I read the book in primary school and it was excellent, but I bawled my eyes out at the end and got really upset and vowed never to read it again. A few years later, I did read it again, got all upset again and vowed that this time I definitely would not read it again. Up to now, I haven't. Maybe I would be able to cope with it better now (I am such a soppy thing)!
At secondary school we were forced to watch the film and I got upset all over again.
It really is an excellent book though. When I got my own pet rabbit, I named her from the book (Acorn)!