By Neal Shusterman
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. 390 pages. Young Adult.
In Southern California, when residents are asked to stop watering lawns and filling up swimming pools, no one expects the drought will last for too long. When the taps run dry, everyone assumes they’ll be back on soon, that someone is going to take care of the problem. As it starts to become apparent that this is not the case, as neighbors begin to turn on each other, and people’s humanity is replaced with fear and desperation, it may already be too late to leave. Faced with few options and fewer resources when their parents don’t return from a trek to a promised water station, teenage Alyssa and her younger brother must decide what drastic or dangerous actions they are willing to take to survive.
In Southern California, when residents are asked to stop watering lawns and filling up swimming pools, no one expects the drought will last for too long. When the taps run dry, everyone assumes they’ll be back on soon, that someone is going to take care of the problem. As it starts to become apparent that this is not the case, as neighbors begin to turn on each other, and people’s humanity is replaced with fear and desperation, it may already be too late to leave. Faced with few options and fewer resources when their parents don’t return from a trek to a promised water station, teenage Alyssa and her younger brother must decide what drastic or dangerous actions they are willing to take to survive.
I deeply enjoy my apocalyptic tales
with a side of realism and this one felt totally plausible considering some
water crises that have been in the news in recent years and the rumored
shortages that may be imminent. While it is a little less realistic that the teens
in this novel are as resourceful and knowledgeable as they are described, it’s
easy to suspend that disbelief because the storytelling and world building is
that good- and listening to the audiobook with fantastic narrators was a treat
as well. This book made me reconsider the running time of my showers and
spurred me to stock up on emergency essentials, with plenty of water!
RC
2 comments:
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest where water was often in abundance. After moving to the desert I became more aware of water usage and supply. This book played on all of my fears in a gripping, impactful way that makes me want to move back to my natural rainy climate. It does seem a little contrived that a group of teens would form with just the right knowledge and skills to handle their situation, but if there’s anything I’ve learned from working with teens, it’s that their skills and knowledge is often surprising. Definitely something I could easily recommend.
I think I would have reacted to Dry by Neal Shusterman in a very different way if I had read it 6 months ago, before the current pandemic and quarantine. It feels too real now! When Shusterman describes the feeling in the air as one of the main characters tries to find cases of water at Costco, I know now what that feels like. I know what it feels like to go shopping and not have the items on the shelf that you expect to always be there. I have seen how quickly the structure of society can fall apart. This book no longer feels like a future dystopian novel. I was drawn into the story and didn't want to quit reading but at the same time I had to emotionally prepare myself because of the high levels of stress I felt. I also have so many thoughts and feelings I want to share with people after reading this book. I find myself wondering what I need to do to better prepare and also what would I be willing to do for myself and my loved ones in order to survive. This book would give book clubs a lot to discuss!
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