You can use this topic to discuss the first 10 chapters of Gone in the re-read. As people who are re-reading the books will be up to date on the Gone series, this topic may contain spoilers for later events in the Gone series.

Please use spoiler tags if discussing/mentioning somethingthat happens in the Gone series out of the chapters in this discussion.

Chapter 1 summary.
We're introduced to three of the main characters who have clear traits/personalities. Sam (the leader), Astrid (the knowledgable character) and Quinn (the fun/comedic guy).
Everyone over 14 has disappeared, the school becomes chaos.

Quotes/Extracts...
"I had a polynomial once", Quinn said. "My doctor removed it." XD

Life in Perdido Beach had changed. Something big ans terrible had happened.
Sam hoped he was not the cause.

Questions/Observations...
What led Astrid to go to Sam's class. Did she just pick the nearest room, or did something draw them together?

FEAR SPOILER:


When checking cell phones for their signal a kid shouts, "I have three bars", later in the book we find that the powers some kids developed can simarlarly be measured in strength - like a phone signal.

-------------

Chapter 2 summary.
We move outside the school into the streets. Sam, Astrid and Quinn go their homes to search for their parents. They begin at Quinn's home, then Astrid's (they search for Astrid's brother there, to no avail) and finally Sam's home.
We're introduced to Lana who is in a truck with her pet dog Patrick and Grandpa Luke. Luke disappears while driving leaving Lana in a mangled wreck.

Quotes/Extracts...
"Coyote's harmless. Mostly. Old brother coyote's too smart to go messing with humans" - Grandpa Luke

Questions/Observations...
We're introduced to the locations/buildings in Perdido Beach that all play an important part in the book and the series as it progresses.

Grandpa Luke is the first adult (over 14 character) [and only adult in Gone?] to have a speaking role in the book.

At what point did the coyotes begin self aware, wise not to 'mess' with humans?

As a complete opposite to Sam, Astrid and Quinn, Lana is shown to be a character who breaks the rules.

-------------

XD I'm not sure if this is the type of discussion thing to do, so if you're reading feel free to add on points, maybe you could write the next chapter summary? (I've paused reading at the moment!)

:dekka:

Before reading Gone

I voted for Stay clam and Look out for others. I think I would try to find my sister, then reach my friends (most of whom would have poofed). [Note that I'm over the magical age barrier now, but when I first read Gone I was 14, that's why I didn't chose Nothing, I'd have poofed].


Chapter 1
I've made another observation: It's the first time food is described, and it's not described as something you'd like to eat.


And because I was bored xD (and probably for later reference):
New Characters (in order of appearance):

Mr Trentlake, History teacher - poofs
Sam Templen
Mary Terrafino - first person Sam speaks to
Quinn Gaither - described as "Sam's best, maybe only friend"
Edilio Escobar - "a new kid Sam found potentially interesting"
[Josh] - only mentioned, poofs
Bouncing Bette
Astrid Ellison - the first character whose appearance is described
[Jink, Michael] - only mentioned, members of Astrid's math study club, poof

POV's

Sam's

Chapter 2
Isn't it kind of sad that Grandpa Luke disappears very shortly after Lana has remarked the first positive thing about him? ("At least he had a sense of humour.")

Characters

[Pete Ellison] - only mentioned
Lana Arwen Lazzar
Grandpa Luke - poofs
Patrick
[Tony] - mentioned, probably Lana's boyfriend

POV's

Sam's
Lana's

Chapter 1 summary.
We're introduced to three of the main characters who have clear traits/personalities. Sam (the leader), Astrid (the knowledgable character) and Quinn (the fun/comedic guy).
Everyone over 14 has disappeared, the school becomes chaos.

<< You know, I had really detailed analysis of this once upon a time.
<< Still, I find the way people are reacting kinda unrealistic? Problem is that people should both be way more concerned and at the same time way less serious.

<< Especially since a ton of people would die in car crashes. Didn't they say a baby died in a wreck or something?

Quotes/Extracts...
"I had a polynomial once", Quinn said. "My doctor removed it." << Douchebaaaaag

Life in Perdido Beach had changed. Something big ans terrible had happened.
Sam hoped he was not the cause.
<< Egotissssst.
Questions/Observations...
What led Astrid to go to Sam's class. Did she just pick the nearest room, or did something draw them together?

<< Sex.

FEAR SPOILER:

<< That's actually kinda interesting. There wasn't really that made me think "Gay" before that, and I have a pretty good gaydar, but it's definitely neat. Probably a coincidence though.

When checking cell phones for their signal a kid shouts, "I have three bars", later in the book we find that the powers some kids developed can simarlarly be measured in strength - like a phone signal.

<< Probably foreshadowing there.
-------------

Chapter 2 summary.
We move outside the school into the streets. Sam, Astrid and Quinn go their homes to search for their parents. They begin at Quinn's home, then Astrid's (they search for Astrid's brother there, to no avail) and finally Sam's home.
We're introduced to Lana who is in a truck with her pet dog Patrick and Grandpa Luke. Luke disappears while driving leaving Lana in a mangled wreck.

The fact that Sam followed Astrid home is absolutely f-cking terrifying. Like seriously and honestly terrifying. That is not cool, and really creepy.

Also yes Lana actually well written character unf<3.

Quotes/Extracts...
"Coyote's harmless. Mostly. Old brother coyote's too smart to go messing with humans" - Grandpa Luke

uh-huh.

right.

well then how did that work out for HERMIT JIM MAN.
Questions/Observations...
We're introduced to the locations/buildings in Perdido Beach that all play an important part in the book and the series as it progresses.

Grandpa Luke is the first adult (over 14 character) [and only adult in Gone?] to have a speaking role in the book.
<< in GONE? Maybe. In the series there're other folks, and obviously journal entries later.

At what point did the coyotes begin self aware, wise not to 'mess' with humans?
<< Presumably the same time as everyone else? Speaking of which, when was that?

As a complete opposite to Sam, Astrid and Quinn, Lana is shown to be a character who breaks the rules.
<< AKA she's interesting and flawed and smart and interesting.
-------------

Anyway I'll talk to Elizabeth and we'll set up the others.

^Hey Matt, I totally forgot to mention the countdown, that was interesting when first reading GONE. Because the main event already happened in Chapter 1 > all the over 14s disappearing. So throughout the book and subsequent books one core question was what the countdown will lead to, what event it will build up to.

I think we learnt halfway through GONE as to what the countdown event is.

What did everyone make of the countdown when first reading the book?
Did you find it an interesting concept?
Are there any other books you've come across that uses a similar device throughout the book?

@Rephail, I love it! The character list too :D I didn't notice the bit with food. I did notice the brand names being dropped though. I doubt it happens, but I use to think companies paid writers to put their brands in books - like they do in films - as a subliminal product placement...

@The Iron Rose, Quinn a douchebag? I think he comes across as funny, a BFF type who makes comments/jokes when they're anxious.
As for Grandpa Luke, I meant he actually appears in the book as a speaking adult (over 14) in the timeline as the proofing happens. He is not in a flashback or mentioned by something he did by another character etc. and yes I meant just in the Gone book as this is about Gone :D

I'll pop in the 3-10 chapters later.

Chapter 3 summary.
We learn more about Sam and his homelife as Astrid, Sam and Quinn go to Sam's home in a futile search for his mother. We learn Sam, our protagonist, has a fear/weakness - the dark. Two nights before the start of the book, we find out about a light that appeared when Sam was afraid during a thunderstorm.
The stove at Sam's home is on, implying his mother was at home during the 'poofing'. Her laptop is also open and Sam reads an extract from his mother's diary that is still on the screen. Astrid slyly reads it too.

Quotes/Extracts...
"What did we do?" Quinn asked. "That's what I don't get. What did we do to piss God off?"

Someone will get hurt. Just like S with T.

Questions/Observations...
Sam sees himself as 'poor' in contrast to Astrid, who lives in a 'richer' part of Perdido Beach.

Quinn seems to be focusing more on God and the wrath of God. Yet Astrid, who later turns out to be the 'religious one', wants to find a scientific reasoning. As she can't think of an explanation to the disappearance of everyone over 14, she accepts that it may indeed be an act of God.

The mystery surrounding Sam's involvement with the 'poofing' begins,
a) There is no explicit mention that Sam created the light that appeared in his room. It just appeared. At first reading this may seem there are supernatural forces at work in Sam's home.
b) His mother's diary extract has some cryptic clues. She knows that something bad may happen.

Random - Sam's mother's diary extract is cryptic. But when writing her diary, why does she choose not to use full names and instead initials for names and places? Maybe she's a fan of Cecily Von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl series? (Lol)

---------

Chapter 4 summary.
Sam, Astrid and Quinn now head for the town plaza where they believe most kids will go. There is a fire in an apartment situated in the plaza, with no emergency services Sam organises the kids into helping to extinguish the fire. There is a child in the burning apartment. She tries to shoot Sam with fire, in defence Sam shoots her with his light power and knocks her out.
Sam passes out after pulling the girl out of the fire. When he regains conciousness he finds out the girl is dead.

Quotes/Extracts...
There were just over three thousand residents in Perdido Beach - far fewer now.

"If you're going in there, wrap this around your face" - Astrid
"Did I say I was going in there?" - Sam
"Don't get hurt" - Astrid

His mother reached over and slapped him hard across the face.
His eyes flew open.
"Sorry", Astrid said. "I needed to wake you up".

Questions/Observations...
It seemed as if Astrid made Sam go into the fire to rescue the girl as he said he didn't say to her he'd go in and rescue the girl... Maybe Astrid had read his mind and could sense he thought about rescuing the girl? Could this have been Astrid's power? Mind-reading?

The girl was scared when she shot Sam with her fire. Sam was scared when he created the light in his room for the first time...

The girl who shoots fire from her hands is the first explicit mention that a child has developed a super power/ability. We then see Sam use his power, from his hands he actually shoots light, it doesn't just appear, he creates it. He also shoots at will - he has control over the power.

Does Sam see qualities that his mother has in Astrid?