Science Fiction

Recommended by Sarah. I good read. I can understand why she likes the series. ( )

Maybe even 1.5*...

Perhaps I wouldn't have been so disappointed in this young-adult novel if I hadn't been expecting it to be a sci fi story. It definitely is NOT science fiction! There is no basis in science at all so I guess it could be called fantasy - though paranormal describes it better. Not content with the initial fantastic improbable event - the disappearance of all people 15 or older (don't worry - that isn't a spoiler, it happens at the beginning of the first chapter) {I have previously ranted about how I feel about this sort of unscientific age-related "sci fi" in another book review. Suffice it to say that how biologically different do you think a person is at 14 years 354 days from the way he/she is at exactly 15 years?} - the author brings in paranormal abilities, rapid & unusual animal mutations & some unknown but evil force.

The book is very dark and violent; it is not what I would want a 10-15 year-old to be reading if I was a parent. The basic message is similar to "Lord of the Flies" but not as well done in my opinion.

The story is quite thrilling, enough so that it is fairly easy to overlook all the improbable plot devices while reading (or listening in my case) to it, so I didn't feel the book deserved 1*. If it had an ending with more resolution, I would have been happy with a solid 2* but instead the book ends with no major issues resolved, clearly intending there to be a sequel or series to follow, and leaving this reader unsatisfied. ( )

I once saw a review for this book that compared it to Stephen King's version of Lord of the Flies. This analogy could not be more perfect, because if Stephen King had written Lord of the Flies, it would be this book. The other all thought process of it, kids and teenagers trapped in a town without any adult supervision, add some superpowers, and bam! You've got a wonderful story. It is both terrifying and beautiful to read. ( )

Everone over 15 have disappeared, all systems fail, there ia a barrier that burns, and when you turn fifteen you disappear on your birthday. Now survive. Great story and performance.

FROM AMAZON: In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young. There are teens, but not one single adult. 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. ( )