In a Handful of Dust - by Mindy McGinnis (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Fans of classic frontier survival stories, as well as readers of dystopian literature, will enjoy this futuristic story about an epic cross-country journey.

In a Handful of Dust is set ten years after the first novel, Not a Drop to Drink, as a dangerous disease strikes the community where teenage Lucy lives. When her adoptive mother, Lynn, takes Lucy away from their home and friends in order to protect her, Lucy struggles to figure out what home means. During their journey west to find a new life, the two face nature's challenges, including hunger, mountains, and deserts.

New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant says Not a Drop to Drink is a debut "not to be missed," and this companion title is full of Mindy McGinnis's evocative, spare language matched with incredible drama and danger. In a Handful of Dust is perfect for fans of the Partials, Enclave, and Legend series.

In a world ravaged by plague and scarcity, survival is only the beginning.

• A Gripping Dystopian World: Ten years after Not a Drop to Drink, a deadly epidemic forces Lucy from the only home she's ever known, sending her on a perilous quest across a shattered America.
• An Unbreakable Mother-Daughter Bond: Lucy must rely on her fiercely protective adoptive mother, Lynn, as they face down the dangers of the open road and struggle to define what family means when everything is lost.
• Road Trip Survival: From treacherous mountains to desolate deserts, this cross-country journey is a brutal test of endurance against both nature and the desperate remnants of humanity.
• A Strong Female Protagonist: Teenage Lucy is forced to grow up fast, discovering a deep well of resilience as she navigates a world that wants her dead.

From the Back Cover

The only thing bigger than the world is fear.

Lucy's life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn. 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 a "normal" lifestyle in California set Lucy and Lynn 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.

In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

Review Quotes

"Mindy McGinnis's rendering of the barren, arid land in NOT A DROP TO DRINK is textured and thoughtful, and at times just as hardened as the characters who populate it. I can't say enough good things about the writing, and the characterization. If you're looking for grit, realism and heart, you found it." - Kendare Blake, author of Anna Dressed in Blood

"Deftly written, Mindy McGinnis's NOT A DROP TO DRINK is a frightening picture of a potential future without fresh water, which left me ridiculously grateful for my working faucet. This post-apocalyptic survival tale is about so much more than just survival. I loved it." - Jodi Meadows, author of the Incarnate trilogy

"Set against the grim backdrop of an all-too-possible future, McGinnis's very fine coming of age novel doesn't stint on lifes hard lessons--or its triumphs. Lynn's story is what Laura Ingalls Wilder might've penned if she'd traveled a frontier imagined by Cormac McCarthy." - Ilsa Bick, award-winning author of the Ashes trilogy and THE SIN-EATER'S CONFESSION

"Those in search of fierce female survivalist characters need look no further than this." - Booklist

Tension's maintained by constant, subtle foreshadowing (rather than transparent cliffhangers), and the characters rarely feel safe enough for readers to relax. Hard to put down. - Kirkus Reviews

A very satisfying journey, by turns philosophical and riveting. - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

PRAISE FOR NOT A DROP TO DRINK: "A high-quality survivalist story for readers who enjoy internal story arcs as well as external dangers." - Kirkus Reviews

"The intensity of action moves the story forward, but not at the expense of character development. The complex, authentic characters are neither fully evil nor unbelievably good. The honest and hopeful ending--while not "happily ever after"--will resonate with readers and leave them asking for more." - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"In an understated but gripping debut, McGinnis paints a stark picture of a world not far removed from our own, concentrating on Lynn's gradual emotional growth as contrasted against the physical harshness of her existence." - Publishers Weekly

"A brutally beautiful debut, not to be missed. NOT A DROP TO DRINK is an unwavering story with incredible drama, danger, and power. This writer is for real." - Michael Grant, New York Times bestselling author of the Gone series