Hunger by Michael Grant 590 pages

Book 2 in the Gone saga has a lean title for a thick book. It picks up right where the story left off. While the kids have survived, their future looks bleak since their food supply is gone. When they attempt to harvest crops ripe in the fields, they discover murderous mutant worms that attack the harvesters. All the characters are wracked with hunger and Mary, the kindly head of the nursery turns out to be consumed with inner food demons: anorexia and bulimia. There are a lot of baddies in this book and it looks like the most evil is a bodyless force calling all the kids with special talents. Sam is just about worn out trying to hold the town together without much support beyond Edilio and Astrid. Twin evil brother, Caine is still out there and pretty much out of his mind. Albert, who seemed like a likable entrepreneur/cook in book one has become a money grubbing, power hungry cad. Little Petey, Astrid's younger autistic brother is pretty much off screen -- and I am guessing that he is going to become their best "secret weapon". Book three is on order and should be in my hands by next week!