Jackson's life is perfect; he's top of his class, wants for nothing and is destined to be part of the Leadership that runs the country. But when a violent incident leaves Jackson badly beaten and his best friend dead, everything changes. Suddenly his teachers claim not to know him, his records are deleted… Jackson doesn't exist anymore.
Dumped in an Academy, where teachers are kept in cages and being a good fighter is all that matters, Jackson realises that to survive he needs to adapt, and fast. And, as he learns the Academy's terrible secrets, Jackson discovers that his whole life has been based on lies; the Leadership is corrupt to the core and they're coming after him. But time is running out. Can Jackson destroy the man at the heart of it all before he makes Jackson disappear for good?
The Disappeared is intriguing, and entirely gripping. Once I started, I couldn't stop reading! I was captivated from the moment Jackson got sent to the Academy, after his records were deleted from the school files.
I was really impressed by how the author made this so dark and gritty. I love young adult novels that get really into their settings like this one does. I was honestly shocked at some of the things that happened in this book, both in and out of the Academy. This is a proper dystopian, none of this fluffy stuff that you sometimes see in YA.
Full review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2013/01/the-disappeared-by-c-j-harper.html
