Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Review: Gone, by Michael Grant



The dust jacket flap best sums it up:

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...

Wow, just... where to start. This book (which reads like a movie, which I liked) never wastes time on introducing characters - just launches you head-on into the action. There ARE some dull moments, but this book - a tour de force of the imagination - just blew me away. Kudos, Mr. Grant.

It's like Lord of the Flies, but more interesting. By the end of the book, you're not really sure what's going on, but you know that this book is one heck of a ride. It has perfect good guys, really nasty bad guys, and a constant urge to learn what in the world is going on. (No, you don't get all the answers in the end.) But the final battle is awesome, and the end is very nice. A sense of finality, which is needed.

All in all, a great, great read - one of the 08 Greats!!!!!

(I would rate this a PG-13 book for violence, complex subjects and some romance. Not all that bad.

OK, Jukebox Update

We've got NEW MUSIC!!!!!
Yeah, I love all the songs, but they kinda have to relate to BOOKS, ya know? So here's a secret - all of the songs have a connection a book I've reviewed or to books in general. If you can spot all of them, you'll earn the respect of everyone here (and I'll throw in a few more reviews as bait.)
Oh, and Pendragon 9 came out already, so I took that countdown widget down too.

Just Call Me KittenBoy.

I am 0% evil! Are you an Evil Genius?

Darn. I really need this skill.

39

As a 1930s husband, I am
Poor

Take the test!