Intelligent heroine, portrait of great family life
slips almost unnoticed into fantasy. I understand why people found it slow and were frustrated that things don't happen quickly for a long time, but I so enjoyed all the slow parts -- the rich, detailed sense of life in a busy family, the thoughts of a smart girl in high school, the schoolwork, the battles with siblings, that I didn't mind at all. The ending was a bit enigmatic for me, but if I could have given it four and a half stars I would have. Though I didn't think it totally worked, I loved it.