I had some trouble getting through this book. The author's prose is excellent of course and creates a central character that you have to root for, but the violence and mistreatment and even just the racist environment of the times is unpleasant enough in fiction and this is fiction based on reality (this is why I have trouble reading or watching about slavery). Keep in mind this wasn't that long ago, and the actual school was only closed last decade, with no reparations for the victims (those that survived) and no consequences for the victimizers. That is why I consider this a must read.