I am a teacher, so I picked up the book wondering if children would take to it. In the end, I was bowled over by it.
For me, this is considered lightweight reading. It's actually written for older children. But that's not the point. It's meant for everyone. There's a bit of everything for everyone, you've got fantasy, mystery, and humour. But the key idea is ultimately about making connections, connecting oneself with others and connecting oneself with one's past. Doesn't that make it a topic that a teacher can use to connect with her students? Ain't that something that parents should do to connect with their children? Shouldn't everyone be making connections somehow? Go read the book first.