** spoiler alert ** There were parts of this book that I liked, but overall the tone was simply too precious for me - it felt like it would be patronizing to kids. I also have problems with the main characters even being engaged at the end of the book since they're 12 and the world has not been set up as one in which children marry. It states at the end that they won't get married for years but we're clearly meant to believe that they are in love or meant for each other or some such hogwash. I found Lucy's response to her lack of knowledge about her mother to be somewhat interesting, but that didn't seem to fit with the rest of the book. Also - huge plot hole: Why weren't adults looking for Lucy and Wynston? Why were they waiting for them to come back? If there had been any sort of an answer for this, I wouldn't mind, but it's like the parents just assumed their kids would come back and be fine. This book made my teeth hurt and there were too many holes in the plot for my taste. It might appeal to those looking for something similar in style to The Tale of Despereaux but this is far inferior.