A nearly-perfect look at how a big event (in this case, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica) can shake a family out of its patterns of safety, and force everyone to look inward to find out what truly drives them, and what they truly love. 
 Other than some initial confusion over what was being read to me (an e-mail, a fax, etc.) I recommend the audiobook version of this, due to the great narrator, actress Kathleen Wilhoite (of "ER" fame). Her voices are perfect, and when you get to the part where Bee attends (view spoiler)[ the Radio City Rockettes Christmas program (hide spoiler)] she actually sings! Wow!