Review: H2O

I received this book from the ALA conference, with no knowledge of the author, and no knowledge of what I was getting myself into when I picked it up to read.

27 is a number Ruby hates.

It's a number that marks the percentage of the population that has survived. It's a number that means she's one of the "lucky" few still standing. And it's a number that says her father is probably dead.

Against all odds, Ruby has survived the catastrophic onset of the killer rain. Two weeks after the radio started broadcasting the warning, "It's in the rain. It's fatal and there's no cure," the drinkable water is running out. Ruby's left with two options: persevere on her own, or embark on a treacherous journey across the country to find her father-if he's even still alive

Summary: Ruby is just a girl who lives in England with her slightly broken family, and "evil" step-father. She likes boys, and and partying and rebelling, but, one day, all of that is taken away from her. Toxic rain is falling from the sky and people are dying left and right. She spends the beginning just trying to figure out the basics of surviving, and things begin to get more and more complicated every second. Eventually, she is forced to leave her home and go on a journey to find her father, not knowing if he's alive, or dead. 

PROS: A lot things that make up this book seem very realistic; there is panic, irrational behavior, confusion, and misunderstanding; even the toxic rain seems reasonable, it honestly had me thinking "oh crap, this could happen to the world, like tomorrow". I actually started stock-piling water just in case. I also love the smooth, relatable writing style that this book is written in. 

CONS: Ruby just seems a little too calm throughout this entire thing. She's just kinda like "Oh, dead body, well that sucks". I understand that each brain acts differently in terrifying situations, but still. She is also a little too focused on her image. She cares so much about what she looks like, and who she talks to, that I simply don't understand it. Why are you wearing a sequined dress while there is death rain everywhere? I do not know. The book also had a slightly disappointing ending, but it did make me want to read the next book in the series, so I will be waiting for that. 

rate: This book was just a book for me. A mediocre book. It's in the middle of awesome and awful. 2.5 out of 5 books (because books are better than stars).