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A review by kaoden39
Gone by Michael Grant
4.0
I just finished this book. I don't know why but I am drawn to the post-apocalyptic type novel like this. This is to me along the style of a good old fashioned white hat/black hat story. It was startling clear to me who was who. I think that Mr Grant managed to find the darkside of these characters rather well.
Imagine being in a place where everyone 15 and over disappears. Now imagine yourself being ready to turn 15 soon after and not knowing whether you will disappear or not. Next imagine yourself as being the one kid that everyone trusts and expects to be able to handle everything. Imagine just being a normal kid that knows the difference between right and wrong and then you will be Sam.
I think that Sam as the classic white hat works well, and who better than a Caine to be the bad guy? There are things that make Caine an almost pitiable bad guy, but no he is truly bad. Astrid is your classic heroine as well as Diane is the classic villain. The thing I like most about this book is the ensemble cast of the story, there are other strong white hats/black hats in the story.
I think that children that step up and help to care for the others whether it be to care for the smaller children or the ones that are hurt or ill. Or even being the kid that goes into the Mc Donald's and making the foods that have always represented what is comfortable and fun are the real heroes. They are the ones that keep the normalcy and keep them all together.
*Spoiler Alert*
Okay, so I don't like to add spoilers but I have to give my thoughts on this. It is the classic oh we live near a nuclear reactor so there are mutants and blah, blah, blah. I think that I see it differently than mutations, and I am sure that it is the intentions of Mr Grant for us to see it this way. One character I am quick to with hold judgment on is the character of Little Pete, now all through the story it has been mentioned that he is severely autistic. I am wondering to the extent of his autism, and then when you discover the reason behind the children being in the position that they are in you begin to really wonder.
Imagine being in a place where everyone 15 and over disappears. Now imagine yourself being ready to turn 15 soon after and not knowing whether you will disappear or not. Next imagine yourself as being the one kid that everyone trusts and expects to be able to handle everything. Imagine just being a normal kid that knows the difference between right and wrong and then you will be Sam.
I think that Sam as the classic white hat works well, and who better than a Caine to be the bad guy? There are things that make Caine an almost pitiable bad guy, but no he is truly bad. Astrid is your classic heroine as well as Diane is the classic villain. The thing I like most about this book is the ensemble cast of the story, there are other strong white hats/black hats in the story.
I think that children that step up and help to care for the others whether it be to care for the smaller children or the ones that are hurt or ill. Or even being the kid that goes into the Mc Donald's and making the foods that have always represented what is comfortable and fun are the real heroes. They are the ones that keep the normalcy and keep them all together.
*Spoiler Alert*
Okay, so I don't like to add spoilers but I have to give my thoughts on this. It is the classic oh we live near a nuclear reactor so there are mutants and blah, blah, blah. I think that I see it differently than mutations, and I am sure that it is the intentions of Mr Grant for us to see it this way. One character I am quick to with hold judgment on is the character of Little Pete, now all through the story it has been mentioned that he is severely autistic. I am wondering to the extent of his autism, and then when you discover the reason behind the children being in the position that they are in you begin to really wonder.