#11--Gone

Bibliographic Information

Gone by Michael Grant. HarperTeen. (2008).

Price: $4.99 for special edition paperback

Pages: 570 pages for paperback

Plot Summary

The school day is just like all the others for fourteen-year-old Sam and his best friend Quinn, filled with boring history lessons when they would prefer to be surfing. It’s just the same that is until their teacher disappears in the blink of an eye. They quickly learn it’s not just their teacher who has vanished but everyone who is over the age of fourteen as well. Frightened, Sam, Quinn, and genius classmate Astrid, travel to their small town’s center where children and teens wander, bewildered and scared over this recent turn of events. While no one understands the disappearances nor why a large wall has appeared limiting them to 314 square miles, many are determined to survive until the adults return. Mary and her eight-year-old brother John take charge of all the preschoolers, toddlers, and infants while others scrounge for food. Life becomes increasingly complicated when some of the students from the nearby Coates Academy, a school rumored to be for troubled kids, show up and take control. Fourteen-year-old Caine quickly takes charge backed by his psychopathic crony Drake and enigmatic Diana. Sam, not wanting to become the leader everyone expects him to be takes off to help Astrid find her five-year-old brother Petey who is severely autistic. While they are off searching chaos soon consumes the town resulting in maiming and death.

The situation becomes increasingly dire when it is revealed that some have developed supernatural powers. Sam admits that he can shoot burning light out of his hands while Astrid reluctantly reveals that Petey can teleport and choke people with invisible hands. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones with powers. Caine and Diana both have gifts they are not afraid to use while others seem to have latent powers that surface at the most unexpected of times. Animals have also gone through startling mutations—coyotes speak, snakes fly, and there is a monstrous darkness lurking in the nearby hills. Together Astrid, Quinn, Sam, and their newfound friend Edilio must find a way to not only exist in this frightening new world but stop the cruelty that others’ are intent on inflicting.

Critical Evaluation

Gone is a roller coaster of a novel; just when readers think they have figured out Michael Grant’s world they are surprised anew by what both creatures and characters are capable of. More intense than the violence perpetrated in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, fans of those dystopian novels will be shocked by the level of cruelty displayed by characters within Gone. In the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone) power corrupts and many find themselves capable of actions they would have never have considered committing in their previous lives. Hunger and fear test all those left behind prodding some to torture and kill while others simply turn away, afraid that they will be next. Of course, some survive this bizarre trial by fire, showing their true character. Mary refuses to take sides concerned only with the survival of the little ones; Albert steps up to help feed the town while Lana uses her abilities to heal others.

The most fascinating characters, however, are those that find it difficult to stand up for what is right. Twelve-year-old computer whiz, Jack, finds himself working for Caine, Drake, and Diana as he is too afraid to leave them knowing they will have no compunctions about killing him. He also knows, however, that by helping them he is enabling the torture and murder of others. Equally scared is Sam’s best friend Quinn. Although he recognizes the wrongness of the act he doesn’t stop town bullies from beating a girl bloody out of fear that he will be their next target. Instead of supporting Sam he is jealous of his supernatural powers and his ability to lead. In fact, throughout the novel Quinn constantly wavers in his convictions as the world he once knew has now vanished.

This book is sure to constantly amaze readers with its many twists and turns. While some characters are rather one dimensional it is hoped that they will grow within the next five books in the series. However there are enough dynamic characters and intriguing mysteries that will more than satisfy readers.

Side Note (with spoilers):

While this novel is certainly an action-packed, intriguing mystery there are elements in it that prevent it from being a tour de force. Firstly, there are many elements in it that are reflective of the television series LOST. The show started in 2004 while Grant’s first Gone book was not published until 2008 so it is possible that he gained inspiration from the show. LOST, like the Gone series, details the struggles of a group of people who suddenly find themselves in a mysterious world complete with inexplicable monsters, wild animals, and an evil darkness hiding on the island. Together they must learn how to survive, not unlike the teens and children in Gone while puzzling out the island’s many secrets. There is even mythology at work in both the Gone books and LOST. Grant even admits in an interview with School Library Journal that he was influenced by the television show as well as the writings of Stephen King. Secondly, some of the names used within Gone provide readers a glimpse of what is to come. For example, it isn’t a huge shock when Caine turns out to be Sam’s “evil” twin as Cain is the name of the murderous brother in the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel.

Reader’s Annotation

When everyone over the age of fourteen vanishes teens and children must band together to survive in a strange new world.

About the Author

Interestingly, Michael Grant is married to Katherine Applegate who is a children’s author and recipient of the 2013 Newbery award. Together they have published 150 books including the popular Animorphs series. Grant recently finished the Gone series and is currently hard at work on The Magnificent 12 series. When he is not writing he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children while eating Roquefort cheese.

To learn more about Michael Grant visit his website here.

Genre

Dystopian fiction, Mystery

Readalikes

Hunger/Lies/Plague/Fear/Light by Michael Grant

·         The sequels to Gone

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

·         Also about kids abandoned in a cruel world

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

·         Also involves teens escaping into a world filled with secrets

Tags

Autistic character, California, prodigy, siblings, superpowers, surfing

Awards Won/Lists On

2013—Wyoming Soaring Eagle Nominee

Professional Reviews

Booklist (starred review)

Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal's Q &A with Michael Grant
The Guardian

VOYA (starred review)

Booktalk Ideas

Initial premise (9-10)

“The Rules” (179-181)

Sam’s Final Inspirational Speech (410-11)

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

This book is an excellent resource for those wishing to examine their own strengths and weaknesses. It makes readers think about how they would react if they were placed in a similar situation.

Reading Level/Interest Level

Reading Level: 4^th grade

Interest Level: 9^th-12^th grade

These levels are according to AR Bookfinder

Challenge Issues

This book includes the following potentially controversial elements:

·         Amputation scene

·         Beating others up

·         Coyotes eating people

·         Deliberate maiming

·         Graphic injuries

·         Intimidation tactics

·         Intimidation tactics

·         Murder

·         Physically abusive father

·         Racial slurs

·         Single mother

·         Superpowers

·         Taking the Lord’s name in vain

·         Torture

Librarians can point out that while this can be a disturbing book to read it can provide a safe space for teens to explore how they would react in emergency situations as well at the type of person they would like to be when a crisis occurs.

Why Was This Included?

I included this book because I thought the premise was intriguing particularly the bit about superpowers.