The Gone Novels

Hello, loyal readers!

If I have any of those yet. I hope I do. If so, thanks a million, you wonderful human beings! 

This week's post is about the first few novels of the Gone series. I began reading the series this week, beginning with Gone, and am currently reading the second book, Hunger.

The series begins with a shocking twist: All of the people over 15 in Sam's Temple's small town of Perdido Beach, known as Fallout Alley, disappear! As if this isn't maddening enough, the town is suddenly surrounded by an impassible "bubble", cutting them off from the outside world. It's up to Sam and his companions Edilio, Quinn, Astrid, and others to keep the world running without the firm hand of the establishment to support them. Making Sam's job harder are the other teens, such as Caine, a charismatic boy from the badly reputed private school nearby, and a group of local bullies, who vie for control of the newly-christened FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone).

Sam is barely keeping up with the stress of being an "adult" and hiding a secret that could change how the world sees him (No spoilers!), when sightings of strangely evolved animals begin to circulate, and it seems like other children may be harboring a secret much like his own! Problems escalate, and tensions build until it seems like a confrontation with a rival leader seems inevitable. With Sam's 15 birthday approaching, meaning his disappearance from the FAYZ, he has to figure out a way to save the town from his nemesis and his disappearance before it's too late.

The series, so far, is rather similar to the Stephen Kind novel Under the Dome, but with a cast of characters comprised entirely of children. However, the fantasy elements are original, and the character development is exciting. This author, Michael Grant, isn't afraid to take his characters into the darkest places of their minds, no matter how they turn out. If an author isn't afraid to create a character you hate, it's because they're good at what they do. Very good.

Well, that's my first real book review! Tell me, how did I do? Any tips you book lovers would like to share? Let me know in the comments!

Some people say time is a strict progression of cause to effect.

Phillip