When The Earth Runs Dry

"...People can be monsters. Whether it's just their actions, or whether it's who they really are, it doesn't matter. The result is the same..."

- Neal Shusterman -

It's been a while since I didn't read any novels from my usual genres. Gotta tell you that I had other things to do. So, when the 'hell week' was over, I decided to read something. DRY, by one of my favorite authors, Neal Shusterman, together with his son, Jarrod Shusterman. I often mentioned the books made by him. UNWIND dystology and THE ARC OF SCYTHE, one kind of underrated author here. But still, his books have powerful messages about our pathetic human race.

What happened when the tap runs dry?

A human-induced disaster came in California, when the 'Tap-Out' came and suddenly there wasn't any water left. Nearest rivers had been dried since. No rains, just perfect burning sun, added by enormous fire who came crushing the forest. Who's the accused? Who would take the blame?

Alyssa and his brother, Garrett suddenly need to team up with the boy next door, Kelton. Alyssa's parents were missing due to search for water, and her fate crossed with Kelton. The situation was getting worse day by day. Matter of fact, human consists of 60-80 % of water, and when the tap runs dry, water became the most valuable thing. They would kill each other for a sip of it, literally could. Human turned to be water-zombie, dehydrated enough to lose the common sense, and wanna do anything to get a drop of water. 

Alyssa, Garrett, and Kelton met Jaqcui, an unusual girl who happened to survive by herself alone for nearly two years. Then they met the venomous-one, Henry, a manipulative boy who had something vicious in his mind. This broken groups must get their own survival out of their familiar neighborhood. To find the water resource, to survive, to do everything they could in facing the brutal mob streaks coming from day to day of water deprivation. Ironic, sad, disgusted, and I couldn't describe much about how I felt after read this book. We could turn into monsters, yes we could, just to survive. But is there any humanities left?

DRY consists of multiple point of views. I read in Alyssa's, Kelton's, Jaqcui's, Henry's, even some short news are included in the book, just to make it feels real. And it worked. I felt thirsty when read DRY. And after finished it a couple days ago, I made sure I don't leave a single drop of water when I drink. It's just too scary, too horrible to be true. What have we done to this planet? Will we survive?

DRY gives you a deep level of tension n frustration. You'll think, what if this come to me, to my family, to my environment. And I just got slapped multiple times by words, although the ending is written in a bit hurry, but I got the point. The harsh truth about our lack of concern. Our ability to lie enough to ourselves. To feel that this thing could be happened in the future. I felt ashamed. 

international edition by Walker Books

So is this worth it?

Well, I'm eager to recommend this book. In its young-adult style, DRY brings a different point of view about how we should think enough not to ruin our planet. 'Cause when the earth runs dry, even a prayer will be too late. Do not waste water, drink it till last drops, or don't drink any. Think, think, and think. If 7 billions people could do a simple meaningful action in preserving water, maybe our hope for the blue planet will still be there. Or, if we would move to Mars, we won't ruin that red planet just like we did with this blue.

"...and I realize that this is the true core of human nature: When we've lost the strength to save ourselves, we somehow find the strength to save each other..."

- Alyssa -