Gone - Chapter One

I've decided to start reading Gone by Michael Grant.

Here it is.

So we'll see how this goes, shall we?

299 Hours, 54 Minutes

What do these numbers meannn

All I know about the book is that everyone over the age of 14 disappears? I think. Although those people on the front cover look waaaaay older than 14. She's wearing lipstick!

We're introduced to a whole host of characters straight away: Sam, who I assume is the protagonist; Mary, who I feel is like Hermione for some reason; Quinn, Sam's best friend; Edilio (?) a 'potentially interesting' kid; and 'Bouncing Bette'. What does that even refer to?

Okay, it turns out the Hermione character is actually Astrid Ellison, who's doing University stuff (at 13? wtf) and is a possible love interest for Sam!

Okay wait, time for exciting maths:

"On the chalkboard you could quite clearly see "Polyn." "She was writing the word 'polynomial,'" Astrid said in a church-voice whisper. "Yeah, I was going to guess that," Sam said dryly. "I had a polynomial once," Quinn said. "My doctor removed it.""

Oh maths. How I <3 thee.

Okay, it's flashback Sam time. It turns out he's quite average and doesn't exactly have a place in the school (how original). And he dialled 911 after his bus driver had a heart attack when he was like 12. The man.

OK WAIT, he also STEERED THE BUS ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND PARKED IT SAFELY

"If he had hesitated for even a second, the bus would have plunged off a cliff and into the ocean."

Now maybe it's just me, but that does NOT sound like a typical 13 year old. And I know that the author wouldn't choose to write a book with a scared fool as the protagonist, but siriusly? Siriusly.

Quinn says "brah". LOVE

Oh god, there's no internet? YOU MIGHT AS WELL ALL DIE NOW, CHILDREN

No TV either??? WHYYYYYY

Okay, they're fourteen, which is obviously SO much better because it means that they're, like, mature now?

Sam and Quinn are scared about their 'moms' but (wait for this) Quinn is wearing shades. He's 14, in school, and is wearing sunglasses. Um, what. Oh well, they're going home to check out their families, which is pretty typical for someone in that situation I would think.

Now the next chapter seems to be counting down the numbers in its title? 300 hours is 12.5 days, so I'm guessing that's the timespan of the book. Maybe it's counting down to someone's birthday? As long as it's not Quinn or Astrid because they're my FAVES