personally, i believe this novel is a calssic... and a good one. i am in the eigth grade, and mostpeople find it suprising that i read this novel for a class. hawthorne did an excellent job of expressing the puritan lifestyle through the eyes of a young woman who was greatly shamed. i suggest that everyone and anyon should read this novel. the only way i would not recommend this novel is to someone who has difficulties reading or takes no einterist in the subject at all. enjoy!