This plot driven novel features wooden characters in a compelling environment. Once you get through the painful introduction of stereotypical American wealthy family, the plot points take over and it's a fun read.

I found the messaging pretty good and personally challenging. The author is hitting on themes such as:
- What is truly important?
- How does technology keep us from facing ourselves?
- Are we trusting in God, ourselves, or a way of life?
- Who can we trust and how do we know?
- What would life be like if all technological advances were wiped out? How would I survive? How would my family survive? What would God want me to do/ How would He want me to respond?

Some have criticized the book, which is overtly Christian as preachy. The preachy didn't bother me as much as the poor character development, which I consider to be the root of the matter. If the Biblical and life lessons had been interwoven with more substantial characters and their development, I do not think the messaging would have been burdensome. But as it was, I did notice some of it enough to breeze through parts that became forced.

I found the themes memorable, but the characters forgettable. Nonetheless, it was a quick, pleasurable, summer title and I wasn't quite to the point of wishing a more capable author had undertaken the idea. If the next book in the series turned up on my shelf, I'd probably read it.