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,

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.

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman will be one of our GBRs for July 2023.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

GBR reviews - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I intrigued by this, though it has mixed reviews. Opening chapter shows how used we’ve become to not having to think about our use of resources.

First quarter. It’s strange to have so little context to this scenario. While this is irritating, it’s evident that this could be a likelihood in the future. I’m wondering how the relationships will be impacted by their crisis scenario.

Second quarter. Things have gone very wrong very quickly. Desperate times result in desperate action.

Third quarter. Feels a little aimless. They have a destination in mind but no sense of what to do next, and with no outside perspective it’s hard to see what they’re up against.

Finished. Review on home page. Frustrating - could have been great.

Karen wrote: "I intrigued by this, though it has mixed reviews. Opening chapter shows how used we’ve become to not having to think about our use of resources."

(view spoiler)[I'm intrigued too. And agree we don't really think where our resources come from and as a whole have become to used to everything always being available. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "First quarter..."
(view spoiler)[We are just plopped right into the action. There's also a lot of different POVs and little sections. This is interesting, in that it gives a more full scale of what's happening, but it's also a little confusing trying to fit it together. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "Third quarter..."
(view spoiler)[It does feel that way. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I thought the book was good in that it kept me reading, because I wanted to know what was going to happen to everyone.

I felt so sad for Kelton that not only was his brother killed, he used up their bugout supplies without telling them and their journey out there was unnecessary and dangerous. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "First quarter. It’s strange to have so little context to this scenario. While this is irritating, it’s evident that this could be a likelihood in the future. I’m wondering how the relationships wil..."

Living in the Central Valley in California I can really see this happening or something similar. Already S Ca cannot sustain even 10% of their own water. It is brought down for our area, which is causing the farmers a lot of problems as they are unable to properly water crops. Water restrictions and cost where I live is crazy!

Megan wrote: "Karen wrote: "First quarter..."
[spoilers removed]"

I wish we were just following maybe 2 characters. All these extra bits do make it more confusing that not.

26% (view spoiler)[Brave woman walking toward all that fire that is starting and can explode... (hide spoiler)]

End of Part 2: (view spoiler)[That would be beyond horrible about his brother! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[It kept me waiting until the very last page about Jacqui! Intense to the end. I wonder about the dog. Likely won't be back.. That was so sad. And Kelton's parents was also sad. (hide spoiler)]

Megan wrote: "Finished
I thought the book was good in that it kept me reading, because I wanted to know what was going to happen to everyone.
..."


(view spoiler)[A Sad last remembrance of him to be sure. (hide spoiler)]

I've read the book before, but I was surprised on how much I've forgotten about it. There were certain scenes I've remembered, but most of it was a blur, and it was such a good book. Right now, I'm at part 2.
(view spoiler)[It's interesting how some things that the characters do in the story, are things that people would do in real live. Also, about the 'preppers', there are people living that way and that makes me always wonder how it feels to be in their shoes, while waiting if desaster will strike and if they are actually that well prepared. (hide spoiler)]

Karen wrote: "First quarter. It’s strange to have so little context to this scenario. While this is irritating, it’s evident that this could be a likelihood in the future. I’m wondering how the relationships wil..."

That was what got me very anxcious, while reading the book for the first time: the feeling that this could actually happen. During that time, reading the book, I know there was a report in the news paper about the Colorado River drying up. I mean, we take drinking water for granted, but it is becoming really scarce.

Megan wrote: "Karen wrote: "First quarter..."
[spoilers removed]"

The switch between the main characters and the side characters is interesting to get a different point of views.

I've finished it a couple of days ago. Allthough it stuck with me, it didn't felt so oppressive as the first time. I mainly stick to the review that I wrote 3 years back.
I've also got my doubts that it only takes 9 days to set your world upside down and everyone acting mental
I've finished it a couple of days ago. Allthough it stuck with me, it didn't felt so oppressive as the first time. I mainly stick to the review that I wrote 3 years back.
I've also got my doubts that it only takes 9 days to set your world upside down and everyone acting mental. But the events that happened in the book, cnn happen in real life. How long does it takes to loose your humanity?
The character that annoyed me was Henry. I mean, how can anyone be so self centered, so egoistic, in a situation like that? To only think about your own opportunities?
.