Adam Farmer pedals his bicycle across the country on a desperate quest to find his father, unaware that his own memories are the very thing endangering his survival. As Adam navigates the physical exhaustion of his ride, he struggles to reconcile fragmented recollections of his past with the terrifying reality of his present circumstances. The narrative framework utilizes a disorienting, non-linear structure, alternating between Adam's present-day bicycle trek, transcripts of interrogations, and his own internal monologues. These shifting perspectives force the reader to piece together the truth behind his family's disappearance while Adam remains trapped in a web of government surveillance and paranoia.

This novel is widely regarded as a seminal work in young adult fiction for its uncompromising approach to psychological suspense and its refusal to provide easy answers. Critics often highlight the effectiveness of the fragmented narrative, noting how it forces the reader to experience the same confusion and paranoia as the protagonist. The book is frequently cited for its dark, atmospheric tone, which departs from the traditional optimism found in much of the genre's output during its era. Readers often find the ending particularly haunting, as it leaves the ultimate fate of the protagonist open to interpretation and debate.