Everlost by Neal Shusterman

Nick’s eating a candy bar when he dies.  Allie’s arguing with her dad about the radio and adjusting her blouse.  A couple seconds later, Nick and Allie meet when they crash through the tunnel from this world to whatever’s after life.  And that’s when the story starts.  Nick and Allie wake up most of a year later not knowing that they’re dead.  Obviously, they want to get back to their parents who must be worried sick about them.  But another boy they meet in the woods explains the situation to them.  Are they stuck being ghosts forever?  Can they trust anyone or anything in the ghost world?  Or are Nick and Allie truly lost?

Review by Kathleen from a library copy

Gone by Michael Grant

In the middle of his history class, Sam Temple sees his teacher disappear, mid-lecture.  At the same time, another kid in the class also vanishes.  All through Peridido Beach, California, everyone over the age of fourteen is just… gone.  Teachers, parents, older teens – they’ve just disappeared in the blink of an eye.  The town is in ruins from all the cars that crashed, stoves left on, buildings abandoned.  Suddenly, the kids who are left have to learn how to survive, how to fend for themselves and take care of the younger kids, the babies and toddlers whose parents are gone too.  And some of the kids are starting to learn that they have powers they didn’t know they had.  But will it be enough to keep everyone going until they (or the adults – surely they must be *somewhere*) find out what’s going on and how to fix it, or will the bullies take over?

Gone is the first book in a series by Michael Grant.  The sequel is called Hunger.  You can read more about the Fayz (what the kids call the area they’re left in) here.

Review by Kathleen