Book Review: Dry by Jarrod Shusterman and Neal Shusterman
A dystopian story that feels a bit tooooo relevant.
This book appeared on my radar when I was hearing a lot about the wildfires in California. I wasn't planning on including this in my January reads, but I also decided that 2025 was the year that I let my mood take the lead, so I picked it up.
This review includes affiliate links, from which I earn a small commission for qualifying purchases.Y'all. This book pulls zero punches.
The story takes place in Southern California, and describes a situation where the taps suddenly run dry, and what desperation leads to when water suddenly... disappears. I wasn't sure if this would be for me based off the first chapter or two I read, but as the story progressed it really pulled me in. It's shocking to see how a quiet, suburban neighborhood really spirals into chaos – and how quickly it happens! It definitely had me thinking about how important water really is, and how much we tend to take clean water for granted.
"As far as authority is concerned, calm people quietly dying is a lot easier to deal with than angry people fighting for their lives."
Maybe don't read this if you're currently in California dealing with wildfire stress at the moment. But if you're looking for a climate disaster book that feels very realistic, this was a great read. I savored every sip of water I took while reading this one, that's for sure.
Rating: ★★★★
Book Summary
- Title: Dry
- Author: Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
- Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Young Adult
- Who Should Read It? Those interested in dystopian stories that feel applicable to our modern world.
Synopsis: 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.
