Ah, my dream scenario. I’m sitting in my grade twelve history class, listening to my teacher drone on about who knows what, and suddenly he vanishes. Poof. Gone. Oh, wait. Since I skipped most of my grade twelve history course—hence why I had to repeat it (hint, hint)—this might not have been such a big deal. But this is exactly how the teen Sci-fi novel, Gone, by Michael Grant begins.
One minute the citizens of Perdido Beach, California are immersed in their normal day-to-day existence; the next minute everyone fifteen years and older vanishes, leaving chaos in their wake. Stoves are left on. Cars are still running. Babies and young children are abandoned. And almost everyone turns to Sam Temple for leadership, a role the fourteen-year-old doesn’t want.
But Sam’s problems escalate when Caine Soren—a charismatic student from Coate’s Academy, a school for troubled youth—rallies together the town bullies. This begins the typical battle between good and bad.
As Sam and his friends struggle to survive in an isolated world without adults, they desperately search for answers to their bewildering questions: What caused the sleepy town of Perdido Beach to become the FAYZ—Fallout Alley Youth Zone? What happens when you fade away the minute you turn fifteen—is it a good or a bad thing? And, can they prevent it from happening if they so choose?
This gripping novel surges with twists and turns—and a little romance—that hook you from page one. Although the story flows from numerous points of view, Sam clearly remains the main character. And it becomes obvious from the beginning he harbors a secret that is vital to their survival. The truth also raises new questions. Naturally, you crave to keep reading to discover the answers.
Because you journey inside the head of a number of characters, you learn what motivates them to behave as they do. The multiple points of view also help prevent holes in the plot. The story would have been sadly lacking—and a lot shorter—if it had only been told from Sam’s point of view. The other advantage is that the characters all seem real. Any one of them could easily be someone you know. Well, almost someone you know. You’ll have to read the book to figure out what I mean.
I’ll admit, I’m not a big fan of Sci-fi—though I loved Stephenie Meyer’s The Host—but I thoroughly enjoyed Michael Grant’s Gone, and can’t wait for the sequel. I only hope I don’t have to wait too long, especially since the series is supposed to contain six books (groan!).