In the coast town of Haven, Taiwan, a professor Alice Shih has become suicidal after her Danish husband and their son disappeared during a hike.

A news report announces that a part of the trash vortex is about to break free and come in contact with the coast of Taiwan.

Because he is afraid of strangers, she has her friend, Dahu, loan her his hunting cabin, and she lives there together with Atile'i as he heals.

Alice then returns home and begins writing a book and a short story, both entitled "The Man With the Compound Eyes."

Almost a year later, Dahu is travelling with some friends when he hears a news report about a young woman being picked up off the Gulf of Mexico.

[2] Jason Sheenhan writing for NPR called it an "achingly sad book with tears on every page.