Not A Drop To Drink Review: Lynn

**DON'T FORGET: The Dark Elements Series Re-Read is currently going on, hosted by me and Cody from Literary-ly Obsessed! It's not too late to join us, if you haven't already :) We're reading White Hot Kiss this week, and be sure to check back for our discussions and Q&As on Monday, July 20th! More information HERE.**

Now to the review.

Book: Not A Drop To Drink
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: Not A Drop To Drink
Standing: Book 1
POV: 3rd person by Lynn, past tense
Genre: YA post-panademic, survival

Source: Physical copy
Pages: 309
Release: September 24th, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Rating: 4 Stars

Blurb: (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.

                          ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

If you're looking for a gritty survival book about how people can change hearts for the better, pick this one up.

In this book, resources have been used up. There have been a few wars over resources, including Oil Wars, but the main concern is water. Big cities hoard water sources, and anyone else living in the country have to find their own. Lynn is fortunate enough to have a relatively large pond in her backyard, and because of it, she guards it day and night. In these desperate time, people who don't have water are known to turn to ugly ways to get their hands on it, like killing and other unpleasant things. So Lynn does what she must to ensure her own survival.

What I particularly loved in this book was Lynn's character arc. She begins as cold and ruthless, shooting first and asking questions later. She doesn't take a chance, especially since men are known to do some very unpleasant things to girls. However, as the book progresses, we get introduced to a few new characters, and Lynn begins to soften. It becomes her protecting everyone, rather than her merely protecting herself. In a way, she steps up into a semi-mother role, and is able to develop friendships and relationships that she would die to protect. It's a great story about learning to trust others, and how relationships can stem to being those of fierce protectiveness. 

I really liked Lucy, Stebbs, and Eli's characters, and how they changed Lynn. Their relationship dynamics are very realistic. Though I did question Lucy's behaviour at one point (she's supposed to be five, yet she acts a lot older) and Eli's ability to suddenly pick up survival skills just like that. But regardless, they all were a very loveable cast, and I really liked them.

Funny thing about this: I felt relatively inadequate after reading this book. Lynn is tough-as-nails, and she knows how to survive. Throughout the book, Lynn is seen doing chores needed for survival, such as gathering wood for winter, picking vegetables, hunting, skinning animals, smoking meat, purifying water, building a shelter, and shooting off rifles expertly. She knows exactly what needs to be done to ensure that she manages to make it through the winter. This book puts it all into perspective, about how the majority of us wouldn't really know the first thing to actually surviving in the wilderness for years to come if need be.

This book really stimulated a lot of thinking on my part. Especially since this book is very realistic, in the sense that there will be a shortage of water if we don't learn to use it more sustainably. There are no supernatural elements in it to save anyone, and because of it, this book of fiction could very well become reality one day if we're not careful... Food for thought, you know? But either way, it was a great read, and I'll be checking out the next book for sure!