‘Gone’ by Michael Grant

Although this book might get high marks from many for action and imagination, I found it painfully cliché with poorly crafted writing and a disjointed plot line. However, that is not to say that it has no value for readers.

‘Gone’ is the first in a series, followed by ‘Hunger’, ‘Lies’, ‘Plague’ and ‘Fear’. The end of the series is coming out in 2013 and will be called ‘Light’. The ending of this first instalment definitely does not end and sets up for a sequel. So, this dystopian series might be a good choice for a reluctant teen reader who will be swept up by it and will enjoy carrying on with the series. Arguably, everyone needs a series from time to time. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Gone was picked up for the movies, it almost reads like a movie already.

The set up for the story is interesting enough. One day, in the blink of an eye, all of those fifteen and older disappear, leaving a generation of youngsters bent on survival. Gone. Just take a minute and imagine that. Immediately getting rid of the adults is a popular device that many authors use eg. Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Flies.  In some cases it help to declutter the world of adult issues, allowing the fantasy to breathe freely, and of course in Lord of the Flies, it was to expose human nature in its most basic form, focusing on tendencies such as individualism vs. the common good.