Standing Water

by Wendy Day, Alexis A. Wright (editor)

America has fallen. The fight for water has begun.

Sixteen year old Jamie dreams of adventure far from the small town where her family took refuge during the war of 2027. Ten years later, the country is beginning to rebuild.

But when her dad is suddenly dragged out of their farmhouse by government officials, Jamie's world is rocked once again. Her mom is in denial and her little brother is looking to her for answers.

Can she rescue her dad and protect the town she is so eager to escape? Or will this adventure cost her everything?

Genres: Dystopia

308 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2023

About the author

Wendy Day loves to write stories with snarky banter and strong female characters. She is the author of the popular Sally and Pearl Adventure series, named after her own grandmother and great-grandmother. She lives in Michigan with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and one very entitled cat. She is a mediocre painter and terrible cook. When not writing, she’s likely to be found daydreaming in a rowboat or curled up in a cozy chair with a glass of wine and a good book.

Find out more about Wendy’s unique outlook on life at the website: www.readwendyday.com

Reviews

[bee 🍉 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise for this book caught my attention immediately and I knew the minute that I was accepted for the ARC on Netgalley that I wanted to absolutely devour it.

This was a fun and immersive read. I absolutely loved how the characters were written and thought they all brought something so fantastic to the book. Jamie is the perfect main character to have in a book like this.

Personally, I felt like this was missing something. I would’ve loved for there to be more action. I usually love character-driven books but I feel like with a book like this, there should be a good mixture of plot and character focus. However, that is entirely my own opinion and I know some people will actually enjoy that.

I can see this becoming a great movie or tv-series and honestly? I would devour that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Open Sky Publishing for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“America has fallen. The fight for water has begun.”

Standing Water follows sixteen-year-old Jamie in a small town her family moved to after the war of 2027. The book is set ten years after when the country is starting to rebuild. However, water is becoming scarce and their small town that thrives off a river and lake system, are at risk. To make matters worse, Jamie’s dad is taken from their house by government officials. She and her mother butt heads as her mom is a senator and appears to be in denial about her husband’s kidnapping. Jamie is desperate for answers and desperate to save her father no matter the cost.

The premise of this book sounded amazing to me. I love a good post-war survival story or anything in the realm of post-apocalyptic. And a story about water becoming scarce and a fight for water being the forefront of the story sounded super interesting. However, I felt the book the slow and dragged on a bit. Standing Water definitely focuses more on Jamie and her small circle as well as some chapters from her mom’s perspective as a senator. But overall, I felt there was little action and intrigue besides from information being dropped here and there. I wanted more about the fight for water and things becoming scarce in their world. This wasn’t a bad book by any means, it just wasn’t exactly what I was wanting or expecting.

Jamie is a good main character. She’s smart and goes after what she wants. I liked that we got insight into her mother as well. The side characters were all good as well and I liked the direction of Jamie’s romantic subplot. I thought that was well done. The writing is really good and I’m curious to read more from this author. I think this book will definitely appeal to a lot of teenagers as Jamie felt very realistic as a teen.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read but one that I wanted more from. However, I think this is really a case of it’s me and not the book, so it’s definitely worth checking out!

[Erin J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Standing Water is a gripping young adult dystopian thriller that blends political tension with deeply human storytelling. Wendy Day delivers a fast-paced, character-driven narrative anchored by a strong and compelling heroine, asking powerful questions about loyalty, justice, and survival. Thought-provoking and hard to put down, this novel is a standout in the post-apocalyptic genre.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fight for water and survival faces governmental goals as a family tried to find their way through it all.

Jamie can't wait to leave the small town, where her family has settled since the war changed the country and their lives ten years before. Her father runs a repair business and does his best to help others in his own way, while her mother is a senator in the government. Their lives are fine, and most of that is thanks to the farm and the well, which provides a rarity, fresh water. When her father is arrested without clear reason, and her mother can't seem to figure out what is happening, Jamie decides to take things into her own hands...especially since she has reason to believe that the reasons behind his arrest are woven into a deeper intrigue.

Not only did the cover caught my attention with the meld of forest into water with the overplay of the girl (very eye-catching), but the idea of an adventure where water is a scarce resource and the land is rebuilding sounded interesting. And it does go in an original direction with a world, which borders between familiar and, yet, new.

Most of this is written from Jamie's point of view with chapters scattered in, which are written in her mother's perspective. Jamie and her family live in a small town with a bit of land. Thanks to her mother's role in the government, there's a bit of tension between her and the father. But life is pretty calm and ordinary...for the most part. Water is scarce in the cities, but Jamie's family has a well, so this isn't an issue for them. Much of the beginning chapters center around getting a feel on Jamie's life and that of her family. There are hints of the issues to come as well as flashbacks, which let a tiny bit of the history dribble in here and there. But most of this is about character depth, and Jamie as well as those around her come across as kind, hard-working, and sympathetic.

While character depth drives this tale forward, the intrigue, action, and world-building take a backseat. The tension and danger drip in slowly and only in bursts, which did make it a bit slower than I prefer. Even the intrigue wasn't overly strong most of the time, allowing the family and friend relationships to shine instead. The romance side does come across nicely as well.

While this isn't quite the read for me (I'm an action girl), it is well done for those who love to dive deep into the characters and does hold some original twists, which build by the end and promise more to come.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Open Sky Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Standing Water" by Wendy Day is a captivating and immersive tale that explores themes of family and survival in a world grappling with scarcity and governmental intrigue. If you are a fan of dystopian YA fiction, then you will definitely enjoy this book. While dystopian fiction has died down a bit in the past few years, maybe this is a sign that the genre is making a triumphant return. I definitely enjoyed reading this book!

Set in a small town ten years after a devastating war, the story follows sixteen-year-old Jamie as she navigates the challenges of life in a world where water is becoming increasingly scarce. When Jamie's father is inexplicably taken by government officials, she is thrust into a position of responsibility and must confront her own desires for adventure while protecting her family and town.

The characters in this book are beautifully written, with Jamie serving as a relatable and courageous protagonist. Her journey of self-discovery is richly portrayed, as she grapples with her fears and confronts the complexities of her circumstances. She felt like a very realistic character with her actions and her perspective. She actually felt like a teenage girl throughout the book, though you were still able to see her grow throughout. others appreciated the depth of character development and the exploration of family dynamics. I also really liked the focus on Jamie's relationships with her family and friends, as I thought this added layers of complexity to the story. This is a story filled with emotional depth and an examination of different relationships in a unique dystopian setting.

The pacing was slow at times, and it took me a bit to really get invested in the story. For a dystopian book, I think it needed even more action. While I really enjoyed the character writing (which I consider to be one of the strong points of the book), there were times where the plot meandered a bit, especially considering this is a dystopian book and there should have been more established tension throughout. Despite these slow moments, when the plot picked up, it really picked up, and I found the book to be a pretty fast read.

Overall, "Standing Water" will appeal to fans of post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction and character-driven narratives alike. Wendy Day's masterful storytelling and rich character development make this novel a must-read for anyone looking for an immersive and thought-provoking story.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a captivating story of a young girl's determination and courage in the face of adversity. Set in a world recovering from war, Jamie yearns for adventure. The narrative follows Jamie as her world is turned upside down when government officials drag her father out of their farmhouse. Suddenly thrust into a position of responsibility, Jamie must navigate the challenges of protecting her family and town while also confronting her own desire for escape. Wendy Day weaves a tale of resilience and strength as Jamie grapples with the weight of her circumstances. Her mother's denial and her younger brother's reliance on her for answers add layers of complexity to Jamie's journey. As she embarks on a mission to rescue her father and safeguard her town, Jamie is forced to confront her fears and discover the depths of her own bravery. The character development in "Standing Water" is rich and compelling, drawing readers into Jamie's world and allowing them to experience her emotions and struggles firsthand. Wendy Day masterfully captures the tension and urgency of Jamie's quest, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each twist and turn.
This novel is not just a story of adventure, but also a poignant exploration of family, loyalty, and the power of resilience. Jamie's journey is one of self-discovery and growth, and readers will find themselves rooting for her every step of the way.

[Andrew Beer · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, let me preface this by saying I did enjoy this book.

It was interesting, and well-written. You genuinely feel empathy for the characters, and given the ongoing climate crisis, let's face it, this could be our future one day.

However, I feel like, either the book needed to be longer, or there needs to be a sequel. There is too much left unanswered, and so much tension is built up, only for it to dissipate in a handful of pages. I wanted to know more about the events that took place before those in the book. What is the project people are working on? What happens in the rest of the country after the events in the book? What happens to the government? (Trying not to put spoilers!)

That being said, like I said, I really did enjoy it, and I would recommend it to those who like their post-apocalyptic stories a little less heavy.

[Bryna Adamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Standing Water is a story about the world working to rebuild. After a pandemic and war the world is trying to work its way back towards civilization, but the government is taking advantage of the situation and trying to high-jack the water to sell preventing rural communities from being about to find prosperity.

I thought that this was a well written and very provocative narrative. Extremely triggering given the current state of the world and the pandemic aftermath still very raw. I think this is a must read. I think it can give a very unique perspective and challenges the reader to re-think their outlook on certain topics. 4.5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me ARC access. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Liv Everhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars! Really fun and relatively fast read! There were some parts that felt a little too long and some parts where it felt like some information was missing, but overall a really interesting story! It actually made me emotional at point which is rare for me in books. I would love to see a sequel! Overall the writing was well put together and I loved the Christian influences in some parts of the book and the clean language. I also wasnt expecting the romance subplot which was a nice surprise! Thank you to Netgalley and Open Sky Publishing for the Arc.

[Jessica Gonser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book deserves way more hype and attention than what it's getting! It has so many important messages that apply to the real world and I think the author did an amazing job conveying them. I read this in one sitting and was completely immersed in the story the whole time. The characters felt like real people going through a difficult time, and the character progression throughout the story was amazing. More people need to read this!

[Jessica Hembree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the story. Years from now, post pandemic and war, the US has changed. A small town finds itself in a battle over one of the most valuable resources, water. The story takes a bit to build up to an edge of your seat face off. Overall, a good story.

[Papas_Bookeria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love supporting local authors!!!!! This is so good, I can't wait to read more of her books! I met her in person, I hope I can meet her again! She was amazing and so are her books!

[Jamie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good story. I felt like it could happen and that made me feel anxious, which makes it a good book! I really felt for everyone in this book. What a mess!