105 pages • 3 hours read
Dry
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Book Brief
399
Novel • Fiction
Southern California • Contemporary
2018
Middle grade
12-18 years
790L
Super Short Summary
In Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman, sixteen-year-old Alyssa Morrow and her younger brother, Garrett, face a harrowing struggle for survival in California when a water crisis known as the Tap-Out leaves the state without water. Together with their neighbor Kelton, a prepared survivalist, and a girl named Jacqui, they confront numerous dangers, including desperate people and the threat of dehydration, as they search for water and their missing parents, navigating a society on the brink of collapse. This novel includes discussions of violence, threats of sexual violence, and death.
Dark
Unnerving
Suspenseful
Challenging
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
51,071 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman offers a gripping and timely narrative of a dystopian water crisis in California. Readers appreciate its intense plot and realistic portrayal of a community in chaos. However, some find the characters underdeveloped. Overall, it effectively raises awareness about resource scarcity while providing an engaging story.
Who Should Read Dry?
Readers who appreciate fast-paced, dystopian young adult novels like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer will enjoy Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman. Ideal for those intrigued by survival tales and ethical dilemmas in a dire, near-future setting.
51,071 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Kelton McCracken
Kelton McCracken
A junior at the same high school as Alyssa and a main protagonist in *Dry*. A "prepper" from a survivalist family, he struggles between his family's views and his desire to help Alyssa during the Tap-Out.
Jacqui Costa
Jacqui Costa
A 19-year-old girl and a point-of-view character in *Dry*. An outsider with both book and street smarts, she reluctantly joins Alyssa and Kelton's group. Her hard exterior begins to soften as she reconnects with her humanity.
Garrett Morrow
Garrett Morrow
A 10-year-old and Alyssa's younger brother in *Dry*. He appears initially naive about the Tap-Out's seriousness but quickly shows a surprising turn towards violence as he grapples with fear and survival.
Henry Groyne
Henry Groyne
A teenage boy obsessed with business in *Dry*, later revealed to be only 13. He serves as a rival to Kelton and Jacqui, with motivations driven by self-interest and a desire to capitalize on the crisis.
399
Novel • Fiction
Southern California • Contemporary
2018
Middle grade
12-18 years
790L
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