Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping disaster novel imagines California without water.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say the book presents an eye-opening view of a dystopian future shaped by global warming and water shortages, highlighting both the gripping and horrifying aspects of survival. However, many reviewers caution that it contains mature themes, including significant violence, sexual content, and strong language, making it unsuitable for younger readers or those sensitive to existential dread.
- eye-opening content
- censorship issues
- violence and swearing
- mature themes
- gripping narrative
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
At the start of DRY, the simple act of turning on a water faucet heralds the arrival of a major diaster. Alyssa's parents assure her and her younger brother, Garrett, that everything will be fine once the authorities arrive with fresh water. But their odd neighbor, survivalist Kelton, believes it will be every person for herself. As people get more desperate and discomfort suddenly veers into tragedy, Alyssa, Garrett, Kelton, and others set out to find a refuge where they'll be safe. To get there, they'll test their courage and humanity, struggling not to descend into mindless violence.
Is It Any Good?
Lots of readers have climate change on their minds, and this gripping, sophisticated disaster novel vividly shows the perils of rising temperatures. In Dry, the father-son Shusterman team steadily builds the level of suspense as their complex and surprising characters fight to survive. Each member of the cast is multidimensional, and the authors take pains to present them with moral questions that have no easy answers. The novel's ending may strike some readers as a little too easy, but it's satisfying to see these characters mostly rewarded for their bravery.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Dry depicts the sudden loss of water in Southern California. How soon might society break down in the total absence of drinking water?
What resources can be used to be better prepared to deal with a natural disaster? How can neighbors cooperate to ensure each other's safety?
How should people decide who receives a portion of a scarce commodity? Should sharing be "all or nothing"? Is it right to use deadly force to protect emergency supplies?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : October 2, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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