Echolocation took me over so that I had to regroup whenever I stopped reading. The main characters are immediately visible and distinct, tough and believable. And their dynamic is revealed smoothly, with both momentum and surprise.

Collins' consistently highlights the macro--the landscape. There are many short but unforgettable passages that establish character: "She wanted to follow the path of her mother, but not so that she would find her; instead, she wanted to know what it felt like to be the one leaving," or create scenic exhibitions: "Gray trees along the roadside creaked in the wind, bare branches scratching out the blue from the sky. A single crow let out a continuous, ornery caw, rippling the morning's stillness."

This story never hiccups and never meanders. It paints a world that is at the same time believably tough and graciously beautiful. It is about connections and relationships and hardships and so much more. Oh, and the title is perfect.

Read it.