If you have never read the book...

I can tell you for sure it's a good read. There are parts where it really makes you wonder why it's consider a child's book, since there is some drug use in it, but all in all it's a great read. Don't have a library near you? Well, there's an online book that you can read it on. I would really suggest reading it, because you can form an opinion on whether or not the movies do a good job on following the story.

Here's the link.

http://bygosh.com/AIW/C01/AIWC01.htm

It even has illustrations!