Book Review: Gone

Gone (Gone #1)

By: Michael Grant

Published By: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication Date: June 2008

Page Count: 559

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Audience: Young Adult - Science Fiction, Dystopian

Gone was a thrilling, yet disturbing book about a group of children and youth who suddenly find themselves alone in the world. No one over the age of 14 exists any longer. And what happens when no adults are left? Chaos? Anarchy? A complete breakdown of society? Yes to all three. 

 Some youth will prove themselves as natural leaders, or maybe even heroes. But others with a natural inclination towards cruelty, and no one to guide and direct them elsewhere, will also emerge as unfortunate leaders. 

Sam Temple is at school when everyone disappears. Sam, his best friend Quinn, the beautiful "brain" Astrid, and the new kid Edilio make a ragtag bunch who do their best trying to figure out what is going on in Perdido Beach. One of their first tasks is to find Astrid's autistic brother, Pete. But as they arrive at each of their homes, they find no adults anywhere. 

 Besides the complete disappearance of all humans over the age of 14, other strange things are being reported. Some kids seem to have developed supernatural powers, including Sam. And others are noticing some of the animals are taking on unnatural characteristics as well. Sam wonders if his "powers" are somehow connected to the problem. 

 The bullies from school, Orc and Howard, take over the town square. They name it the FAYZ, or Fallout Alley Youth Zone, which is what they end up calling the entire "incident". But they aren't doing a very good job of running things. Most of the kids want Sam to be one of the leaders, but Sam is reluctant to take on the role, and neither Orc nor Howard want Sam around. 

 Up the road is a private school called Coates and when the Coates kids come into town, things go from bad to worse. The students who attend Coates seem to be troubled kids, many of whom also have supernatural powers. The leader of the Coates group, Caine, is a student who has no problem hurting others for his own selfish purposes. He also attracts other students to him who act in the same manner. Caine also has supernatural powers which cause destruction and chaos in Perdido Beach. 

There is also a side story of Lana, a young girl riding in a truck her grandfather when he suddenly disappears. She is in a horrific accident, but eventually heals, encounters a pack of talking coyotes, and finally meets up with Sam and his group. 

 Everything leads up to a final battle between Sam and Caine. But can that battle take place before they turn 15? 

 I enjoyed Gone and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. Due to the violence in this book, I would recommend it for at least 7th grade and above. 

 Content: Violence/cruelty to children and language.

Summary:

The first in New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant's breathtaking dystopian, sci-fi saga, Gone is a page-turning thriller that invokes the classic The Lord of the Flies along with the horror of Stephen King.

In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young.

There are teens, but not one single adult. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Michael Grant's Gone as been praised for its compelling storytelling, multidimensional characters, and multiple points of view.