Edgar, the book's protagonist, lives on Atherton. It's a man-made world that's about 10-15 years old. Atherton is divided into three sections: Flatlands (lower-class), Tabletop (middle-class), and the Highlands (higher-class).

Now, Atherton is starting to sink, which means Edgar and everyone else living on it is in huge trouble. It's really got me thinking, because I think a world like Atherton could actually exist in the future. Patrick Carman has a very unique writing style; he's excellent at describing settings! What surprised me about this book was how realistic it felt — I really did feel as if I was part of Atherton, following the lives of everyone on Atheron as the truth about their home is revealed. The characters were divergent, the plot intriguing, the concept original, the pace perfect ... It was great, and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.