Gone

By Michael Grant
576 pages
This book started another YA series obsession for me. The scenario is captivating – all adults and teens over the age of fifteen disappear one day in Perdido Beach, California. The children find that they are separated from the rest of the world by a dome through which no one can pass – that is, until, they reach their fourteenth birthday and vanish. No one knows if they live or escape when they vanish, and to add to the confusion, some of the children are developing supernatural powers.
This first book in the series is centered on introducing the main characters: Sam, a reliable, regular guy who is thrust into the role of leader; his crush, the brilliant Astrid; Little Pete, her autistic five-year-old brother; Quinn, Sam’s laid-back-surfer best friend; Caine, the handsome and cruel leader of the private school gang; Diana, also from the private school, beautiful and scheming…and so many more! There is a large cast of primary characters, all fascinating, and seeing their powers and skills develop and their reaction to the extreme circumstances makes this book another “gotta-read-the-next-book-immediately” YA series experience.