Review: Gone

Gone (Gone #1) by Michael Grant
Publication Date: June 24,2008
Genre: YA Dystopian/Science Fiction
Pages: 558

 

 

 

Summary

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. 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...

 

 

This book starts slow. The first hundred pages are not great. At times not good. But it does pick up, and ends up being a pretty good book.

 

 

The coyotes, startled by the light, fell back. Their eyes glittered. Their teeth were faint white grins. And then they came for her. A jawlike vise closed arund the muscle of her calf and she fell in a heap.The coyotes swarmed over her. Their stink was in her nose, their weight hammered her down.

 

 

The books long and is the start of a series, so I did expect it to start a little slow. But, in truth, the beginning kind of dragged on. I just kept saying get to the good parts. And it eventually did get there. And when it got there, it was enjoyable and entertaining.

 

 

Most of the characters aren't anything special. Sam is just a regular teen who people think can save them. Astrid is smart but not the genius everyone thinks she is. Caine and Drake are extremely messed up in the head. And Diana didn't seem to have much of a purpose. Though her, Jack, Albert, and Mary all seem like they could be very important in the next books.

 

 

The plot is really what kept me hooked.  Once it got going it flowed well, and the action never completely stopped rolling. It set up well for the next book. The romance between Sam and Astrid was a little much. They were in love a few days after the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone) began. And I'm sure the "Darkness" will make more sense in he next books, but it doesn't really fit in this book.

 

 

This book is far from perfect, but it's entertaining, enjoyable, and a fun read. I will read the next book. And I completely recommend this book. I think a lot of people will like it as long as they can stand to read a hundred pages of boring. Because it does get better.