In a Handful of Dust

Reviewed by: William Brown - Falmouth Memorial Library, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 6, 2015

Review

This is the sequel to "Not a Drop to Drink", and takes place in a modern earth where climate change has led to catastrophe, and drinking water has become a scarce and intensely valuable resource.

In the first book we watched Lynn as she struggled as a girl to protect her home and the small pond that kept her alive. We saw how ruthless Lynn could be, and how taking her water was an act with often fatal consequences.

In this sequel we follow Lynn and Lucy as they leave their home and pond to travel west to California. It is a long, difficult and grueling journey through a harsh and arid country to reach their destination. Danger threatens at every step, but where Lynn is hardened by the world they live in, Lucy is sweet and trusting in ways that Lynn could never be. The dichotomy between the two works well, and the journey provides an excellent coming of age story for Lucy as they make their way through a dry, bleak world.

Overall Book Score: very good