It's exceedingly rare for me to give a rating of five stars. This book deserves every single one and then some. I might even go so far as to say it's one of the very best books I've ever read. Whimsical, enchanting, riveting, heart-wrenching (I haven't cried so hard since I read the short story "The Wonderful Cat of Cobbie Bean" as a child - literally sobbing at one point), insightful, and wise beyond belief. Oh there are lots of other things I could say and I've tried but deleted them all. Read it and see for yourself.