Review: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Page Count: 320
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Source: Review copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis 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.

I'm pretty quick to admit that I'm not usually a fan of dystopian books, but I really enjoyed reading Not A Drop To Drink. It was very different from anything else I have ever read, and I really liked the concept. I had been looking forward to reading this since the first time I saw the title, and I have to say that it really lived up to my expectations.

From the first few pages, I was totally caught up in this story. Lynn's entire life has been all about survival. It's all she's known, and it has made her into a strong and seemingly unfeeling person. Her and Mother are alone, and they spend every day doing mundane chores to ensure their survival. They also must spend every minute defending their only source of water. Their outlook is very bleak, and they live in constant fear of dying. Because it is a kill or be killed environment, they must do whatever is necessary to defend their water, their home, and their lives.

As the story progressed and more characters were introduced, I loved that Lynn was able to overcome her harsh upbringing and learn how to open up to others. Lynn was able to form friendships and learn how to trust others. I enjoyed the wide variety of characters, and I thought there was a ton of character development throughout the story. There was a bit of romance in this book that was sweet and lovely, and I thought it was perfectly done, even though it was heartbreaking for me.

I loved the writing because it was straight-forward and really conveyed the harsh conditions superbly. The world building was minimal, which was perfect for me because I prefer not to be overwhelmed and bogged down with too much information.

Not A Drop To Drink was different from other dystopians I have read because I felt that the plot was actually plausible. I know that I wouldn't want to live in those conditions, and I don't think I would be strong enough to survive! It was desolate and dreary and so darn depressing. Not A Drop To Drink was a compelling story that was beautifully written and totally believable.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars