I finally got around to reading the first book on the Top of My Shelf. I’m a little behind schedule, and I blame that entirely on internship and Linger.
Book Summary: In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.
Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what’s happened.
Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.
It’s a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else…
As much as I want to say that I loved this book, I just couldn’t get myself to. First of all, I absolutely loved the concept behind Gone by Michael Grant. Honestly, it’s one of those things that I always imagined happening as a kid. What if all the parents just disappeared? What would happen then? The book did remind me a lot of Lord of the Flies by William Golding, but a more modern-day, supernatural version. I guess in this case that would be a good thing, because Lord of the Flies is one of those rare books that I was forced to read in school and loved.
For one reason or another, I just couldn’t find myself to be able to relate to any of the characters. Is it because they are fourteen going on fifteen? I shouldn’t think so. By some degree, I should feel like I can relate to a character, but it just wasn’t the case in this book. I didn’t have a favorite character that I was constantly rooting for. None of them really stood out to me.
As much as I loved the whole Astrid/Sam relationship, I could not feel the spark and chemistry between them. I really could not see them as more than friends. Their relationship throughout GONE by Michael Grant is adorable, but that’s it. I didn’t feel any “love”.
In terms of the plot, some aspects of GONE by Michael Grant were very surprising. I never would have guessed what had caused the FAYZ. The revelation had definitely made me go, Whoa. Interesting… I liked how there never was a dull day at the FAYZ. There was always something going on.
One of my favorite things about GONE by Michael Grant is the amount of Harry Potter references I encountered. I’m a fanatic, if you aren’t already aware, and I nearly doubled over with glee every time I read something Potter-related. In total, I counted three references.
The amount of violence in GONE by Michael Grant was quite shocking. The level of violence that the kids were going through was appalling. It makes sense the more I think about it, especially if I think in terms of Lord of the Flies. I think that the supernatural powers just added on to the aggression, making everything escalated onto a whole new level.
Overall, I really loved the concept of GONE by Michael Grant, but the writing and characters just didn’t pull me over and make me love the book. I would definitely still recommend GONE by Michael Grant to other people because of the plot and concept, especially to young teens who are the same age as the characters in the book. Curiosity of what happens next has won me over, and I will keep on reading the GONE series by Michael Grant.
I liked GONE by Michael Grant and I give it three stars: 
