Secrets......for those who geek books

The first thing I can say about Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu, is that it seems like a book for book nerds.  As I read it, my memory was tweaked by references to some of my favorite books, some by name, some by language, like "tessered:" A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia, fairy tales and even The Phantom Tollbooth.  Being a book nerd, it was like being in on the secret, I wonder, however, how it reads for those that aren't book nerds, or aren't book nerds yet?

In the story, Hazel and Jack are best friends.  The share a wild imagination, and a love for all things creative.  They have used their elaborate fantasy games to escape some grim realities of their own lives.  They are reaching that age, however, when boys and girls aren't supposed to play and be friends.  To add to this struggle, Jack is the kid everyone likes, while Hazel has only one friend, Jack.  This has never been a problem before, until a magic mirror breaks, and a shard lodges in Jack's heart. To the world, he begins acting as he "should" by playing with the guys and not with the odd girl.  Hazel is devistated.  Then, Jack disappears.  His family claims he is visiting an aunt that Hazel has never heard mentioned before.  She begins to suspect there is something more going on, and begins a harrowing journey into the woods to find her friend.

I wasn't thrilled with the ending.  It resolved too quickly and left me with more than a few unanswered questions.  In some ways I really enjoyed this story, however, I wonder if the target audience, third through fifth grade students will get all the deeper meaning?  Maybe that's the magic, it's a good story on it's own, but a much more interesting one if you are in on the secrets.