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In an instant, everyone over 13 is gone. Cars run off the road, injuring those left. Babies are left in their cribs, and the snack food is no longer off limits.

Realizing something is terribly wrong, Sam, Astrid and Quinn leave in search of Astrid’s autistic brother, Little Pete, likely at the power plant where her father worked. Along the way they discover mutating animals, scared “littles,” and hotel rooms with stocked mini-bars.

Upon finding Little Pete, the trio returns to town to find that the kids from the local private school Coates Academy have organized and taken charge, led by charismatic Caine. Most are relieved, as Caine organizes the overwhelming tasks of caring of the littles, distributing resources, and taming the bullies. Sam is suspicius. It certainly didn’t take the Coates kids long to organize in this chaos. And their punishment of rule-breakers is extreme to say the least. But Sam, scared of his own power-trip, is reluctant to step forward, even though everyone seems to expect him to.

What’s the cause of this mysterious disappearance? God? Aliens? Or could it have something to do with Sam’s newfound power of shooting lightning from his hands? And he’s not the only one with strange new powers.

Nothing remains the same, except, interestingly enough, for the local McDonalds, as one enterprising young man ensures.

Just as some find opportunity for profit, others find excuses to exercise dark desires. Martial law leads to anarchy, and Sam and his friends find themselves thrown into roles they never cared to be in, testing their friendship and moral codes. The very reason Sam avoids leadership is the same reason he turns out to be the best one for the role.

Michael Grant does an excellent job of exploring the human psyche, and how the loss of those we love and depend upon bring out the best and worst of us, particularly at the tender age of thirteen.

The supernatural element of the book is also fascinating, giving children powers they could have never imagined, and exploring their use and misuse. And, just as with adults, those with authority abolish what they can’t control.

Michael Grant keeps us guessing, with each chapter counting down, but to what we don’t know until the very end.

All ages will enjoy this book, for pure entertainment and thought-provoking themes, ranging from the loss of innocence to the abuse of authority and power. Highly recommended.

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