No one is quite sure what they are supposed to make of the book when they are first presented with it. It doesn't fit into any of the usual categories. And then there's the fact that I am known as a youth writer.
People come to the book expecting it to be a children's fantasy.
Some become indignant to discover they've been misled. It's been interesting to see the varying reactions that the book has been drawing. They're all quite extreme reactions. People either love it or are deeply disturbed by it. It seems to touch a nerve - which is interesting considering the amount of graphic violence shown on our news reports.