miahoetker's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
buuj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
spookyscenes_steamyreads's review against another edition
4.0
SO FREAKY!! Drink your water kids and start building your bunkers now. Highly recommend listening to this one on audio!
kba76's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Dry is one of those books that seems pertinent. There's a very timely focus on conservation and our use of resources, but there were elements to the story that minimised its impact for me. This could have been a hard-hitting exploration of our impact on the natural world and the extent to which we find ourselves culpable in the decline of our environment.
When the book begins we are aware that the area where our character lives is struggling to find water. They're in a crisis situation but seem determined not to recognise it. The Tap Out as it becomes known means that whole areas of the country are suddenly without water. People are having to ration their supplies, and it soon becomes clear that not everyone is following the same rules. Alyssa, our main character, finds herself increasingly depending on the skills of her neighbour, prepper Kelton, to find ways to manage.
Tension mounts quickly and Alyssa finds herself looking after her younger brother once her parents fail to return from a hunt for water. From this point forward I found myself increasingly open-mouthed as I read what Alyssa and her new group of companions get up to. Some of their choices make little sense and I often felt that the story was forced into something unnecessarily dramatic to emphasise a point, which then became less significant once the next phase began.
When the book begins we are aware that the area where our character lives is struggling to find water. They're in a crisis situation but seem determined not to recognise it. The Tap Out as it becomes known means that whole areas of the country are suddenly without water. People are having to ration their supplies, and it soon becomes clear that not everyone is following the same rules. Alyssa, our main character, finds herself increasingly depending on the skills of her neighbour, prepper Kelton, to find ways to manage.
Tension mounts quickly and Alyssa finds herself looking after her younger brother once her parents fail to return from a hunt for water. From this point forward I found myself increasingly open-mouthed as I read what Alyssa and her new group of companions get up to. Some of their choices make little sense and I often felt that the story was forced into something unnecessarily dramatic to emphasise a point, which then became less significant once the next phase began.
jodoyle's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyable. As usual, Shusterman (or should I say the Shustermans) did a great job of weaving a tale that keeps you invested. I’m finding it difficult to put together the words for this review, so I’m just gonna leave it on a semi-spoiler. The near end almost wrecked me; I was legitimately about to be so upset. Also, I was hoping to see the reunion at the end, so that was a little disappointing.
Also, the female narrator was not the best, but that’s just how it be sometimes.
Also, the female narrator was not the best, but that’s just how it be sometimes.
everyone's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars. Scary because how close to present day it is and how things resolve themselves (gave me after math of hurricane Harvey or school shooting vibes, which makes sense given theyre both cumulative collective traumas). Very interesting and realistic look at human nature and our survival instincts. Not my favorite characters ever but I enjoyed them and they felt very human, which almost made the message stronger than having likable but unrealistic protagonists. It grounded the story in reality. Very good, but very frightening.
mycatcricket17's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
_bookishbrina's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
that was exhausting in the best way possible. keep a cold water bottle close at all times during reading.
txbooklover's review against another edition
4.75
In this dystopian/survival novel, a teenager is forced to make some difficult choices to save her family when a drought escalates into a complete lack of water. Great characters and tense plot, this was a (mostly) realistic plot that showed how people might react when they are fighting for their lives. 4.75/5 stars.
e_len's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Surprisingly, I mostly enjoyed this one. The last 10-20 YA books were a DNF for me, yet this premisse was so intriguing that I had to try. It was quite good and I have never been more aware of the water I use and see in daily life, as when I was reading this.
However, it could have been shorter, the authors tend to be wordy and overanalyze every thought (also show, then tell). At times, it was painfully YA, like the whole character of Jackie at the beginning, that edgy queen of sarcasm, or the debacle with the drone. So cringe.
However, it could have been shorter, the authors tend to be wordy and overanalyze every thought (also show, then tell). At times, it was painfully YA, like the whole character of Jackie at the beginning, that edgy queen of sarcasm, or the debacle with the drone. So cringe.