Don't go into this expecting high action (like I did) because it's not there. It's a slow burn story of a mother trying to survive in a near-future dystopia and dreaming of getting her son back. Stine does an amazing job at world building and development I'd this society where plastic is currency and the conveniences we enjoy now don't exist. It's written beautifully once you get that it's a picture of their life, not an adventure story.