Lynn has grown up with her mother, vigilantly guarding the pond in their backyard. In a future where water is scarce and worth killing for, the pond is their lifeline and only means of getting from season to season. But smoke is rising on the horizon, and strangers are settling at a nearby creek. After tragedy strikes, Lynn must decide how just how far she will go to protect her water. 
 I absolutely adored this debut. It is everything I look for in a survival story, and it reminded me of some of my favorite books as a child--Gary Paulsen, Jean Craighead George, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Anything can happen in this world. It is gritty and honest and raw. Its characters are nuanced and easy to root for. I could not put this one down and can't recommend it enough. Looking forward to whatever Mindy writes next! 
 Originally reviewed here.