Not A Drop to Drink, by Mindy McGinnis

Not A Drop To Drink (Not A Drop To Drink #1), by Mindy McGinnis

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Romance

Rating: 4/5 stars









Goodreads Summary: 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.

Review:

Wow. I've never read a dystopian story that was more of a survival story, but set in a unsettled futuristic world. This is a book that everyone should know about, because you will be yelling in amazement.

   Lynn has been living the same old life since birth, with only knowing two people's names- her mother's and a man with an injured leg. Lynn and her mother have spent nights on the roof of their house, peering for humanly predators, and fighting for survival. They have a pond next to their house, and need to protect it because it's the only water they have, and they have to purify it to make sure it contains no diseases or unwanted bacteria. This is their way of living, but as they see smoke from far away, that means that unwanted strangers are nearby, and Lynn knows that she has what they want, and they won't stop until they get enough.

   In some ways, you can call this a mixture of The Hunger Games, because in some ways, it does resemble the futuristic gorgeous world of Suzanne Collins. That's the only book I can compare this to, because it's just so unique and unordinary. It's the most unique book I've ever read. No one has written a book like it.

   This story went by so fast. One minute, Lynn and her mother are living peaceful lives, the next, *SPOILER* Lynn's mother is dead. Shot. Done. And after that, Lynn's on her own, until she meets the strangers, and finds out that she has to live and survive with some of them, and that it's the only key.

    Did I mention that this book was a masterpiece? If not, it really was. The characters and romance probably would have to be the only flaws.

     I didn't like Lynn as a protagonist. She was too emotionless, and she thought she was so smart and brave after all that occurred, but really, her mom is the star here. I felt that even after she passed away, she still was watching Lynn and looked down on her and helped Lynn. She was the one who told her and taught her how to deal with the real world and what's really out there. 

 :')

     The romance between Lynn and.. Eli. He was a city boy. He grew up with needs and wants and he got what he needed. He doesn't understand what Lynn has went through and he thinks, 'thought' that he knew how Lynn was feeling the whole bus ride through. I just don't like guys like that. You don't know what this girl has been through, so stop acting like you do.

       Also, lugging a little injured girl around to show that you're tough and all that? Come on Lynn, you're better than that, don't be stupid. You're taking after your mom? Then really be like her.

       This book was a brilliant idea and set in a stellar setting, what more brilliant could've it gotten with that? A book that people sure would re-read over and over again.