Gone

Gone
Author: Micheal Grant
ISBN: 978-0-06-144876
Publisher: Harper Teen, 2008

Plot Summary: All of a sudden all of he adults disappear. Everyone over fourteen vanishes. Cars are crashing, food is left in the oven, teachers are gone. The children and teens of the community form the FAYZ; Fallout Alley Youth Zone. Sam, Astrid, Quinn, Edilio, and little Pete meet Lana a healer. She finds this out after crashing when her grandfather vanishes and she is left with horrible injuries. She believes she will die at first.

Later they all realize their powers and the book hinges on an X-men meet Lord of the Flies type story. The group work together to combat Caine. His powers are immense and he is dangerous. Later we learn that the area affected is limited and that there is a perfectly scientific reason behind what happens.

Critical Analysis: The book takes an apocalyptic, dystopian twist in the beginning when we see all the dangers of no adults. Strangely, the kids all respond maturely and also find ways to sustain their health and comfort. They act with agency, especially Sam. However Lana and Astrid are intelligent and viable heroes as well. Sam's leadership is evident even before the disappearance when he rescues the entire bus after a bus driver has a heart attack. In this story we learn Sam has the ability to react calmly.

Annotation:The adults all disappear along with any teens over fourteen. The kids are left with no teachers, drivers, and sometimes in dangerous situations. They manage to find stove and turn them off and think of other important factors and they work together to survive.

Author: Michael Grant moved around for most of his life. He attended ten schools in five states, and three in France. He now lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife, two children, and pets, pets, pets.

Genre: YA novel

Curriculum Ties: English

Booktalking ideas:
1.) After knowing about the bus, did you anticipate Sam as a leader?
2.) If all of the adults in your life vanished what would you do?
3.) Which power would you prefer?

Reading Level: 14 and up/ 9th grade and up

Challenge Issues: There are none

Selection Reasons: I read this for my book club as well, and in addition it was recommended to me by a friend's teen daughter. I enjoyed it and so did book club. Do not be discouraged by the length, it is a quick read!