Book Review - Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

 

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman follows a teenage girl, Alyssa, and her family as they struggle through an extreme drought in California. Recently, the state has been hit with unseasonably warm weather, and it hasn’t rained in a long time. The drought has lasted so long that people have started calling it the “Tap-Out.” Everyone is trying to adjust to their new normal of not using water excessively while hoping water levels eventually return to normal.

Then one day, the taps run dry. Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street becomes a war zone as neighbors and families turn against one another in the hunt for water. Alyssa’s parents leave to refill their water jugs, but they never return. Worried for herself and her younger brother, Garrett, Alyssa decides to take matters into her own hands. She’s forced to go up against people she once considered friends and must make hard decisions if she hopes to survive.

I found the novel to be an interesting read. I thought it was well-written, though at times I got frustrated with how irritating Alyssa could be. She often made selfish and reckless decisions that affected everyone around her. The novel tackles important themes—water conservation, climate change, political corruption, and the dangers of privatizing natural resources. It was gripping reading about Alyssa’s harrowing search for water. However, one thing that stayed in the back of my mind was why characters never considered ordering water from other regions. The drought didn’t seem to affect the entire world, and some places were even experiencing excessive flooding. Overall, the story carries important messages, and I would be open to reading more books by this author.

Book Review - Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder

 

Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder follows three women during an outbreak and the aftermath of the planet’s transformation. The world is collapsing as a virus devastates people worldwide. It turns people into monsters and causes unforeseen changes. Erin was infected, and her personality begins to change. She starts to develop a taste for a specific woman and her brain. Erin knows that acting on her desire could lead to disastrous results.

Savannah used to sell her body so others could satisfy their sexual desires. Now she has a new deadly obsession. She loves committing brutal murder and that helps her get off sexually. Since childhood, Mareva’s body has been plagued with tumors that seem to constantly grow and create new ones. Mareva realizes she has an important role in the apocalypse, but she’s afraid of the damage it might cause.

I was on the fence about this novel. It's divided into three parts, each narrated from the perspective of that woman. I found this structure strange and thought a lot of far-out things happened. Sometimes, I think the author added a lot of strange and weird details just to confuse and shock readers. At times, I felt the writing was all over the place.

I didn’t quite love or hate the novel. It had a few interesting moments, but I don't think I would read anything else by the author. Some readers might enjoy the storyline, but it wasn’t for me.

Book Review – Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch

 

Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away by Ciera Burch is about a middle schooler, Olivia Gray, trying to navigate the challenges of feeling invisible while coming to terms with her asexual identity. As Olivia begins the seventh grade, she knows this year will be different from last year. Her beloved brother has come out and found a boyfriend. Instead of spending time with Olivia, he spends all his time with his crush. Her friends only want to talk about boys, who likes who, and school dances.

When Robbie, the most popular boy in school, asks Olivia to the dance and she unknowingly rejects him, her life is thrown into a tailspin. Olivia goes viral on the social app KruSHH after rejecting Robbie. Now the chatter about Robbie and dating is nonstop among her friends, and Olivia feels left out and invisible.

When Olivia feels invisible, only the new librarian and Jules, a friendly kid she met who also struggles with feeling invisible, notice her. As Olivia tries to figure herself out and come to terms with being asexual, she struggles to find where she fits in and to deal with the negative perceptions of the label. All Olivia wants is to fit in with her friends.

I thought the book was a cute read. I have read another book by the author, and this one seemed geared toward older kids who are struggling with their identity. At times, I did get annoyed with Olivia, as while she tried to fit in, she wasn’t always receptive to other people’s wants and needs, especially when they didn’t align with hers. I did like seeing her grow and become a better friend and sister. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author. 

Book Review - Moonsick by Tom O’Donnell

 

Moonsick by Tom O’Donnell follows two teenagers, Heidi and Cam, who become infected with a contagious disease that transforms people into werewolves. Heidi Mills is a high school senior who seems to have it all—wealthy parents, a popular boyfriend, and supportive friends. When her mom and stepdad leave for a vacation in Hawaii, Heidi promises her friends that she’ll host a party at her house to celebrate the end of high school.

The party is scheduled for the next night, but tonight is a full moon. A global epidemic has ravaged the population, and anyone who becomes infected turns into a savage werewolf. Heidi believes she’ll be safe in her mansion thanks to a state-of-the-art lockdown system designed to keep the monsters out.

She expects to simply wait out the night and enjoy the party tomorrow. However, two intruders break into her house, assuming it will be an easy target with everyone gone. Everything Heidi has taken for granted begins to unravel. She realizes how quickly her life of privilege, comfort, and security can be stripped away—especially now that she’s directly exposed to the virus. Desperate to survive and find a cure, she is even willing to team up with Cam, the boy who broke into her house.

Overall, I thought the novel was an okay read. The plot was interesting, though somewhat predictable. I enjoyed watching Heidi confront her privilege, her humanity, and the monstrous aspects of herself. It was satisfying to see her take control of her life and stand up for what she believed in. I think it was a cute read, and I’d be open to reading more from this author. If you enjoy books about pandemic-level diseases with a unique twist, you might enjoy this one too.

Book Review - Once and Again by Rebecca Serle

 

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle explores the lives of the women in the Novak family, who are born with the gift of turning back time, but only once. When Lauren was fifteen, she knew her mother, Marcella, had saved her father, Dave, after he was involved in a deadly car accident. After Marcella used her only wish to bring him back, Dave has been alive and happy ever since. However, Marcella lives in fear of losing him since she used up her only chance.

Marcella’s mother, Sylvia, is the complete opposite. She is a free-spirited woman who refuses to be tied down or share her past. Lauren has grown up between these two women, helping mold her into the woman she has become.

One summer, Lauren’s husband, Leo, takes a new job in New York, and Lauren decides to move back home into her childhood house. She looks forward to surfing with her dad, spending time with her mom, and hopefully repairing their fractured relationship. However, she didn’t expect her first love, Stone, to move back home after his mother is diagnosed with cancer. As Lauren reconnects with her family and Stone, she begins to question her choices and the decisions that brought her to this moment. She starts to wonder whether she should use her wish.

I had high hopes when I started this novel. I thought it would be a grand sweeping romance that would leave me emotional for days. However, I found the story boring and lackluster. I didn’t like any of the characters, who felt a bit one-dimensional. The author hints at a great mystery involving Sylvia, but I feel like we barely get to know any of the characters. At times, it was confusing who was narrating and what time period it was. I wish the author had made the timeline and narration clearer in each chapter. After finishing the book, I felt like it was pointless and that I was robbed of my time.