YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

When the California drought escalates to catastrophic proportions, one teen is forced to make life and death decisions for her family in this harrowing story of survival from New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman.

The drought—or the Tap-Out, as everyone calls it—has been going on for a while now. Everyone’s lives have become an endless list of don’ts: don’t water the lawn, don’t fill up your pool, don’t take long showers.

Until the taps run dry.

Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbors and families turned against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don’t return and her life—and the life of her brother—is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she’s going to survive.

25%
(view spoiler)[It's really annoying that Alyssa's being rude to Kelton for no apparent reason. Everyone's quite testy because of the situation but she was just purely prejudiced against him since the beginning. (hide spoiler)]

33%
(view spoiler)[Wow the scene at the beach... the fact that people would actually destroy the things that could save their lives to fight against others for those things... the ugliness of human nature is not surprising to me and something I witness quite often, but it's still scary to think what people could do to each other in dire situations like this. (hide spoiler)]

47% End of Part 2
(view spoiler)[I can't believe Kelton's brother just died like that! Imagine the feeling when everything you have done backfires and hurts you in the deepest way possible. (hide spoiler)]

(31) Jacqui
(view spoiler)[OMG I can't believe they came all this way for nothing. (hide spoiler)]

Part 5
(view spoiler)[Wait so they were just saved by a random plane? It kinda feels a bit anticlimactic after all this build up, especially when they were ready to commit suicide. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I usually hate sad endings but somehow this happy ending seemed too abrupt. I wish the book ended while Alyssa was debating whether to pull the trigger or not and left the reader to imagine what happened. (hide spoiler)]

Part One

Can I just say once again how much I love Neal Shusterman. His work is joyously, unashamedly YA, but it is such FUN YA. Dry is no different. Tore through the first 40 pages in fifteen minutes, and couldn't wait to get back for more.

Once again, he's taken an overarching topic -- drought in CA in this case -- and turned it on its end and written a great story about. I will also say, it makes me want to start buying silver and stockpiling nonperishables. It's not terribly different in some ways than Fifth Wave or other apocalypse stories, but I'm attributing this to the fact that people's responses in a life-or-death, civilization-is-breaking-down scenario, almost always follow the same set and variety of patterns, so that's what shows up in the writing. I love the idea of the Tap Out as a story foundation because it feels like something that could really happen. I also felt that Neal had really done his homework researching the multiple facets that would come into play in this sort of crisis. And I love his work because readers constantly end up asking themselves, "What would I do if?" "How would I respond to X?"

He also has a real knack for writing at least one or two really compelling moments that haunt you later. (view spoiler)[ Having to turn down a neighbor's request when it means his baby will die of starvation and/or dehydration... but the cost over time could be sacrificing your own family... And if you've prepared to save your family in the event of a crisis, is it your responsibility to help your neighbors at the expense of your family when they chose not to prepare? Or is it wrong for them to see Kelton's family as greedy and uncaring when they are all (theoretically) pooling their resources and helping each other? Or are they? (hide spoiler)] Just so many reasons to keep reading!

Part Two
(view spoiler)[ Can't agree more. To have prepped to the fullest and then make the kind of error that costs you your child... horrifying and so desperately sad. Shusterman just excels at these kinds of scenes. And how horrible to arrive at the beach where your parents are supposed to be and no sign of anyone, just the knowledge that a bunch of people were killed. Seriously, this book is making me want to go start apocalypse-prepping and learning to shoot. Although obviously, you need to have a good head in an emergency if you're going to handle a gun around crazy, desperate people. (hide spoiler)]

Part Three

Okay, I really hate that Henry guy. And Alyssa is going to be (view spoiler)[very sorry she's toddling after him just because she's mad at Kelton. The scene with Daphne was also horrific. (hide spoiler)]

Fin

Lizzy, I kind of agree. I actually expected the book to (view spoiler)[ end there, with maybe an epilogue from a newscaster or something talking about how it resolved, final death toll, whatever. But that they even considered suicide surprised me. The constant finding water and then something went wrong and they didn't get to drink it was great reading, but got to be a little implausible really. I did actually think they were going to die several yards from water, which would have sucked royally. (hide spoiler)] Great read.

Part 1: (view spoiler)[ living in California this drought hits close. I can easily see how this would blow up and with Keltons family showing off their resources I can just tell people are going to go after them (hide spoiler)]

Part 2: (view spoiler)[ well crap I had a feeling it was Keltons brother coming through. He's the only one who knew about the hideakey but people don't think when they panic. I also don't think uncle basil is going yo be doing so well when they get to him (hide spoiler)]

@Ryn Lewis you're not liking Henry and I'm not liking /trusting Jacqui lol. stay shady characters in this

Part 3: (view spoiler)[ Henry is a sneak. Kelton is a little extreme but I don't get why Henry wants him out so bad. Does he like Alyssa in that way because I don't really feel it. Also I hate Jacqui and really want her gone. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ this was a great read. When they were so close to dying, almost pulling the trigger myself, I was braced for a tragic ending. Glad they survived. And while I guess it's good that Jacqui survived because she ultimately saved them, I still never liked her. Also henry being an 8th grader is just crazy. That kid is a nut. And happy uncle basil survived. (hide spoiler)]

Part 1
(view spoiler)[ The first day of the tap-out we meet Alyssa, her brother Garrett,uncle Basil and her parents and we see how they are coping.
Uncle Basil leaves to stay with his girlfriend. Kelton and his family are more prepared for the Tap-out. I like that (hide spoiler)]

Part 2
(view spoiler)[ when Alyssa parents don't return from their search for water at the beach. Garrett, Kelton and Alyssa go in search for them.
Leading to meeting Jacqui and Kelton's brother death and their decision to go find uncle Basil (hide spoiler)]

Part 3
(view spoiler)[
They meet uncle Basil, only to realise that the community has water but not clean water as the occupants have diarrhea. They go in search of the bug out (Kelton's family bug out) (hide spoiler)]

Part 4
(view spoiler)[ with Henry of course, they face ups and downs. The military check point, Water Angel and her crew. But the bug-out is bursted. (hide spoiler)]

Part 5
(view spoiler)[ After learning that Kelton has always had a crush on her (Alyssa). They kind of have a not-speaking-to-each other moment.
Henry bails on them. The only way is to find the reservoir as they are all dehydrated. (hide spoiler)]

Part 6
(view spoiler)[ All is back to normal, her parents survived, Kelton's are getting a divorce.
The story is sad (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting June 7th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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24%: (view spoiler)[Things are already getting tense with the rioting and now the power outage. Also concerned that Alyssa's parents may never come back. (hide spoiler)]

51%: (view spoiler)[I didn't even know people could still get dysentery. But I guess it's because I take purified water for granted. (hide spoiler)]

76%: (view spoiler)[I knew Henry was sketch. Now he's trying to split up the group. Also, I never would have thought about wiper fluid for a water source. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[I do end this book with questions. How did everything go back to normal just 2 weeks later? It's unexplained how FEMA managed to get everything under control with getting water to everyone. (hide spoiler)]

Starting this tomorrow!

Pg 24
(view spoiler)[Southern California doesn't have water to spare, and has turned off the water lines. Alyssa and her family went to the store to buy water, but there wasn't any left. It's crazy to see how people are so quick to turn on other people and be so selfish. This person literally ripped water out of Alyssa's hands (hide spoiler)]

Pg 125
(view spoiler)[Kelton went to help Alyssa and Garrett find their parents at the beach but they weren't there. The beach was littered with abandoned cell phones, which is such a haunting thing to imagine (hide spoiler)]

Pg 210
(view spoiler)[Alyssa, Garrett, Kelton, and Jacqui went to look for Uncle Basil's truck. He and his girlfriend have dysentery, though, which is something I hadn't even considered being a problem in a drought (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Reading this book makes me want to go to Sam's Club and buy cases of water to make sure I have a stash in case something happens in the future. I'm about to channel my inner Kelton and become a survivalist...Even though their family bug-out was ransacked and, you know, their house was too. I think the beginning of the book haunted me the most because it really focused on showing how civilization slowly declines. Seeing how people slowly become paranoid is what frightens me the most about survival stories, mostly because it emphasizes how anyone could lose their minds in a situation like this (hide spoiler)]

Abby wrote: "51%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I think it's just because of the stagnant water they drank. It was probably in there for years (hide spoiler)]

Starting this today!

(view spoiler)[Ugh I hate dystopians these days. I know it shows people being helpful but I get so tired of people being awful trash (hide spoiler)]

People were so quick to go into full on apocalypse survival mode, dang. (view spoiler)[ I like how it shows the collapse but idk, still just not my thing I guess. I like some of the characters though but others are just annoying. (hide spoiler)]

The ending: (view spoiler)[God that was so dramatic, I didn't expect it to go back to normal after that oof. Interesting though (hide spoiler)]

The audiobook was so good, I love full cast.

Eek! I just got my copy. Is anyone else still reading??

Part One - (view spoiler)[ So many thoughts going on in my head right now. First is a conversation I had with someone a few years ago. We live in Southern California. He made some comment about how he was preparing for the collapse of society with an investment he made. I told him flat out that he was stupid because if a collapse happens the thing we are all going to fighting over here is WATER. Of course, he was referring to the collapse of the financial markets, but still, we live in a desert and are very reliant on water from other states to support the millions of people that live here. Our ponds and reservoirs happen to be full at the moment because we've had a lot of rain this winter, but it was only 2 years ago that we were all on water restrictions - no doubt where the idea for this book came from. (hide spoiler)]
Part Two - (view spoiler)[ Gah, it is so easy to see how that situation got out of control and with the emotions so high how Brady got shot. I feel bad for Kelton's family, but I am not so sure that if they had shared what they had if it would be any different. Why is it that people always turn on each other as the first solution to survive?

BTW, I'm totally reconsidering my 10-day survival plan now.
LOL. (hide spoiler)]

Part Three - (view spoiler)[ Ooo, I really do not like Henry. Based on Kelton's 3 types of people - Henry is like a wolf disguised as a sheep. I just can't comprehend someone that manipulates every one around him that way. (hide spoiler)]
Part Four - (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Alyssa finally saw Henry for what he is and sort of made up with Kelton. I agree that what he did was NOT ok, but at the same time I don't think he actually had any bad intentions by doing it. She should forgive him. I really hope this reservoir has water for them - if they all end up dying at the end, I'm going to be upset. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ OK, I really thought Alyssa was going to shoot everyone. I could see it coming to that and was so sad. These kids really went through a lot in this book. Poor Kelton has blood on his hands and Garrett is going to be messed up for a while, I think.

This book really got into my head since I live in the setting. The scary thing is that it could definitely happen here. If the apocalypse happens in SoCal, we WILL become water zombies. It makes me want to bury a bunch of water jugs in my backyard - just in case! (hide spoiler)]

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Date Changed. Restarting October 2nd 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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Ok, I've found out that the 'chapters' on the audio version don't line up with the 'chapters' in the ebook so not really sure how to label my progress. I'm somewhere around 10% on the audio version :)

(view spoiler)[ Ch 1-2: I really enjoyed the opening to this story. The first chapter really played into the panic that would hit in this situation. I loved the COSTCO scene and how quickly people turned on each other and were willing to snatch water away from anyone else, so realistic to how most humans act in crisis. I love the neighbor kid and his doomsday prepper family and how his smartass comment about how her dad should have prepped better.. I also adore that the kids call their uncle 'Uncle Basil' and how they went through several herb names before settling on that one. The second chapter was well written as well but I definitely didn't feel the same connect there as I did with the first.

Ch 3-4: I liked Kelton's chapter.. I think it is going to be interesting to get inside his mind and see the result of a child who was raised by doomsday preppers, especially as doomsday circumstances hit. The opening part of ch 4 where Alyssa talked about talking to her friends about that first day and all the different ways they/their families spend it was interesting as well. I like how we are getting so many perspectives and reactions to the tap-out. (hide spoiler)]

36%

(view spoiler)[ This is getting really good. I like how the authors aren't afraid to put the characters through hell - it makes the whole thing feel more realistic. I'm wondering what exactly happened to Alyssa's parents and how living with Kelton's family is going to play out.. (hide spoiler)]

Ch15 (view spoiler)[ the scene where Garrett was leaving water out for Kingston just about broke my heart. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Also Restarting October 17th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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45%

(view spoiler)[ KELTON'S DAD SHOT AND KILLED BRADY!!!!! :(

I was not prepared for that. (hide spoiler)]

60%
(view spoiler)[ I'm really digging this audiobook. I love the different perspectives and how each characters experience of this one event is so vastly different. Kelton is a favorite, I'm intrigued by how his mind works out problems. Garrett is growing on me and adapting so fast to the situation, as kids tend to do. (hide spoiler)]

End of Part 3

(view spoiler)[ I really liked that they overlapped and ran into Charity aka the water angel on the highway. It was neat to see her characters development into a sort of savior for people and for the kids to have a place to rest for a bit.. I wonder how long before they realize that case of water Henry brought doesn't actually have water in it... (hide spoiler)]

80ish %

(view spoiler)[ Garrett's chapter was rough.. poor kid. Hearing about all these dehydration symptoms is almost painful to listen to.. (hide spoiler)]

Finished!

This was one heck of a ride. The audio version is fantastic and I think the individual voices for each POV really added to it. There were moments that were so hard to listen to like (view spoiler)[ the girl deciding to trade sexual favors for water, garrett's chapter, Alyssa holding the gun to Garrett's head and him begging her to just do it. (hide spoiler)] but I really appreciate how the authors did not hold back from putting their characters through hell because it is so much more realistic to what I expect humanity would be like in this level of a crisis. This whole thing was definitely made scarier by the fact that it is so easy to see it happening in our lifetime.