Review Detail

Scientists have warned about it for years. In the future water will be scarce. Drought and war will rule the Earth. Those who are without water will war against those who have it.

Tess and her other brother Will live in this world where there are fines for wasting water and prison sentences for exceeding the quotas. Water is desalinated--meaning it's taken from the ocean and run though a treatment plant. It's also contaminated. Even the food is genetically engineered. Unless of course you are one of the lucky rich ones who still can get fresh real food and water.

One day Tess runs into a new kid named Kai who tells her the government is lying to them. He stands out front and drinks water from a plastic cup and then spills the remaining drops on the dry ground. He also claims he knows a secret.

The next day he's gone. Tess tries to find him and also see if he was telling the truth. She'll go to any lengths to find him even if this means her own life is in danger.


This is one scary dystopia. The world the author paints is one that our scientists have warned would happen in less than fifty years if we're not careful. I live in Southern California and know that it's because of water we get from other states that helps us stay green. But what would happen if our water supply was cut off? I don't even want to think about that!

Tess' world is frightening. Her own mother is sick. So are most of the other people in her town. I liked her tenacity and determination to find out the truth. She wants to help her mother get better. Will is the brother who at first doesn't believe Tess but then is encouraging and even helps her on her quest.

The only thing that did weigh this otherwise engaging tale down was the constant warnings of glorbal warning that I felt tended to get a tad bit too preachy at times.

The action sequences were fast-paced. I loved the other characters that Tess and Will meet on their way to finding Kai. Ulysses, the pirate, was one of my favorites. His gruff exterior hides a soft soul. I also liked Sula the kick ass survivor who is handy with a harpoon. The hint at romance between Tessa and Kai is sweet and innocent against the brutal harshness of their surroundings.

This is one dystopia that's worth reading.