I feel like I swore up and down this past year that the dystopian genre was dead, but there are still a few books that absolutely blew me away and had me begging for more. One such author, Mindy McGinnis, wrote one of my all-time favourite dystopians, Not a Drop to Drink, and I've wanted more since the very last page of that book. Can you believe dreams do come true?!

Title: In a Handful of Dust

Author: Mindy McGinnis (Twitter)

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publish Date: September 23, 2014

Genre: YA, Dystopian

Pages: 384

Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.

When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.

While I loved reading the story of Lynn in this novel's predecessor, I'm also pretty darn eager to see how the story works from Lucy's point of view. There was a raw power in Not a Drop to Drink that was painful, hopeless and distraught - very dystopian - that I really hope carries through into this novel. It made the first book remarkable, so I'm excited to see that this isn't a cut-and-dried sequel...rather a new point of view. Also, I must have this cover. Stat. What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

It's no secret that I'm a huge cover slut, and I think that books with beautiful covers are one of my all-time biggest vices. So, naturally, this topic speaks to my soul. Would you believe I actually have art prints of some of these amazing, amazing covers? My husband doesn't know what any of them mean, but that doesn't matter, does it really? 

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen

In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler

The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature from The Broke and the Bookish.

In honour of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd do just a little bitty feature, sharing those books I've read recently (or ever) that I'd absolutely love to have sequels. You know those books that just speak to your soul from the start, then crush it with abandon, only to end after a mere 350 pages? Yes, those books. There is something to absolutely love within all these books, and I'll hold out hope until the end of time.

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Coincidentally enough, I discovered that it's getting a companion novel in September 2014…I, quite literally, accosted Ms. McGinnis on Twitter about my oblivion and my excitement. 

The following three novels all had a significant impact on me. One was read in my youth, but I've longed to know more since then. Another was read only a few years ago, but I'd give my left foot to see the story continued and given true, final closure. The third simply remains on my shelf through thick and thin. I can't tell you the number of times I've imagined another installment and another ending to the story. I know that ship has sailed, but I can't help but want more to this day.

The Last Silk Dress by Ann Rinaldi

This book has a clear and definitive ending, but it's also open-ended in terms of Susan's story. I'd love to have a chance to see whether this Southern girl truly braved the North.

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

Carly is broken when we first meet her, and we slowly but surely watch as she begins to heal. We don't see her fully healed though, and selfish me wants more.

Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle

I'm crazy because this is a Biblical retelling, and we all know how Noah's Ark ended. But seriously? Who wouldn't want to know whether Sandy and Dennis got over Yalith, or if Adnarel really saved Yalith in the end?

Reading, for me, is all about love. I fall in love with the characters, with the story, with the author's writing style; I have a love affair with books every single day. And no, I'm not ashamed of it. What books would you love to see have a sequel?

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What book(s) do you wish didn't have sequels (or vice versa)?

You know we've all been there. We've desperately wanted a sequel to a book that we loved so, so much. Or, on the flip side, we're desperately craving a sequel and the author is a being a tricky B and never giving us exactly what we want. (Well played, authors.) I can definitely pinpoint two books on my shelves though that stand out; one, for wishing for a sequel and the other, for wishing the sequel never happened.

A. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles was the much-anticipated sequel to Leaving Paradise, which is one of my favourite contemporary books of all time. And, for one who avoided contemps like the plague for the longest time, that's really saying something. So, naturally, when the second book was announced, I was decidedly gleeful. Unfortunately though, I felt that the sequel strayed from the melancholy, heartbreaking magic that made the first book soar. We lost what we loved most about Maggie and Caleb and, most sad of all, was simply the fact that every outcome I thought we might see just didn't happen. I was so, so let down. 

B. Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis was a newer read of mine that actually caught me kind of off guard...in the best possible way. I've been seriously burned off of the dystopian genre as of late, but this book really surprised me with the sparse characters, brutal honesty and a very biased viewpoint. The author makes it work though, throwing obstacles in our paths left, right and center, putting us in Lynn's shoes and making us feel her pain. While I did think the action went too fast at the end, I think it almost wrapped up what could have been a sequel. I'm both happy and sad about that because the author gave us a fitting end, but I'm left wanting more!

What about you? What books do you wish did or didn't have a sequel?

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

The Top Ten Books I Wish Had Sequels
(even if they really, really wouldn't work)

1. Not a Drop to Drink - This was a newer title that I read, and I really, really loved it. I just wish that the ending hadn't been so hurried so we could have lived in Lynn's world a bit longer.

2. Raw Blue - I doubt I really have to justify this being on any of my lists anymore. This book is perfection, and I would have loved to learn more about Carly's healing process.

3. Find Me - There aren't too many thrillers that really captivate me and capture my attention, but this book had me rabid for it from the start. I want more, I want more! (cue AT&T commercial)

4. Between - I still don't know why so few people have read this book. Seriously, it's one of my all-time favourites even in spite of a bit of predictability. It's a true diamond in the rough. 

5. Many Waters - I don't think there is any logical way to make a sequel to a sci-fi version of Noah's Ark, but I wish there could be a way! This book is pure gold. I own five copies.

6. The Fault in Our Stars - Okay, I know that any sequel to this would probably be the most depressing thing in the world, but I loved, loved, loved this book. I wish there was a way!

7. The Raft - For a book with one character (okay, I guess you could say two), this book is a winner. It's eerie, it's tense, it's incredible, and I just want to know what happened after the last page.

8. Wintergirls - Of all Laurie Halse Anderson's books, this is my favourite, hands down. Lia was a powerful, horrible character, and I wanted to hit and her save her at the same time. 

9. Safekeeping - I didn't think such a simple, low-key dystopian novel would work, but this one really did. On one hand, I loved the ending, but on the other hand, it was so good that I definitely want more.

10. Sea Change - I read this one when I first started blogging, and I actually emailed the author to find out if there was a sequel I didn't know about. There isn't. I'm still crushed.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

The Top Ten Best & Worst Book Book Endings

1. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows - I'm usually not a fan of epilogues, but after growing up with this series, watching the endless toils and struggles and really rooting for that happily ever after, I was glad there was a true conclusion to this series. Plus, even before the epilogue, we get to see this story come to completion. Epic. Win.

2. My Sister's Keeper - Some of you might fight me on this one because, no, this is certainly not a happily ever after. It is not a feel-good ending, but it is perfect. This is the type of contemporary ending that I want to read - something plausible, real and heartbreaking. I still want to kick the movie producer/writer/everyone in the face for ruining the film.

3. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Well, you know me and cliffhangers, right? I hate them. I pretty much always stay away from them if I can, and I've previously stated that I will avoid books that openly feature cliffhangers. However, I have to say that this aptly-titled "cliffhanger of doom" is the exception to the rule. Well played, Michelle. Well played. 

4. The Fault in Our Stars - Again with the realistic, powerful and emotional endings. I think that with a book that is as emotionally-charged as this one, we don't need ribbons and bows at the end. We need, perhaps, a touch of hope, but even more so, we want to believe we've been on a true journey. That's what this book end offers us...perspective.

5. Not a Drop to Drink - This is one of those books that's had a lot of mixed reviews, but I ended up really liking it. I didn't like the ending prior to the epilogue - I felt it was hurried - but the epilogue redeemed the story. Watching these characters come full-circle and seeing that it wasn't just a love story disguised a dystopian was refreshing.

6. This World We Live In - Ugh. If you remember, I told you that I loved this series. And, trust me, I really do. I adored the first book, and I was so committed that I even read the fourth installment. This book, however, garnered a two-star review from me in large part because of the utterly hopeless ending. "Love and lies"...pshhhh, b*tch, please. Ugh.

7. Mockingjay - Honestly, I was so wrapped up in this series, that I thought I liked the ending of it for a long time. The more I thought about it, and the more I read it though, the less pleased I was. I felt like it hurried to this boring conclusion where, yes, she ends up with the guy I wanted, but no, I didn't feel like it was a conclusion. It just felt...blah.

8. Various Positions - This book...where to start? First of all, this book is not young adult. We're given a 14-year-old MC that lives in this hyper-sexualized, completely atrocious world of ballet that, frankly, offended the crap out of me. It's one thing to tastefully broach the topic of such indiscretions. It's another thing, entirely to give us a story like this where no lesson is learned in the end. 

9. Carnival of Souls - I was so iffy on this book as a whole, that this might be a bit of a copout for me to even list it up here. However, this book was touted as "the next big thing," and if you remember the media hype for it, you were probably as excited as I was to read it. This confusing book, however, bears a lackluster conclusion that's pretty much, well, forgettable.

10. The Time Traveler's Wife - Perhaps it's the theory of time, or perhaps it's the simple paradox of it all that made this ending just feel extremely bleak, melodramatic and hopeless for me. I get the romance of it all. Trust me, I do. I do not, however, understand why it had to end this way, and perhaps I'm too blonde, but it was too much for me to comprehend anyway.

Title: Not a Drop to Drink
Author: Mindy McGinnis (Twitter)
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publish Date: September 24, 2013
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it...

Lynn's life is defined by water...or the lack thereof. Born after the Shortage, she lives in a world where water is so scarce that people live and die in a quest to find it. Raised solely by her mother in this world ravaged by carnage, she knows that, above all else, she has to protect the pond. This, their sole source of water, is the key to their mutual survival, and she must always put the pond first. Without it, and without water, they will die slow, painful deaths. But the water isn't the only thing worth killing for, and Lynn's world is about to turn on its head when she learns that everything she knows might not be enough. 

Although I've been fairly put-off by the dystopian genre in general, I've been intrigued by the premise of Not a Drop to Drink from day one. Offering readers a story that that is dark, terrifying and, frankly, entirely plausible, we're invited into a world so broken that young children learn to defend themselves and their water sources with guns from childhood. Author, Mindy McGinnis, has crafted a new spin on the dystopian genre, inviting readers a story that's dynamic, provocative and incredibly memorable. It's the type of story that will linger; haunting and baiting you with every sip of water you drink.

I'll be entirely honest and say that I wasn't sure what to think at the start of Not a Drop to Drink. It's a very internally-driven story,and although it's written in third-person, we're immediately drawn within Lynn's persona and state of mind. Because we begin with just two primary characters, we see the world in distinct and stark shades of black and white from her perspective, which can be a bit limiting. The story, however, progresses, and we get to see Lynn change from a girl with one sole purpose into someone that welcomes change and evolves as the world begins to change around her, as well. In large part, I loved Lynn's character. She had this aura about her and a carefully-constructed facade of protection around her that shielded her from the worst of her pain. Although, at times, I wish she showed more emotion, it was actually an asset to the storyline that she distanced herself from the worst of her emotions because it made the story a lot more plausible. I also loved that we got to watch as she gradually evolved throughout the novel. The changes weren't immediate, and we never lost sight of her as a person, but as the secondary characters such as Stebbs entered the picture, we began to see the walls melt. Lucy was a brilliant addition to the novel. Her innocent persona perfectly offset the frankness of Lynn's, and they counter-balanced each other well. I was worried that when Eli entered that we would suddenly have an insta-love on our hands, but their careful budding friendship and romance really heightened the tension, the drama and the ultimate stakes of the novel. I did have a few small issues with the novel including the revelation of the backstory. We don't understand how the world became the way it did until the final third of the book, which works, but left me a bit confused until I became too absorbed in the story to care. Also, I felt that the final events of the novel were rushed. The revelations of Lynn's father, the constant mentions of a city we never actually see and the untimely events that we hoped to avoid all happen in an instant, and I do think that the novel could have easily worked with a hundred or more pages. And, although I'm not a fan of epilogues for the most part, I have to say that seeing the story come full circle was a truly beautiful touch. 

All in all though, I really enjoyed Not a Drop to Drink. It's not a happily ever after tale, and it's certainly not a feel-good book, but it's profound and powerful. Despite a few flaws, I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to fans of YA who enjoy darker dystopian novels.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.