About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling with the weight of responsibility or feeling isolated in their decision making. It is an ideal choice for a young person who feels they must always be the 'strong one' and needs to understand that vulnerability and trust are actually components of survival rather than weaknesses. The story follows seventeen year old Neela Ray, a skilled survivor living in the wilderness of a ruined future Colorado. When a member of her camp goes missing, she must enter the dangerous, overrun city of Denver to stage a rescue. Through Neela's journey, the book explores the tension between self reliance and the necessity of community. It deals with themes of bravery, the anxiety of the unknown, and the blossoming of first love amidst chaos. While it contains some intense action and post apocalyptic peril, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the transition into adulthood where one must choose who to trust and what values to protect.
