Dry

Southern California faces a catastrophic water shortage after the taps run dry, plunging the region into crisis. Teenage siblings Alyssa and Garrett must navigate a transformed world where their suburban neighborhood descends into chaos as people become desperate for water. The siblings join forces with their neighbor Kelton, whose survivalist family has prepared for disaster scenarios. Along with two other teens they encounter, the group sets out on a dangerous journey to find water and safety while witnessing how quickly society breaks down. As water becomes more scarce, the teens face difficult moral choices and must determine who they can trust in an environment where previously normal people will do anything to survive. Their journey forces them to confront questions about human nature, family loyalty, and what people are capable of when basic resources disappear. The novel examines themes of environmental crisis and social collapse while highlighting how thin the veneer of civilization can be. Through its teenage protagonists, the story explores how individuals maintain their humanity when survival instincts take over.

Readers describe this YA climate fiction as frighteningly plausible and relevant to current water crises. Many found the survival elements and societal breakdown realistic, with one reader noting "it hits close to home since California's drought problems are real." Readers appreciated: - Fast-paced, intense narrative - Multiple character perspectives - Scientific and political elements woven into the story - Realistic portrayal of how people might react in a crisis Common criticisms: - Second half feels rushed compared to first - Some found certain character decisions unrealistic - A few readers felt the ending wrapped up too neatly Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (51,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (2,300+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 (500+ ratings) Several teachers mentioned using it successfully in classrooms to discuss climate change and resource scarcity. Multiple reviewers compared it favorably to Lord of the Flies in its examination of social breakdown.

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🌊 The severe drought depicted in the novel was inspired by actual water shortages in California, where co-author Neal Shusterman lives and witnessed firsthand the effects of water scarcity. 🖊️ This was the first collaboration between Neal Shusterman and his son Jarrod, who brought his film industry experience to help create the book's vivid, cinematic scenes. 💧 The "Tap-Out" scenario in the book mirrors real-world events like Cape Town's "Day Zero" crisis in 2018, when the South African city nearly ran out of municipal water. 🌡️ The authors conducted extensive research on survival psychology and interviewed disaster preparedness experts to accurately portray how people might react during a catastrophic water shortage. 🎬 The film rights to "Dry" were purchased by Paramount Pictures before the book was even published, with both Shustermans attached to write the screenplay.