This is what a smart kids' book looks like. DiCamillo won the Newbery for good reason—the writing is gorgeous, the story structure is clever, and she doesn't talk down to kids. Yes, it's darker than a lot of children's literature, with real emotional stakes and some genuinely sad moments. But that's also what makes it memorable.

The three-storyline structure keeps things interesting, and the narrator's direct address to the reader ('Reader, it is your destiny...') gives it a storybook charm that modern kids still respond to. It's not a light read—this requires focus and emotional maturity—but for the right kid, it's the kind of book that sticks with you.

If your kid loved Charlotte's Web or Because of Winn-Dixie (also DiCamillo), this is the natural next step. If they're still working through early chapter books or get upset easily, maybe wait a year or two.