Dry (original: 2018; edição: 2018)

Told from the varying perspectives of the young main characters, Dry explores what could happen if southern California ran out of water. In this all-too-realistic fictional work, readers can find a critique of the ineffectual attempts of the government and society to ensure that clean water is available, and imagines the harrowing scenarios that play out when that water disappears.

Compelling and relatable characters avoid fitting in to stereotypes (smart girl, prepper, dropout, deceiver). "Snapshots" of scenes and people outside the narrative lend an additional layer to the story. ( )

The drought in California has gotten severe and then Arizona cuts off access to the Colorado River and all the taps are dry. The great "Tap-Out" is initially not taken seriously by FEMA who is dealing with a hurricane on the East Coast. After all, footage of a hurricane is a lot more interesting than a bunch of thirsty people.

This book follows several different characters and switches the 1st person POV between them. I found myself having to look back to see which character I was following because the voices weren't quite different enough. Despite the confusion, the book is a compelling read as the characters deal with one crisis after another in search of enough water. The authors did a good job of showing all the different things people will do in a crisis and in a fight for survival. A good read that will motivate you to take shorter showers. Or become a doomsday prepper. And have a bottle of water nearby while reading. ( )

This review is posted on both my personal account and the account for Crossroads Public Library.

Actual Rating: 4.75

BRB, going to buy gallons of water, some nonperishable food items...and whatever other things preppers recommend.

This book was awesome and terrifying. It showed a future that's a real possibility, and it did it well. ( )

Books present a great opportunity to explore social and political issues, and environmental books have seen a real surge in recent years. Dry by Neal Shusterman delves deep into water scarcity when the southwestern United States experiences the “Tap-Out”--no water. Alyssa and her 10-year-old brother Garrett become separated from their parents, and join up with prepper neighbor, Kelton, and a couple of other teens in a quest to find water. Shusterman is a powerhouse YA writer, and Dry demonstrates all of his writing and storytelling skills. Teens looking for an adventure novel that explores the environment, mental health, friendship, and survival will definitely enjoy Dry. (A warning for younger and more sensitive readers--Dry contains realistic violence, guns, and frightening situations.) ( )

This is a plot driven story about a California where the drought has turned into an absolute lack of water. It centers around a group of teenagers who act and think like teenagers, although I didn't find them annoying, and it explores the choices they make when faced with unthinkable situations. It was really interesting and fun! ( )