Kelton takes them all to his house, which annoys his father.

There, Alyssa and Garrett find their house still empty but now ransacked. Jacqui, who lives on her own, squatting in houses, negotiates treatment for a wound in exchange for driving the kids home. A new girl, Jacqui, is forced to intervene, saving them from the boys too. When the kids are unable to find Alyssa and Garrett’s parents, Alyssa tries to save an older man from a group of boys. Another snapshot shows an older woman defying fear and crowd mentality to help protect people on the interstate from a fire. Alyssa is initially mad that Kelton has a gun, but after they go looking for her parents and run into a scary man, she’s grateful for its protection. Kelton’s parents argue about sharing resources, and Kelton escapes the tension to help defend Alyssa and Garrett. In the meantime, neighbors approach the McCrackens asking them to share their resources, but Kelton’s dad is unwilling.Ī series of snapshots show an activist trying to divert a municipal water truck delivering water to a power plant-and then an angry mob taking over the water truck and storming the power plant. Alyssa’s parents leave to find more water. Later, Garrett runs away after accidentally ruining the Morrow family’s water supply, and Kelton helps Alyssa find him. Kelton, who has a crush on Alyssa, decides to help her family. Another snapshot shows a news anchor using a station helicopter to flee to a place with water. Alyssa’s uncle eventually decides to leave, not wanting to use up Alyssa’s family’s resources. Alyssa’s neighbor-her schoolmate Kelton McCracken-comes from a family of preppers and are well prepared for such a disaster. A snapshot shows that some people even try to flee California, although so many want to leave that it’s difficult. Her uncle, however, takes them that evening to get supplies. Alyssa’s 10-year-old brother Garrett doesn’t know at first how to conserve water.

The novel-and therefore this guide-discusses some potentially triggering topics, including violence, threats of sexual violence, and death.Īlyssa Morrow, a 16-year-old junior in high school, is with her family in California when the water first runs dry in an event known as the Tap-Out. This guide uses the 2019 paperback edition of Dry your page numbers may vary.

Dry by neal