About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is ready to explore complex ethical dilemmas or is showing an interest in environmental issues and social systems. Dry is a gripping, high stakes survival story that imagines a world where the water suddenly stops flowing in California. It goes beyond a typical disaster novel by forcing its characters to navigate the rapid breakdown of social norms and the terrifying choices people make when their survival is at stake. Through the eyes of Alyssa, her younger brother, and a group of unlikely allies, the story examines the thin line between civilization and chaos. Parents should be aware that while it is an excellent catalyst for conversations about resource management and human nature, it contains visceral scenes of desperation and violence. It is an intense but deeply rewarding read for mature middle schoolers and high school students who enjoy fast paced, thought provoking thrillers.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: The book contains visceral descriptions of physical dehydration, including 'cotton mouth' and extreme physical weakness. There are scenes of mob violence, such as a riot at a Costco and a terrifying encounter at a freeway bottleneck where people are desperate enough to kill for a bottle of water. A scene involving a wildfire and characters being trapped in a burning landscape is particularly intense. The sudden disappearance of parents may also cause distress for younger readers. CONVERSATION: Be ready to discuss the ethical concept of the 'Tragedy of the Commons' and why people might act against the collective good in a crisis. Also, be prepared to discuss the reality of water scarcity and how different characters justify their moral compromises.
Ideal Reader
A 14-year-old who loves high-stakes adventure and is starting to ask 'what if' questions about climate change or social order.
Parent Prep
Preview the 'Costco riot' scene and the final encounter at the desalination plant to gauge the child's tolerance for social chaos. A parent might reach for this if their child is expressing anxiety about the environment or if they want to engage a reluctant reader with a cinematic, fast-paced thriller.
Age Experience
Younger teens will focus on the survival tactics and the 'coolness' of the gadgets, while older teens will grasp the darker social commentary on class and resource hoarding.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many dystopian novels set in the far future, this feels terrifyingly immediate and 'real' because it happens in a modern, suburban setting.
Read plot summary
In a near future Southern California, the water is turned off during a catastrophic drought known as the Tap-Out. Teenage Alyssa and her younger brother Garrett are left to fend for themselves when their parents disappear while looking for water. They team up with a survivalist neighbor, Kelton, and later two others, to trek across a collapsing society in search of a rumored desalination plant and safety.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
At the start of the book, Kelton's family is prepared for the Tap-Out while others are not. Does being prepared make them responsible for helping others, or does it make them targets?
2
Alyssa has to make a choice between her own survival and her moral compass several times. Which of her decisions did you find the hardest to agree with?
3
The authors use different perspectives to show how the Tap-Out affects everyone. How did seeing the 'snapshots' of other people's lives change your view of the main characters' journey?
4
If you were in a situation where resources were extremely limited, how would you decide who to trust?
5
How did the characters' relationships with their parents change throughout the book, even when the parents weren't physically there?
