This is one of those books that belongs on every 'important childhood reads' list—and for good reason. The story is simple but emotionally complex: Wanda is teased for wearing the same dress every day, claims she has a hundred at home, and then disappears from school. Maddie, the bystander who never quite joined in but never spoke up either, is left with a knot of guilt that's painfully relatable.

The genius here is that it's not about the bully or the victim—it's about the kid in the middle, the one who could have done something and didn't. That's where most kids actually live, and Estes nails the psychology of it.

That said: it's 80 years old, and it shows. The pacing is slow, the language is formal, and modern kids raised on Wimpy Kid and Raina Telgemeier may struggle to connect. It's not unreadable, but it's definitely a book that works better as a read-aloud or class text where an adult can guide the conversation. Solo, some kids will love it; others will find it boring.

Still, the core lesson—speak up, even when it's hard—is evergreen. And in an era where kids are navigating social cruelty online and off, Maddie's quiet resolve to 'never stand by again' hits hard. Just don't expect it to compete with a graphic novel for pure entertainment value.