What a charming, unexpected book! Who wouldn't love a grumpy, foul mouthed book loving sprite? Shade, as she demands to be called, lost her home and her books to an ill advised fireworks incident. Although this is certainly a tragedy (those books!), the loss spurs Shade to leave her comfortable life and hit the road. Once she leaves her sheltered village and the annoyingly cheerful and dim witted inhabitants, Shade really comes into her own. 

Setting off to find someplace she can read to her hearts content, Shade meets and somehow befriends a motley group of misfits. Although she really would rather not, Shade comes to need, and ultimately love, these fellow exiles. I was thoroughly entertained the entire time I was reading this book, and would recommend it to pretty much everyone, no matter what age!