Welcome to a future where water is more precious than oil or gold... Hundreds of millions of people have already died, and millions more will soon fall―victims of disease, hunger, and dehydration. It is a time of drought and war. The rivers have dried up, the polar caps have melted, and drinkable water is now in the hands of the powerful few. There are fines for wasting it and prison sentences for exceeding the quotas. But Kai didn't seem to care about any of this. He stood in the open road drinking water from a plastic cup, then spilled the remaining drops into the dirt. He didn't go to school, and he traveled with armed guards. Kai claimed he knew a secret―something the government is keeping from us... And then he was gone. Vanished in the middle of the night. Was he kidnapped? Did he flee? Is he alive or dead? There are no clues, only questions. And no one can guess the lengths to which they will go to keep him silent. We have to find him―and the truth―before it is too late for all of us. "Brilliant and terrifying, Stracher's water-desperate world will make readers re-think letting the water run before a shower or while brushing their teeth. As Will and Vera criss-cross this world, it becomes evident that Stracher has truly considered all of the different outcomes that a water shortage would have on a society. Stracher has created a large cast of characters with enormous skill that has each person standing out from the rest."--Kate Girard"RT" (01/05/2011) "I know a river," says Kai. His words seem impossible yet tantalizing to Vera and her brother, Will, whose mother is slowly dying for lack of clean water. Shaped by severe drought, their civilization is caught in a power struggle among governments, and between governments and outsiders such as pirates and environmentalists. When Kai is kidnapped, Will and Vera begin a David-and-Goliath rescue mission that pits them and the allies they find against formidable, well-armed enemies. Set in a dismal future society, this dystopian novel sets up a good premise... Once the plot gets in gear, the driving force is action... Readers who enjoy the adventure may also find some social and ecological food for thought along the way.--Carolyn Phelan"Booklist" (03/01/2011) "Let us pray that the world which Cameron Stracher has invented in THE WATER WARS is testament solely to his pure, wild, and brilliant imagination, and not his ability to see the future. I was parched just reading it." -- Laurie David, academy award winning producer of An Inconvenient Truth, and author of The Down to Earth Guide to Global Warming "THE WATER WARS is a gripping environmental thriller with a too-real message. Cameron Stracher tells a story with quick pacing, compelling characters and a vision of a frightening future." - Howard Gordon, Executive Producer, '24, ' and author of Gideon's War (forthcoming 2011). Heart Racing: If finishing The Hunger Games left a gaping hole in your life, Cameron Stracher's "Water Wars" aims to fill it. Set in a dystopian future where a lack of water trumps all else, this adventure tale will keep you turning pages far into the night.--Angela Matano"Campus Circle Newspaper" (02/11/2011) In the tradition of THE HUNGER GAMES, Cameron Stracher's WATER WARS is both a trenchant cautionary tale of a world drained of its most precious resource and a rousing adventure-story of the plucky young heroes who set out to save it. Perfect for young readers-but with more than enough substance for mom and dad as well. --Justin Cronin, author of THE PASSAGE Once you start reading The "Water Wars," a simple glass of water becomes something special. The author has done a wonderful job of creating a bleak world, and he describes the dry, parched environment so well that I became thirsty just reading his words... The "Water Wars" is filled with nonstop action and it moves along at a breathless pace... The "Water Wars" is the kind of book I keep thinking about long after I've finished reading because it's based on a realistic scenario. And even though it deals with environmental issues and greed, it never felt preachy. It would be a great book for parents and teens to read together and discuss.--Kristen Alvarez"DaemonsBooks.com" (02/11/2011) Teen readers looking for something as exciting as the Hunger Games will love "Water Wars". Fast paced reading will entice reluctant readers to keep going to the end. "Water Wars" is an excellent addition to any YA collection, as well as a wonderful tie?in to the young reader's editions of An Inconvenient Truth and other nonfiction titles concerning the future of our planet. --the CATS Meow, Library Newsletter for Children's and Teen Services--Elizabeth Duffy"CATS Meow (Baker and Taylor Newsletter)" (01/01/2011) The action here will take your breath away, with chase scenes and double-crosses... Author Cameron Stracher's dark novel is a page-turner and I was up way past my bedtime reading it. It's easy to visualize the Armageddon-like la