Drought By: Pam Bachorz

Title: Drought
Author: Pam Bachorz
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 400
Release Date: Jaunary 25, 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Geared Towards: Teens/Dystopian Readers
From: Publisher (ARC)
Extra Info: Pam Bachorz is the author of Candor. [Click HERE for review]

"For all of these two hundred years, none of us has seen a drought like this. We suffer more every day, each day worse than the last, all of them endured in the dry woods."

Summary (From B.O.B):

A young girl thirsts for love and

freedom, but at what cost?

Ruby dreams of escaping the Congregation. Escape from slaver Darwin West and his cruel Overseers. Escape form the backbreaking work of gathering Water. Escape from living as if it is still 1812, the year they were all enslaved.

When Ruby meets Ford-an irresistible, kind, forbidden new Overseer-she longs to run away with him to the modern world, where she could live a normal teenage life. Escape with Ford would be so simple.

But if Ruby leaves, her communit yis condemned to certian death. She, alone, possesses the secret ingredient that makes the Water so special-her blood-and it's the one thing that the Congregation cannot live without.

Drought is the haunting story of one community's thirst for life, and the dangerous struggle of the only girl who can grant it.

Wdebo's Review: When I saw Drought I knew I wanted to read it. I really enjoyed Candor, though it was not the best book I've ever read, it was def on my top list of dystopian books. From the first paragraph of Drought I was hooked, I absolutely loved the way Pam Bachorz wrote, though I was confused for a bit about them being alive for two hundred years, the rest of the story went smoothly.

The writing was superb, it flowed so well and just keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The story goes one way and when it slowly begins to become too repetitive, it changes course quickly to keep the storyline fresh and addictive. I always loved dystopian novels and Drought is such a wonderful example of a great dystopian story. It was amazing from beginning to satisfying ending.

I found all of the characters to be very strongly defined. I liked Ruby but she was too indecisive but strong in her own way. Ford was awesome, but a bit creepy at the same time. I found Darwin West to be really, I don't know how to put this but childish, he was cruel, but childish at the same time. One example is when he makes Ellie, an old, weakened woman, do the limbo for her water and right when Ruby's mother is going to give it to her, Darwin hits it out of her hand and yells psych. Seriously? Psych? Haha. I laughed because it was so...immature... I was very disappointed in the congregants espeically *spoiler alert* when Darwin dies and they just latch onto the first person that is willing to be their leader. All their hopes for freedom just seem so trivial. *End of spoiler alert*

Cafe Cover Chat: I like the cover it has that mysterious flair that the story has and the blue in the eye is just so gorgeous. (B+)

All in all, a wonderful novel that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Grade: A-

Wdebo :)