Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I never write reviews but I wanted to express a very different opinion than the majority on Kate DeCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I originally found this book on a website listing best read alouds for second graders. I have a very advanced first grade reader and we decided to read this book together. Overall, we both found this book to be very depressing; each chapter was sadder than the next, so much so, that my daughter asked to just stop reading it. (Normally I preview books before my daughter reads them, but this had such glowing reviews I didn't think it would be necessary. Especially as it was frequently listed as a 2nd grade classroom read aloud.) While I enjoyed the author's writing style and the ending of the story, I was underwhelmed by Edward's "journey" and the theme of the book. I expected more of an adventure where Edward learns to love and found a series of unfortunate and sad events for Edward. I understand that the author's intent was to show Edward's character change from a vain, self-centered rabbit to one with love in his heart. But even at the end of the book, he was mostly still filled with despair and sadness over his lost owners and maybe a bit hopeful. I also don't agree with the theme that in order to learn to love, he first needed to experience sadness, despair, injuries, and death. This is obviously totally my own perspective. I have a sensitive child and I actually don't care for completely serious/sad books and movies, perhaps if there had been more uplifting moments it might have balanced out all the misfortune and been more enjoyable for us.