(Image from Barnes & Noble)

"Doomsday scenarios are only fun when doomsday is just a hypothetical" (163).

The drought is old news to Californians.  They're already allowing their grass to die, not filling up their swimming pools, and jumping in and out of the shower as fast as possible.  Although they've been warned the water will run out eventually, most are shocked—and woefully unprepared—when the worst happens.  With no water gushing or even trickling out of their taps, people are panicking.  Those who aren't rushing to leave the state are ransacking the grocery stores, buying up every bottle of water on the shelves.  When not even an ice cube is left and days continue to pass with no relief in sight, chaos reigns.  

Alyssa Morrow barely recognizes her neighborhood anymore—her once peaceful subdivision has turned into a war zone.  When her parents don't return from their trip to get help, the 16-year-old realizes she's on her own to take care of herself and her 10-year-old brother.  With no stored water in her home, her only hope lies in the weird kid who lives next door.  Kelton McCracken is the geeky son of a prepper.  If anyone knows how to survive the water apocalypse, it's him.  When a shocking tragedy sends the teens on a frantic flight to find the supplies they need to survive, all of their lives are put on the line.  Desperate to keep her brother safe and healthy, Alyssa must make some impossible decisions as the ordered world she once knew falls apart around her. 

Considering all that's happened already in 2020, Dry—the newest YA novel by Neal Shusterman and his son, Jarrod—rings eerily true.  Luckily, the catastrophic drought at the center of the story is only fiction (at least for now).  As such, it makes for a tense, exciting page-turner that will force readers to ask themselves, "What would I do?"  The answers may be unsettling, especially considering all we've all been through this year.  Besides being an engrossing novel, Dry is definitely a thought-provoking one.  The characters are realistically complex and conflicted; on the whole, though, they're a likable and admirable lot.  Interesting characters, an engaging plot, and plenty of food for thought combine to make Dry not just a riveting read, but a powerful one.  I absolutely recommend picking yourself up a copy.  Just be warned:  you're going to want to have a big glass of ice water next to you while you read this book because I guarantee it's going to make you crave a nice, cold drink!

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of other YA dystopian novels, especially Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love:  I bought a copy of Dry from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Aaron Falk has zero desire to return to Kiewarra, the tiny village of his birth.  Twenty years ago, he was accused of killing a local girl there, condemned by his neighbors, and run out of town.  Now a federal police agent in Melbourne, the 36-year-old is being summoned back for the funeral of his childhood best friend, Luke Hadler.  Despite the tragic circumstances (Luke killed himself after murdering his wife and young son), Aaron doesn't plan to go back.  Until he gets a message he can't ignore:  Luke lied.  You lied.  Be at the funeral.  

Ravaged by drought and despair, Kiewarra is a dying town full of the same small minds and explosive tempers Aaron remembers from two decades ago.  His presence in town only adds fuel to the fire, creating a tension so thick it smolders in the dusty air.  All Aaron wants to do is pay his respects and high-tail it back to Melbourne, but Luke's parents have another idea.  Although Aaron's specialty is financial crimes, the Hadlers implore him to look into Luke's death.  They don't believe for a minute that their son would commit such a brutal act.  Despite mounting evidence proving otherwise, Aaron can't bring himself to let the Hadlers down.  With the help of a local policeman, he starts digging.

As Aaron investigates, Kiewarra's long-buried secrets start to surface.  The closer he gets to the answers he's seeking, the more dangerous Aaron becomes to someone who wants to keep the past firmly in the past.  He was expelled from Kiewarra once; will he be silenced again—this time permanently?  Aaron must find out what really happened both in the present and in the past before it's too late.

The Dry, a debut novel by Australian author Jane Harper, has received a lot of buzz since its publication in January of last year.  And deservedly so.  It's a tense, atmospheric thriller written with such vividity that I could almost taste Kiewarra's dusty desperation.  Aaron is a sympathetic hero, brave and determined, but also understated and humble.  The mystery at the novel's center remains compelling throughout.  The identity of the killer surprised me, which always helps to make this kind of novel feel truly satisfying.  I enjoyed this assured debut and am looking forward to reading the forthcoming sequel, Force of Nature. 

(Readalikes:  I'm really bad at this.  I can't think of anything.  You?)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, disturbing subject matter, mild sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking

To the FTC, with love:  I bought a copy of The Dry with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for violence and intense situations

To the FTC, with love:  I bought a copy of A Long Walk to Water with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger.  Ha ha.