Title: Not a Drop to DrinkAuthor: Mindy McGinnis
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: September 24th 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 320 pages
Source: Bought
Summary from Goodreads:
Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.
Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.
Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.
But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….
With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.
- It is refreshing to read about a strong female lead, while Lynn is frequently rough on the edges and on the stubborn side she is far from weak. She grows and changes through the story; the rough edges became softer and she learned to love more than just her mother.
- The intense story line and society McGinnis created. I felt like there was tension through the whole story; constantly worrying about the water situation and potential enemies.
- While I do not agree with all the choices she made, I really enjoyed that the author took quite a few risks. Some aspects like the romance were pretty predictable but then there was a curve ball. It kept the story fresh and it kept me wanting to read more and more.
- While it is not a huge issue, I wish some aspects of the world in its deserted state were better explained. I did not feel like I had a complete picture of the world Lynn lived in. I could picture her house and its surroundings just not much past that point.
- I was not the biggest fan of the ending. Parts of it felt unnecessary. My thoughts went along the lines of... "WHYYYY?!?!?!"
Not a Drop to Drink is a suspenseful post-apocalyptic book with a strong female lead that has surprises throughout the whole book. Definitely recommend it to those looking for a scarily realistic take on the future with subtle romance yet strong character growth and development.
