Review: Gone - Michael Grant

Gone
Michael Grant
Series: Gone, #1
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Wonderful Concept, Satisfying Execution
On Goodreads

I read this book about a year or two ago, and I think the concept is great. Gone takes place in a world where adults have mysteriously disappeared. Zap. Poof. They just up and vanished. It's like Lord of the Flies without the deserted island. There are just a bunch of fourteen (and younger) year olds running the show. If that's not strange enough, some of them are starting to develop these strange powers and abilities. They have to not only figure out what is going on and where people go when they turn fourteen, but also how to cope in this world and provide themselves with food and other necessities. 

There are a lot of elements of this book that I really like. For one, I think it did a good job of portraying how things would fall apart if there were no adults. The kids couldn't just go on living like normal, they had no one running places like electric companies and food stores, and of course in the panic the concept of working for money was nonexistent so everyone just took what they needed. Grant did a great job of protraying how a normal suburban area could transform into total chaos. In the later books, more and more challenges are thrown at the kids and they have to work towards finding solutions and they do pretty good jobs considering just a little while ago half of them and never made a bed in their lives. 

I also enjoyed the way the people broke up into groups. One girl took it upon herself to inhabit an old daycare center and take care of all the little children. There were also groups that broke out into fights, and there was a lot of tension between people. One of the best parts was the way the kids with mutated powers sort of split from the "normal" kids. The divide showed a very interesting aspect of human nature. 

The characters in this book were well written but not always the most memorable. Like I said, I haven't read this book in a while and I can't really recall all the names. However, I do remember aspects of the characters like one boy who was more clever and quick thinking than his thickheaded enemy. The characters had general essences although they could have been more refines but I think for the audience the book was intended for, the effect was achieved with the characters and being more vague with their traits worked. 

The writing style of the book was very straightforward and simple, but definitely compelling. Overall, the book could have used a few tweaks in character development and connecting the storylines but it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend. 

- Noor

What would you do if all the adults in the world disappeared?
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