Little Brother is a global economics lesson dressed up as a YA novel. In places, that shines through too much for some readers; personally, I find it compelling precisely because it cuts through the market babble and presents a no-nonsense view of what's actually going on. If that view is at times slightly simplified, that barely matters from an educational point of view, because understanding basics is the prerequisite for a more refined discussion. I cannot fault the book for that.

As for the (majority) part that's a YA novel, I have rarely read more compelling and believable characters than presented here. Their lives are at times a tough read - because every detail is so believable.

In sum, I consider this book to be something of a masterpiece: entertaining, touching, and educational all in one. I hope my kids will read it!