Not a Drop to Drink

Description: Sixteen-year-old Lynn will do anything to protect her valuable water source, but the arrival of new neighbors forces her to reconsider her attitudes. With evocative, spare language, and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author McGinnis depicts one girl's unwavering efforts to survive in a harsh frontier-like future.

Brief description:

Mindy McGinnis is the author of several young adult novels, including How Girls Are Made, Under this Red Rock, A Long Stretch of Bad Days, The Last Laugh, The Initial Insult, Heroine, The Female of the Species, and A Madness So Discreet, winner of an Edgar Award. She writes across multiple genres, including postapocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. While her settings may change, you can always count on her books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us. Mindy lives in Ohio. You can visit her online at mindymcginnis.com.

Review Quotes:

Mindy McGinnis's rendering of the barren, arid land in NOT A DROP TO DRINK is textured and thoughtful, and at times just as hardened as the characters who populate it. I can't say enough good things about the writing, and the characterization. If you're looking for grit, realism and heart, you found it. - Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood

Set against the grim backdrop of an all-too-possible future, McGinnis's very fine coming of age novel doesn't stint on lifes hard lessons--or its triumphs. Lynn's story is what Laura Ingalls Wilder might've penned if she'd traveled a frontier imagined by Cormac McCarthy. - Ilsa Bick, award-winning author of the Ashes trilogy and THE SIN-EATER'S CONFESSION

A brutally beautiful debut, not to be missed. NOT A DROP TO DRINK is an unwavering story with incredible drama, danger, and power. This writer is for real. - Michael Grant, New York Times bestselling author of the Gone series

Deftly written, Mindy McGinnis's NOT A DROP TO DRINK is a frightening picture of a potential future without fresh water, which left me ridiculously grateful for my working faucet. This post-apocalyptic survival tale is about so much more than just survival. I loved it. - Jodi Meadows, author of the Incarnate trilogy

A high-quality survivalist story for readers who enjoy internal story arcs as well as external dangers. - Kirkus Reviews

The intensity of action moves the story forward, but not at the expense of character development. The complex, authentic characters are neither fully evil nor unbelievably good. The honest and hopeful ending--while not "happily ever after"--will resonate with readers and leave them asking for more. - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

In an understated but gripping debut, McGinnis paints a stark picture of a world not far removed from our own, concentrating on Lynn's gradual emotional growth as contrasted against the physical harshness of her existence. - Publishers Weekly

I can't say enough good things about the writing, and the characterization. If you're looking for grit, realism and heart, you found it. - Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood

Those in search of fierce female survivalist characters need look no further than this. - Booklist