I absolutely adored this book, especially the poignancy and nuance given to Gideon. While not overtly stated, I read Gideon as autistic in the way his internal monolog, dialogue, experiences, and social abilities come across in very similar ways to what I experienced (and also not being diagnosed until adulthood). There's an authenticity there in the way he is portrayed that I hope rings true for other people.

The relationships, both platonic, familial, and romantic are also wholly grounded in their emotional ranges and struggles between characters. As Gideon learns, no one is black and white, and the author did a fantastic job of giving everyone their own challenges and struggles to varying degrees.

The mystery element is also done exceedingly well, and while I was a bit perplexed why it was never defined as more than "a Case" by the blurb, I understood quickly as the plot revealed more and more complications. This is a great read for readers in grades 8+ (and obviously adults too; I had such a good time reading) looking for a well-paced mystery that can remain light while still having emotional impacts, with character driven self-discovery and self-reflection.