Never understood the fuss about the ending. As uncomfortable as it makes some people given America’s creepy aversion to sexuality of any kind, children right on the cusp of puberty are sexual creatures. They think about sex, they masturbate, and they sexually experiment with their peers.

Yes, this fictional story ends with these 12yo kids sleeping with each other. It’s handled in a perfectly tasteful way. Only an American would consider that more scandalous and disturbing than a 6yo boy having his arm bitten off or any of the other spectacular acts of violence against young children in the book. We live in a truly bizarre culture that doesn’t bat an eyelid at horrific depictions of violence but is utterly scandalized and offended by sexuality or nudity.