the_daily_orange's review against another edition
2.0
If I didn't like Lynn... I liked Lucy even less... She is one spoiled child.
The journey they went on.. what was the purpose? To get themselves killed? Yes, they were forced to leave the pond because of Polio... but then their goal got a little muddled. Lynn kept going because Lucy wanted a community life and she would do anything for Lucy. But all Lucy wanted was to go back for Carter... how messed up. Not to mention the part where Lucy chose to beat down Lynn over Carter. I thought there was some real mother-daughter bond, guess I was wrong.
The ending was somewhat ridiculous too.. after all that they've been through, Lynn decided to return. Let me get this straight then... you would die for Lucy, but you can't bare to live with her in a safe and peacefully place.
The journey they went on.. what was the purpose? To get themselves killed? Yes, they were forced to leave the pond because of Polio... but then their goal got a little muddled. Lynn kept going because Lucy wanted a community life and she would do anything for Lucy. But all Lucy wanted was to go back for Carter... how messed up. Not to mention the part where Lucy chose to beat down Lynn over Carter. I thought there was some real mother-daughter bond, guess I was wrong.
The ending was somewhat ridiculous too.. after all that they've been through, Lynn decided to return. Let me get this straight then... you would die for Lucy, but you can't bare to live with her in a safe and peacefully place.
museofnightmares's review against another edition
4.0
I felt so many actual good Walking Dead vibes. Sure, there were some slow parts in it, but I adored how the writer kept the pace in a book where it is very difficult to do so. I always remembered myself not liking the first book as much, but although it may have been less good, I still thought it was very good, just did not remember it. So with that said I am very happy that I still picked this up eventually, because I honestly enjoyed it. Also, the writing felt so natural. Probably one of the aspects why this book was so good.
rikajewellee's review against another edition
3.0
a solid conclusion to the series, but i liked lynn as a protagonist much more than lucy.
jnharris10's review against another edition
4.0
A very different YA distopian series. I really enjoyed it.
siobhan27's review against another edition
4.0
In a Handful of Dust is a kind of sequel. And I think that is one of the reasons why I enjoyed this book so much, it had all the makings of a sequel, with us seeing some familiar faces but it was a completely different story and setting. This book also follows the same format as the first book in which characters travel distances in order to find shelter and gain some sense of a home.
This book follows Lucy who is forced to leave the only home she has ever really known and trek across country in order to find a place that is without any kind of infection and with water, something that is hard to come by in her world. But what i think made this book for me was who Lucy was traveling with...Lynn. If you don't remember, Lynn was the main character in Not a Drop to Drink and I had the biggest smile on my face when i read her name. It was great to see Lynn years after we left her and it was great to see that she was doing well. I loved getting to know Lucy throughout this book because she was so different from Lynn in general. Lucy loves being around people and is excited with the fact of getting to a place that is booming with life and culture, whereas Lynn is the exact opposite so seeing them interact was great and made for some great conflict.
The only issue I had with this book was the middle. I found that it lagged a bit when Lucy and Lynn were traveling across country because it was mostly the same thing over and over, with the occasional new character intersected here and there. I loved the new characters, they made the story that much more interesting at times but when it was just Lucy and Lynn I found that there was more description and not enough dialogue and it was a bit boring. I honestly hate saying that because I really enjoyed this book and I lobe Mindy, she is a such an amazing person, but I always tell myself that I have to be honest when it comes to reviewing and so I am sticking with that.
Overall In a Handful of Dust was a great companion novel to Not a Drop to Drink and i loved seeing Lynn in her new role as guardian of Lucy. I also really enjoyed getting to know Lucy and how she differs from Lynn and what we saw in IAHOD. If you love cross country trip reads, this book is for you, and obviously if you loved NADTD then this book is for you as well!
This book follows Lucy who is forced to leave the only home she has ever really known and trek across country in order to find a place that is without any kind of infection and with water, something that is hard to come by in her world. But what i think made this book for me was who Lucy was traveling with...Lynn. If you don't remember, Lynn was the main character in Not a Drop to Drink and I had the biggest smile on my face when i read her name. It was great to see Lynn years after we left her and it was great to see that she was doing well. I loved getting to know Lucy throughout this book because she was so different from Lynn in general. Lucy loves being around people and is excited with the fact of getting to a place that is booming with life and culture, whereas Lynn is the exact opposite so seeing them interact was great and made for some great conflict.
The only issue I had with this book was the middle. I found that it lagged a bit when Lucy and Lynn were traveling across country because it was mostly the same thing over and over, with the occasional new character intersected here and there. I loved the new characters, they made the story that much more interesting at times but when it was just Lucy and Lynn I found that there was more description and not enough dialogue and it was a bit boring. I honestly hate saying that because I really enjoyed this book and I lobe Mindy, she is a such an amazing person, but I always tell myself that I have to be honest when it comes to reviewing and so I am sticking with that.
Overall In a Handful of Dust was a great companion novel to Not a Drop to Drink and i loved seeing Lynn in her new role as guardian of Lucy. I also really enjoyed getting to know Lucy and how she differs from Lynn and what we saw in IAHOD. If you love cross country trip reads, this book is for you, and obviously if you loved NADTD then this book is for you as well!
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I really liked "Not a Drop to Drink" ... that story wrapped up completely, so it was a bit surprising to note there was a sequel, or at least a continuation. It's years later, and the narration changes from Lynn to Lucy, and they are forced to leave the pond and travel across the county. It's not a keep-you-up-all-night nailbiter. There is action, but also several slow sequences. People they meet along the way. Some good. Some evil. Will the ultimate question of will they find a place to call home? I was happy I continued on with these characters and this story. Same excellent narrator as the original for the audiobook edition, except I struggled a little with Lynn's "voice" as it was a little too deep and almost masculine.
ajsterkel's review against another edition
3.0
I LOVED Not A Drop To Drink, so I'm not sure why it took me so long to read the sequel. I enjoyed it. It's a quick read, and there's a creepy twist at the end, but it didn't feel as original as Not A Drop To Drink. I might be burnt out on post-apocalyptic books? This is another apocalypse novel where the characters wander through the wasteland in search of safety. I feel like I've read a lot of those.
Better review to come . . . .
Better review to come . . . .
agnessastre's review against another edition
5.0
Solid, controversial and very well written. It's hard to make a sequel better than the orginal novel, but McGinnis NAILED IT.
skhola's review against another edition
5.0
Even though the entirety of the part in Vegas had me chanting "I don't like this I don't like this I don't like this" as I listened, I adored this book and I think even liked it a bit better than the first one!! Will definitely read again in the future
librarypatronus's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fantastic sequel, and I enjoyed it a little more than the first one. The illness spurring a trip out of the comfort of the town they know was interesting and scary. I gagged in real life at a description in the second half of the book, so if you're easily grossed out, definitely be aware it gets pretty disgusting.