Imagine sitting in history class, listening to your teacher drone on about the Civil War. Then suddenly, without a "poof" or puff of smoke, your teacher -- and everyone over the age of 15-years-old -- disappears. That's exactly what happens on the first page of "Gone," Michael Grant's novel about the lives of a group of teens who must literally fight to survive the fall out of the mysterious disappearance of every adult, now out in paperback.

Sam Temple's your average guy. He's not too popular, but he has friends. He has a crush on Astrid "The Genius" Ellison. Yet, he pretty much stays under the radar at his Perdido Beach, California high school -- well, except for the time he saved a school bus load of kids from crashing when the driver had a heart attack -- but other than that, he's a pretty normal guy. Except when he's angry or scared, of course, but no one knows about his close kept secret.

Sam's not the only confined by his secrets. As it turns out, the entire area he lives in is covered by an impenetrable barrier. What happens when there's no internet, cell phone or adults -- and two high schools full of teens are left in charge? Discover the secrets of this small beach community, where children of engineers at the local nuclear power plant, surfers, townies and students from the wealthy Coates Academy mix together -- forced to survive until their fifteenth birthday when they will inevitably vanish.

Filled with action, suspense, a cast of interesting characters and a splash of romance, this "Lost" meets "Heroes" story also encompasses a bit of "Lord of the Flies," making it a page turner that will make you crave the second book of this series, "Hunger."
< br> Available now. Or, find it at your local library.