Dry by Neal Shusterman Summary

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman is a young adult dystopian novel about a catastrophic water crisis in Southern California called the Tap-Out. When all water access is shut off, sixteen-year-old Alyssa Morrow and her younger brother Garrett must navigate a society that rapidly descends into chaos as neighbors and families turn against each other in desperate search for water. The novel follows multiple characters as they make life-or-death decisions to survive.

Dry by Neal Shusterman is ideal for young adult readers who enjoy dystopian fiction with realistic, climate-focused scenarios. Fans of Neal Shusterman's Scythe series will appreciate the similar immersive writing style and world-building. The book suits readers who don't mind morally gray characters and intense survival narratives where protagonists are forced into difficult choices. Anyone interested in climate change fiction and post-apocalyptic stories will find Dry compelling.

Dry by Neal Shusterman is highly worth reading for its terrifyingly realistic portrayal of climate disaster. The novel is described as "well-researched and carefully written" with world-building so convincing that readers feel compelled to stockpile water while reading. While the pacing starts slow to establish the world, it becomes an "un-put-down-able, engaging novel" that keeps readers at the edge of their seats. The book offers both entertainment and thought-provoking commentary on water scarcity.

Dry was written by father-son duo Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman, marking their first collaboration. Published on October 1, 2018, the novel represents Neal Shusterman's venture into climate-focused dystopian fiction. Neal Shusterman is a New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner for Young People's Literature, best known for his Scythe series and Challenger Deep. Jarrod Shusterman contributed his writing talents to create this harrowing survival story.

The Tap-Out in Dry by Neal Shusterman refers to the catastrophic event when California's water supply completely runs dry. After an extended drought with increasing restrictions—no lawn watering, pool filling, or long showers—the taps suddenly stop flowing entirely. This triggers immediate societal collapse as Alyssa's "quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation". The Tap-Out transforms ordinary neighbors into violent competitors fighting over every remaining drop of water.

The main characters in Dry by Neal Shusterman include Alyssa Morrow, a sixteen-year-old protagonist forced to protect her younger brother Garrett when their parents disappear. They're joined by Kelton, their survivalist neighbor who has prepared for disasters. The group expands to include Jacqui, described as a drifter, and Henry, a boy who later betrays the others. The novel alternates between multiple perspectives, allowing readers to experience the Tap-Out through different viewpoints and survival strategies.

Dry by Neal Shusterman is fiction but based on frighteningly realistic climate projections for California. The novel portrays a "futuristic climate change-inspired dystopia" that extends Southern California's actual drought conditions to catastrophic proportions. Reviewers emphasize that "though it is portrayed as dystopian fiction, it is horrifyingly close to becoming our reality". The Shustermans' extensive research makes the scenario so convincing that the book serves as a cautionary tale about water scarcity and climate change.

Dry by Neal Shusterman stands apart from typical dystopian novels through its immediate realism and scientific grounding in current climate trends. Unlike far-future scenarios, the Tap-Out depicts a crisis that "could happen in our world" with no fantastical elements. The book focuses on ordinary suburban families rather than chosen heroes, showing how quickly civilization breaks down when basic resources disappear. The well-researched approach creates genuine fear rather than escapist entertainment, making readers question their own preparedness.

The main themes in Dry by Neal Shusterman include survival ethics, resource scarcity, and societal collapse under environmental pressure. The novel explores how ordinary people make morally complex choices when facing life-or-death situations, forcing characters "to do things they would never admit to". Climate change consequences and human desperation drive the narrative, showing how quickly neighborly bonds dissolve when water becomes scarce. The book emphasizes environmental responsibility while examining humanity's capacity for both cooperation and violence during crises.

Dry by Neal Shusterman concludes with Henry betraying the group after they discover Kelton's family emergency shelter empty of supplies. The remaining characters face severe dehydration and are trapped by forest fires spreading across the drought-stricken landscape. They're ultimately saved by a water bomber aircraft, which rescues them from both dehydration and the encroaching flames. After surviving the Tap-Out, the Morrow family is reunited, though the resolution reflects the lasting trauma and societal changes caused by the water crisis.

Dry by Neal Shusterman shares similarities with Scythe through immersive world-building and gripping narrative style that "grabbed my attention just like those books". Both novels feature morally complex characters navigating dystopian societies with life-or-death stakes. However, Dry focuses on immediate environmental catastrophe and survival realism rather than Scythe's futuristic immortality concepts. Readers who loved Scythe will appreciate Dry's similar pacing and thought-provoking themes, though Dry grounds itself in near-future climate science rather than speculative technology.

Criticisms of Dry by Neal Shusterman include difficulty tracking multiple characters and occasional plot sprawl in the middle sections. Some reviewers noted that "before I had made it halfway through the book I started struggling to keep all the characters in line". The characters themselves can feel less developed than the premise, with one reviewer stating the protagonists "didn't rise up" to match the strong concept. Additionally, readers warned that the book features "annoying or morally gray characters" whose survival decisions may frustrate some audiences.