In a Handful of Dust

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.