This was my only reply in this post. As for your question, yes, I think it makes the book better because it adds an educational value as well. Of course, this is my own perspective and you may disagree, but reading about such cruelty that exists somewhere in the real world might actually make a person kinder and raise awareness.

This book may be horrific, but is based on real events. Read the story about Sylvia Likens and what happened to her, some parts are even worse in reality. And while I can't say that I enjoyed the book for obvious reasons, but it is very well-written.