Imagine being in the middle of class and, all of sudden, everyone over the age of 15 vanishes. There are no teachers, no parents, and no government officials. Little kids running around looking for their parents, older kids eating all the junk food they can find–it’s absolute chaos. This is the story line of Gone, a science fiction novel by Michael Grant.

What is it about?

Gone centers around a fictional California town called Perdido Beach. One day when everyone over the age of 15 vanishes, best friends Sam Temple and Quinn Gaither team up with Astrid Ellison to search around town for Astrid’s little brother Pete, who is autistic.

They find out that there is no Internet, no cable, and no cell phone service.  They also discover that there is an impenetrable wall/barrier that separates the town from the outside world.  They end up finding Pete at the nuclear power plant where Astrid’s father worked. They find Pete with a map that shows radiation patterns from an explosion that occurred 15 years ago. They realize that the patterns end where the barrier begins.

Characters with Superpowers

When they get back to town, Sam tries to save a little girl from a fire. He realizes that the girl started the fire with her own hands. The town looks to Sam as the leader, and it is revealed that he has powers to create light.

Meanwhile, students from Coates Academy, a nearby boarding school, take over Perdido Beach which the kids are now calling the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone). Caine, the leader from Coates Academy, reveals that he has powers of telekinesis. The kids from Coates Academy discover that when they turn 16, they are confronted by the thing that they desire the most before they vanish. They dub this the “big blink” or “stepping out.”

The Mutant Coyotes

In the desert close to Perdido Beach, a girl named Lana gets in a car accident because her grandfather, who was driving, has vanished. Lana is hurt and stuck in the desert. She only has her dog Patrick, who is attacked by a group of coyotes. As Patrick is dying, Lana places her hand over him, and discovers she has healing powers. She heals herself and begins hiking. She finds refuge in a shack, but discovers that she is being followed by the coyotes, which have started to mutate and can now talk.

Back in town tensions are running high as Caine sees Sam as a threat. With some of the kids from Coates Academy, Caine tries to kidnap Sam, Astrid, and Pete. Quinn tells Sam about Caine’s plan, and they run away towards the desert, where they confront the mutant coyotes, until Lana saves them.

The group tells Lana about the FAYZ, and they join forces to get rid of Caine. When they head back to town, a big battle breaks out which ends when Sam and Caine face each other. Sam wins, and Caine retreats back to Coates Academy. The town comes together and celebrates their first Thanksgiving in the FAYZ.

Why Read it? 

   I found out about Gone through a friend that recommended it. She hadn’t read the book, but it was on her reading list. I read the synopsis and was very interested. It reminded me of other dystopian novels such as the Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, and the Divergent Series. I had enjoyed reading those novels, so I thought I should give this one a chance.

After reading Gone, I was blown away. There were so many times that it left me on the edge of my seat. I also liked how the writer is able to incorporate real-life teenage problems into the characters, such as how one of the characters suffers with an eating disorder or when another character tries to commit suicide.  I would have to say that my favorite part was the ending because you get to see the whole town come together despite the problems they faced.  

I would recommend Gone to other students because it has action, drama, and mystery. Plus, as a reader, one can easily connect to the characters.

Fun Facts

   Gone was published in 2008, and was quickly followed by 5 other books, which have been labeled the Gone Series.  In 2013, Michael Grant announced via Twitter that Sony had acquired the rights to produce the Gone series as a TV show. However, no plans have yet been made to start production.