Progressive urban couple has a few children who are beginning to grow up, so they decide to move away from the big city to a nice, safe suburban home with more space and a big yard. They experience somewhat of a culture shock -- most families in the new neighborhood seem to fit into the cliched, traditional mold of husbands working and going to a no-women-allowed Men's Association, with the wives staying home, cleaning, and taking care of the family.

As time goes on, the wife in the new family begins to suspect that it's not simply a matter of people being resistant to new ideas: it seems like there must be something that is causing people to lose their individuality. Is it some chemical in the water? Or... something more nefarious?

The story is pretty simple, and the book is straightforward and easy to read. I like this book: the plot, on its face, is a little bit silly but that never really got in the way of my enjoyment. Beyond that, though, this book does a fine job of satirizing suburban culture -- it's none too subtle, but it's not so heavy-handed as to weigh down the story.