn't called for and she just stood there and took it. When charlie entered the hospital he was very terrified. He feared his father and the spider that always stood in the corner that has watched him since he was locked up in the basement. I thought the spider was his father but it wasn't. But when Mrs. H got there I felt a sigh of relife. This book makes me think.

I am 13 and can read and watch a lot of things, but while there is no disturbing images like guts on the floor or descriptive open heart surgury, it was kind of hard to get through just becasue the isolation that this child has just makes you so sad. This is a book I would give to kids who think that they are not treated right by their parents because they dont have the lastest iPod. The hardest thing for me to accept is that this kind of stuff happens all the time.