The Dead and the Gone
Encyclopedia
The Dead and the Gone is a young adult science fiction
novel
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
. Released in hardcover in May 2008, it is the second book in The Last Survivors, following Life As We Knew It
and preceding This World We Live In.
, nothing that "it got [her] thinking about how the people who have the most to lose if the world comes to an end are kids," and wanted to see how her characters would cope with a situation that was out of their control. The Dead and the Gone occurs at the same time as the first novel, but in New York City
. She playfully mentioned that "I figure with 300 million people alive in the United States, even if I write about 10 people a book, I can still get another 2,999,998 novels out of that meteor, and that should keep me busy and entertained well past the foreseeable future."
The Dead and the Gone uses a third-person omniscient narrative, while the previous book, Life As We Knew It, used a first-person narrative in a journal format. Ask about the change in narrative, Pfeffer replied quite simply that in her planning processes, she "just could not envision a teenage boy keeping a diary. It's as simple as that," accounting for the change.
and knocks it out of orbit, closer to Earth. Taking place in New York City, they are plagued with volcanic eruptions
, tsunamis and tidal waves, and earthquakes, along with famine
caused by food shortages and disease
that kill millions of people in the process. Alex is forced to take care of his sisters in the absence of his mother and father and to raid dead bodies for valuables to trade for food. He struggles with his religious faith while trying desperately to survive.
Julie Morales- A 13-year-old girl who has to take care of her seemingly useless brother, because he does not know how to cook or clean. She doesn't cease her grumbling until she sees no reason to anymore. Also, when her sister (Bri) develops asthma, she is forced to become almost like the maid of the house. She has to cook and clean with electricity and to top that her brother gets sick.
Briana Morales (Bri)- A 14-year-old girl who also has to take care of her seemingly useless brother, for the same reasons as Julie. But when she goes away to a religious camp in the country, she develops asthma. When she comes back, her brother won't let her do anything around the house so it is left up to Julie. Throughout the entire book, she holds within her a strong, overwhelming belief that her parents are still alive, and will come back to save them. Bri dies when she begins to go up the service elevator in their apartment building and the elevator gets stuck, causing her asthma to grow worse and kill her.
Father Mulrooney- The strict and uptight elderly head of Alex's private school. He serves as somewhat of a mentor to Alex.
Isabella Morales (Mami)- Alex, Bri, and Julie's mother. A kind, nurturing, and caring woman, Isabella is an effectual mother. She was in the subways when the floods hit and is presumed dead.
Luis Morales (Papi)- Alex's tough-as-nails father, who while strict and overly-uptight, is still loving and nurturing. He is in Puerto Rico when the floods hit and is presumed dead.
Kevin Daley- A 17-year-old boy who helps his friend Alex to get food and teaches him how "body shop" (take the valuable items off of the people who drop dead in the streets), and how to use those items to barter with the last guy in the city to give out food. Kevin dies when a tree branch falls on him and is not able to breathe
described The Dead and the Gone as "riveting", and said that "once again Pfeffer creates tension not only through her protagonist's day-to-day struggles but also through chilling moral dilemmas: whether to rob the dead, who to save during a food riot, how long to preserve the hope that his parents might return," adding that "[t]he powerful images and wrenching tragedies will haunt readers." John Green of the New York Times said that it "transcend[s] [its] premises with terrifyingly well-imagined futures and superb characterization," and that "the story’s climax and resolution feel achingly right."
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Susan Beth Pfeffer
Susan Beth Pfeffer is a New York Times bestselling author best known for young adult science fiction. She is also known for writing "About David" and the series often called "The Last Survivors," consisting of Life as we Knew it, The Dead and the Gone, This World we Live in, and the forthcoming ...
. Released in hardcover in May 2008, it is the second book in The Last Survivors, following Life As We Knew It
Life As We Knew It
Life As We Knew It is a young adult science fiction novel by American author Susan Beth Pfeffer, first published in 2006 by Harcourt Books. It is the first book in the "Moon Crash Trilogy", followed by The Dead and the Gone....
and preceding This World We Live In.
Background
Pfeffer's novel Life As We Knew It was created after watching the film Meteor (1979)Meteor (film)
Meteor is a 1979 science fiction Technicolor disaster film in which scientists detect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth and struggle with international, cold war politics in their efforts to prevent disaster. The movie starred Sean Connery and Natalie Wood.It was directed by Ronald Neame...
, nothing that "it got [her] thinking about how the people who have the most to lose if the world comes to an end are kids," and wanted to see how her characters would cope with a situation that was out of their control. The Dead and the Gone occurs at the same time as the first novel, but in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She playfully mentioned that "I figure with 300 million people alive in the United States, even if I write about 10 people a book, I can still get another 2,999,998 novels out of that meteor, and that should keep me busy and entertained well past the foreseeable future."
The Dead and the Gone uses a third-person omniscient narrative, while the previous book, Life As We Knew It, used a first-person narrative in a journal format. Ask about the change in narrative, Pfeffer replied quite simply that in her planning processes, she "just could not envision a teenage boy keeping a diary. It's as simple as that," accounting for the change.
Plot introduction
The Dead and the Gone follows 17-year-old Alex Morales and his sisters, Briana and Julie, in their struggle to survive after an asteroid hits the MoonMoon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and knocks it out of orbit, closer to Earth. Taking place in New York City, they are plagued with volcanic eruptions
Volcanic Eruptions
Volcanic Eruptions is a company owned by Crispin Glover. The company produces and issues Glover's work: It has released two films to date, What Is It? and its sequel, It is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE . Its current plans include releasing the final film in the trilogy titled It Is Mine...
, tsunamis and tidal waves, and earthquakes, along with famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
caused by food shortages and disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
that kill millions of people in the process. Alex is forced to take care of his sisters in the absence of his mother and father and to raid dead bodies for valuables to trade for food. He struggles with his religious faith while trying desperately to survive.
Characters
Alex Morales- A 17-year-old boy who has to take care of his two younger sisters after a meteor hits the moon and his parents disappear. He blames himself for all of the things happening to his sisters. Even though Julie changes her attitude, he blames himself for making her change that way. Alex becomes sick when the flu is in the city, but he pulls through it.Julie Morales- A 13-year-old girl who has to take care of her seemingly useless brother, because he does not know how to cook or clean. She doesn't cease her grumbling until she sees no reason to anymore. Also, when her sister (Bri) develops asthma, she is forced to become almost like the maid of the house. She has to cook and clean with electricity and to top that her brother gets sick.
Briana Morales (Bri)- A 14-year-old girl who also has to take care of her seemingly useless brother, for the same reasons as Julie. But when she goes away to a religious camp in the country, she develops asthma. When she comes back, her brother won't let her do anything around the house so it is left up to Julie. Throughout the entire book, she holds within her a strong, overwhelming belief that her parents are still alive, and will come back to save them. Bri dies when she begins to go up the service elevator in their apartment building and the elevator gets stuck, causing her asthma to grow worse and kill her.
Father Mulrooney- The strict and uptight elderly head of Alex's private school. He serves as somewhat of a mentor to Alex.
Isabella Morales (Mami)- Alex, Bri, and Julie's mother. A kind, nurturing, and caring woman, Isabella is an effectual mother. She was in the subways when the floods hit and is presumed dead.
Luis Morales (Papi)- Alex's tough-as-nails father, who while strict and overly-uptight, is still loving and nurturing. He is in Puerto Rico when the floods hit and is presumed dead.
Kevin Daley- A 17-year-old boy who helps his friend Alex to get food and teaches him how "body shop" (take the valuable items off of the people who drop dead in the streets), and how to use those items to barter with the last guy in the city to give out food. Kevin dies when a tree branch falls on him and is not able to breathe
Reception
Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
described The Dead and the Gone as "riveting", and said that "once again Pfeffer creates tension not only through her protagonist's day-to-day struggles but also through chilling moral dilemmas: whether to rob the dead, who to save during a food riot, how long to preserve the hope that his parents might return," adding that "[t]he powerful images and wrenching tragedies will haunt readers." John Green of the New York Times said that it "transcend[s] [its] premises with terrifyingly well-imagined futures and superb characterization," and that "the story’s climax and resolution feel achingly right."