Title: Not a Drop to Drink
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC received by publisher for honest review

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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.
 

Not a Drop to Drink has been on my list of To Be Read book since I read about it over a year ago. I am a sucker for dystopian, and especially one that is so different from what is out there right now. And this book is certainly different. Not only is the voice authentic and well written, but the atmosphere is incredibly unique.

I will warn those of you who love action adventure dystopians, that this is not that kind of book. This is a slow build novel that builds up only to tear you down in one fell swoop. What was so amazing about this book was the relationship between Lynn and her mother. It was not your typical teenage/mother relationship because this is not your normal world. In Lynn's world water is a hot commodity and people will do anything to get it. And since Lynn lives next to a pond full of water there are many threats that come her way.

But the most interesting part of the novel is what happens after tragedy strikes. Lynn, as a character grows into a young woman that relies on no one, and trust no one. But when she sees smoke on the horizon she knows that there are people near, and it is only when she meets said people that her world begins to change. She starts to realize how to love others that are not blood and to care about others well-being--All of these are things she has never had to do. It was very refreshing.

The writing style is very interesting in this novel because of who the narrator was. Because Lynn has only known this world she lives in, she doesn't know anything about what goes on outside of the walls of her property, and since she knows nothing, then neither do we. So that made for a great mystery and unknown element to the novel.

The only element that I was weary about was the way it ended. I would really like the opinion of someone else who has read it because I just thought that it was too good be true (minus one shocking moment that seriously made me cry). But other than that I loved the twists at the end and the overall world. I seriously wish that Mindy would write more stories in this world because I think that there is so much potential for amazing plot lines and conspiracies. I can dream can't I?