Title: Not a Drop to Drink
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: n/a
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon |
Barnes & Noble |
Audible
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.
This book. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I put it down last night. It invaded my dreams. I even woke up pondering alternate endings. It's gritty. It's honest. And it. Is. Brutal.
I thought I was done with dystopians, but Mindy McGinnis has proven that there are still fresh voices to be heard in a genre rife with copycats. I mentioned in a previous post that this novel seemed like a mash-up of
Blood Red Road and
Drought, but I was only at the halfway point then. Having finished the book, I can admit that although the tone and vernacular resembled that of
Blood Red Road -- though not quite to that extreme -- and the limited availability of fresh water reminded me of
Drought,
Not a Drop to Drink is its own story.
Things that set this book apart: no messy love triangle, fantastic world-building, a headstrong heroine, and a strong emphasis on the fear-inducing aspects of living in a dystopian state where water is scarce. Sure, several of these components can be found in other dystopian novels, but how often do you find them all in one place? In my own experience, it's not often.
Yes, there is a romantic subplot to this novel. Yes, it is cute and sweet and heart-breaking. Lynn is your typical virginal protagonist, but in her defense, she's only ever known Mother and their neighbor Stebbs, and he didn't come around all that much in her first sixteen years. Not a lot of opportunities to strike up a conversation or flirt, especially since Mother's stance was
shoot first, ask questions later. But tragedy strikes and Lynn is left to make that call herself, and she and Stebbs decide to offer help to the starving family trying to make a home for themselves by the stream.
At first, Lynn's demeanor seems rather harsh and callous, but she only knows what she's been taught. I enjoyed seeing Lynn's character grow into so much more as she learned from each of her new friends. Stebbs teaches her about kindness. Lucy teaches her about family. Eli teaches Lynn about flirting and love. And Neva, she teaches Lynn about sacrifice. Everything she knows about surviving she already learned from her mother, and she passes that knowledge on to the group.
And they're going to need all the lessons they can stand. In this rural Ohio setting, the new law of the land appears to be
take or be taken. You have to fight for what you have and you can't be afraid to do what's necessary to survive.
Not a Drop to Drink is set in the not-so-distant future, where our water resources have been depleted and the government is in charge of the limited supply that's left. It's not so hard to imagine: we already pay for our water...it would just be a matter of the government telling us we'd have to live inside the city in order to get any of it. The house Lynn lives in has been in her family for generations, and with the pond on their land, they don't have as much to worry about when it comes to a water source...except protecting it.
"Lynn was nine the first time she killed to defend the pond, the sweet smell of water luring the man to be picked off like the barn swallows that dared to swoop in for a drink."
Lynn can shoot a rifle with deadly accuracy. She can bag a deer and process it herself. And she can protect her pond when she's the only one left to do it. But that's a lonely life for a sixteen year old girl. It's no wonder she took to caring for Lucy like she was her own flesh and blood. She stubbornly resisted the emotional tug of her conscience, having inherited her hardness from Mother, but there's only so long you can hold out against a sweet little five-year-old.
I think what really sold me on this story was how genuine it felt. It didn't try to make things seem pretty and nice when they weren't. It told the truth of how horrible other human beings could be to each other, how hard it is to survive in the wilderness when you're not prepared for it, and how people can come together to make a bad situation better. It's a violent and cruel world Lynn finds herself in, but she's just surviving the best she can.
This was such a refreshing read, and it will definitely force others to sit up and take notice of this debut author. I know I'm paying attention now. And I'm sure I'll be reflecting on this novel for days to come.
Also, I have a newfound appreciation for running water and antibiotics. I kind of understand where those "preppers" are coming from now. :P
About the author:
I'm a YA librarian and author, represented by Adriann Ranta of Wolf Literary. My YA debut, NOT A DROP TO DRINK, is a survival tale set in a world with limited fresh water. It will be available from Katherine Tegen / Harper Collins, September 24, 2013.
I'm an avid blogger, posting six days a week to my personal blog, Writer, Writer Pants on Fire, which features interviews with agents, established authors, and debut authors. Learn how they landed their agents, what the submission process is really like, and how it feels when you see your cover for the first time. I also do query critiques every Saturday on the Saturday Slash for those who are brave enough to volunteer.
I also contribute to the group blogs From the Write Angle, Book Pregnant, Friday the Thirteeners, The Lucky 13s, The League of Extraordinary Writers and am a member of the Class of 2k13.
Find Mindy:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | YouTube | Tumblr | Pinterest
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
{Audiobook} Review: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Narrator(s): Allyson Ryan
Series: Not a Drop to Drink, book #2
Length: 9 hrs 10 mins
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Source: ARC received from publisher, audiobook received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
Not a Drop to Drink was a surprising favorite for me last year, despite its bleak tone and gut-wrenching ending. I thrive on books that take a hypothetical situation and make it seem all too real...and possible. That's what the first book in this series did for me. And In a Handful of Dust was no less genuine or realistic, but it was even more depressing than its predecessor.
I listened to the audio for the first book as a refresher about a month before I received this audiobook for review, and I thought that narrator did a fine job of bringing the characters to life. However, I think Allyson Ryan really captured the tone and presence of the characters in this second book. Lynn sounds like the hardened, world-weary woman that she is on the page, and Lucy is the young woman who's still cautiously optimistic, despite all of her pseudo-mother's reservations about what lies ahead of them. As I said, this story is every bit as depressing as the first book, if not more so, and the narrator did a great job of culminating that sense of despair and loss in the listener.
Let's see...I don't want to spoil anything for Not a Drop to Drink -- though these are technically companion novels, you'll understand the characters a lot better if you read them in order -- but there was quite a bit of death. That's to be expected in a world where water is scarce and disease runs rampant. There's a lot of death in this novel, as well, but it's of a different nature, and it's what eventually leads Lynn and Lucy to leave the relative safety of their home in Ohio to head to California.
This book is one big journey across the country, complete with bumps and scrapes along the way. Plenty of them, in fact. Because of this, the book had a very Wild West vibe to it, despite the fact that the women come across cell towers and power lines and even a car along the way. Sometimes, it was easy to forget that this story takes place after the fall of technology, not before it. For a lot of the book, though, the plot just plods along, much like the riders on their horses, but there were some intense moments and big reveals that made the story otherwise enjoyable. For what it's worth, I just didn't have the same emotional connection to the story that I did with Not a Drop to Drink.
Oh, and if you were expecting any kind of romance in this book, let me just stop you right now. There are zero swoons in this book. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Oh, there was the possibility of it, sure, but nothing ever came to fruition. I wasn't expecting much considering how little there was in the first book, but even I was a little bit disappointed. BUT, if you like heartbreak, this book's got it in spades. From the mother/daughter-like relationship between Lynn and Lucy to their interactions with strangers, this book brings the feels.
I enjoyed the time I spent listening to this novel for the most part, but it just didn't hit me quite like the first book. It's hard for me to put my finger on just why that is, though. I think the biggest difference for me was that Lynn and Lucy's characters were so dissimilar, and I much preferred Lynn's narrative because I thought her overall arc really showed her character growth and ability to finally open her heart, whereas Lucy was always more open and her main growth was in overcoming her fear of her place in the world.
Overall, In a Handful of Dust is a truly heartfelt story. It's beautifully told and the author depicts such a vivid landscape. Unfortunately, it just lacked that certain something to maintain the connection I had from the first book.
Monday, July 21, 2014
{Audiobook} Review: Not at Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: n/a
Narrator: Cassandra Champbell
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source: Purchased Audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
I decided to listen to the audio book even though Jen bought the beautiful hardcover for my birthday. You see, I requested the second book on Edelwiess and I needed to get this one done so that I can move on. Audio was the quickest route. It was chancy requesting book two when I haven’t read book one yet, but I trust Jen, and I was right to do so because Not a Drop to Drink was freaking great. So well written.
I’m not going to lie though, it’s not happy. Like not happy at all. I had trouble listening at times. I took a lot of breaks, because it’s depressing. It’s harsh, but it’s real. I loved the grittiness of it. I’m glad I knew that it was going to be that way before going into it, because I’m all about happiness. This book was lacking in the sunshine and rainbows department.
There is apparently a shortage of water. Lynn and her mother live by a pond and everyday is a struggle to live and protect what is theirs. I liked all the survival aspects. The author really gets in there and details it out. It was so realistic. It’s a hard knock life for sure.
Bad things happen. People die. Big characters, so prepare yourselves if you haven’t already read and been devastated. I think these bad things are what makes this book so special. Even though I was expecting the harshness, I still found myself shocked at times. I wish I could say I’m looking forward to In a Handful of Dust, but I’m scared shitless. I suppose that’s the same as excitement? Lol.
The Narrator, oh I was so not sure about her at first. I listened to the sample on audible, and initially I thought no way. She sounds like a grandma. But a lot of that sound I think was coming from her reading the mom’s dialogue. I quickly got used to it, and I think she was perfect for this book.
If you have a weak stomach and an ultra sensitive heart, this book might not be for you. If not, give it a try.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Review: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: n/a
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
This book. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I put it down last night. It invaded my dreams. I even woke up pondering alternate endings. It's gritty. It's honest. And it. Is. Brutal.
I thought I was done with dystopians, but Mindy McGinnis has proven that there are still fresh voices to be heard in a genre rife with copycats. I mentioned in a previous post that this novel seemed like a mash-up of Blood Red Road and Drought, but I was only at the halfway point then. Having finished the book, I can admit that although the tone and vernacular resembled that of Blood Red Road -- though not quite to that extreme -- and the limited availability of fresh water reminded me of Drought, Not a Drop to Drink is its own story.
Things that set this book apart: no messy love triangle, fantastic world-building, a headstrong heroine, and a strong emphasis on the fear-inducing aspects of living in a dystopian state where water is scarce. Sure, several of these components can be found in other dystopian novels, but how often do you find them all in one place? In my own experience, it's not often.
Yes, there is a romantic subplot to this novel. Yes, it is cute and sweet and heart-breaking. Lynn is your typical virginal protagonist, but in her defense, she's only ever known Mother and their neighbor Stebbs, and he didn't come around all that much in her first sixteen years. Not a lot of opportunities to strike up a conversation or flirt, especially since Mother's stance was shoot first, ask questions later. But tragedy strikes and Lynn is left to make that call herself, and she and Stebbs decide to offer help to the starving family trying to make a home for themselves by the stream.
At first, Lynn's demeanor seems rather harsh and callous, but she only knows what she's been taught. I enjoyed seeing Lynn's character grow into so much more as she learned from each of her new friends. Stebbs teaches her about kindness. Lucy teaches her about family. Eli teaches Lynn about flirting and love. And Neva, she teaches Lynn about sacrifice. Everything she knows about surviving she already learned from her mother, and she passes that knowledge on to the group.
And they're going to need all the lessons they can stand. In this rural Ohio setting, the new law of the land appears to be take or be taken. You have to fight for what you have and you can't be afraid to do what's necessary to survive. Not a Drop to Drink is set in the not-so-distant future, where our water resources have been depleted and the government is in charge of the limited supply that's left. It's not so hard to imagine: we already pay for our water...it would just be a matter of the government telling us we'd have to live inside the city in order to get any of it. The house Lynn lives in has been in her family for generations, and with the pond on their land, they don't have as much to worry about when it comes to a water source...except protecting it.
Lynn can shoot a rifle with deadly accuracy. She can bag a deer and process it herself. And she can protect her pond when she's the only one left to do it. But that's a lonely life for a sixteen year old girl. It's no wonder she took to caring for Lucy like she was her own flesh and blood. She stubbornly resisted the emotional tug of her conscience, having inherited her hardness from Mother, but there's only so long you can hold out against a sweet little five-year-old.
I think what really sold me on this story was how genuine it felt. It didn't try to make things seem pretty and nice when they weren't. It told the truth of how horrible other human beings could be to each other, how hard it is to survive in the wilderness when you're not prepared for it, and how people can come together to make a bad situation better. It's a violent and cruel world Lynn finds herself in, but she's just surviving the best she can.
This was such a refreshing read, and it will definitely force others to sit up and take notice of this debut author. I know I'm paying attention now. And I'm sure I'll be reflecting on this novel for days to come.
Also, I have a newfound appreciation for running water and antibiotics. I kind of understand where those "preppers" are coming from now. :P
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Teaser Tuesday #75: World After by Susan Ee & Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn and the End of Days, book #2
Publisher: Skyscape/Amazon Children's Publishing
Publication Date: November 19, 2013
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My teaser:
I think Penryn might just be my favorite heroine ever. She's sarcastic, witty, and tough. But I probably like her sarcasm best. =) This book was well worth the wait. :D
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: n/a
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible
My teaser:
Heh, I like this Stebbs fellow. :) And I reckon this Eli might have himself a little crush. =)
What are you teasing this week? Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can visit!
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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