You might want the kiddos to get interested in this story, but how on earth will they ever connect with some Lithuanian immigrant from way back in the day?

Well, we're not totally sure, but when those kids come across the fighting and the prostitution and all that misery, we're thinking they'll plug right into the book. Yes, they might struggle to relate to Jurgis and his particular experience, but there's a lot of humanity in this book—brutal, horrible, terrible humanity. Whether we like it or not, this is the stuff of tabloids and Dr. Phil, and it keeps us watching.