I guess I’d describe this as a road trip with a friendly alien. It was an easy read. However, I can’t say I found the story especially thought-provoking or challenging or moving or all the other things the hype suggested. The main characters were pretty much pushed around by circumstance all the way through, and I didn’t get a sense of personal growth or change. The storyline held no surprises and it was, well, pretty linear. Still, a pleasant enough way to spend a few hours.