Parched by Georgia Clark (review)

In a world of diminishing resources, the haves live in a town named Eden, shielded by a protective dome, while the have nots struggle outside. Initially comfy inside the dome and unaware of her privilege, Tess ends up outside after her mother dies, scraping together every last cent just for enough water to survive. She then heads back into Eden as part of a rebel force that hopes to prevent a genocide and wrench back some rights for the disempowered. At the core, this is an increasingly familiar but still cool concept—what happens when the devastation of the planet through natural disasters forces the remaining population, who have not evolved out of traditional power structures, into one small area. There is a compelling backstory about Tess’ scientist mother, the experiment in artificial intelligence that led to her death, and the extreme guilt that propels Tess through her life, as she is unable to forget the role she played in her mother’s accidental death. Unfortunately, a muddy romance, several overly complex action scenes, and expository interspersed flashbacks all mar the tale, undermining its momentum and interfering with engagement with Tess. Nonetheless, fans of Crossan’s Breathe series (Breathe, BCCB 11/12, etc.) or Rossi’s Under the Never Sky (BCCB 4/12) may find this additional look at a relatively cozy life inside walls of safety and the short, brutal life outside to be intriguing.