|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
The Monster Librarian Presents:
Reviews of Zombie Fiction
While zombies are popular in adult fiction and popular culture zombies are found in books, graphic novels, movies, and video games. In the past few years there has been an increase in young adult zombie titles being published where the zombies range from being relatively benign to being just as hungry and deadly as their adult counterparts.
Dead
Girl's Blog by Donna Burgess*New Review
E-Volve Books, 2011
ASIN: B004OR1G8A
Available: Multiformat digital
With a plethora of both zombie fiction and self-published author samplers popping up, it's often hard to cut through the chaff to get to the good stuff. Dead Girl's Blog is the good stuff; two emotionally satisfying zombie tales that don't have to resort to the weary format of plucky survivors getting picked off one at a time. Burgess’ characters stand off the page, reaching out and giving an often-missing soul to zombie stories.
There are only two short stories here, “Dead Girl's Blog” and “Under a Blanket of Blue”. But it's a perfect short read for those looking for a distraction in a waiting room, before bed, or on a car or plane trip. Highly recommended for quality and tasty pricing.
Contains: Language, sex, violence
Reviewed by: Michele Lee
The Pretty Dead by David
Martin Stack*New Review
Small Change Press, 2011
ISBN: 978-09832234-7-4
Available: New paperback
The Pretty Dead is a gory, suspenseful read for teens who are music minded, really listen to the poetry of lyrics, and enjoy some dark comic relief. The main character, Blake, inventor of the virtual rock band Posterband, is one of several uniquely described co-protagonists, all of whom are sympathetically written. Blake directly addresses the reader, and so engages and invests us very effectively. The horror elements are well balanced by Blake’s sister “M”, the treehugger, and her very valid concerns about a mysterious corporation and its involvement in the terrifying events building around them.
David Stack weaves several parallel themes into a single, brisk plot. Beginning with a kidnapped loved one, he establishes an intimate group of cool, music-minded friends who face nightmarish episodes with the reanimated dead, bloodthirsty rockers, and zombie-like minions. Behind it all is an untouchable evil corporate entity, misplaced trust, and a complicated conspiracy. Climaxing the action is the ultimate showdown: a battle of the bands, accessible only to monsters and the hip crowd.
The vinyl-collecting Blake experiments with the possibility of achieving fame by creating and promoting every aspect of a band except original music, and this speaks directly to a generation of art clipping, sound-biting, remixing, teens. An actual website for Posterband (www.posterband.com) that includes a playlist of music from the book, member bios and a merch table where fans of the book can buy real t-shirts for the virtual band, adds to the readability and authenticity of Stack’s book. A portion of the proceeds for the book goes to children’s literacy programs. Recommended for grade 7 and up.
Contains: brief cannibalism, dismemberment, mild torture, not too graphic.
Reviewed by: Sheila Shedd
The
Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses by Ty Drago*New Review
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2011
ISBN: 9781402247859
Available: Paperback, Kindle ebook
The Undertakers: Rise of the
Corpses is a first book in a wonderful new series by Ty Drago. In it we
meet young Will Richter. Will’s father Karl was a cop in the Philadelphia
police department until his untimely death a year ago. Now that Will’s
twelve, he’s started to notice something strange; people all around him- his
neighbor, assistant principal, and math teacher- are all dead. Yet they move
and talk. When it’s discovered that he can see them as actual dead people,
the ‘corpses’ attack, and Will is rescued by Helene. Helene takes him to the
Undertakers, a splinter cell of freedom fighters who are resisting the rise
of the ‘corpses’ in question. These are not zombies; those tend to be slow
and stupid. ‘Corpses’ are very smart, strong and capable, and they have a
plan to eventually dominate the world.
Will must come to terms with the new
reality of being able to see the ‘corpses’ – only one adult could ever
identify a ‘corpse’ for what it was, and that was his dad – and learn to
accept his place among the Undertakers. Will the undertakers stop the
‘corpses’? Will Kenny Booth run for Mayor? Find out by reading this book! I
found this book to be a quick read, and really quite fun. It had its serious
moments, but it was definitely a book the entire family could read. Highly
recommended for fans of zombies, action, adventure, Philadelphia, and fun
reads, middle and high school libraries, and public library YA collections.
Contains: violence and slight gruesome imagery.
Reviewed by: Benjamin Franz
Zombies
Don't Cry: A Living Dead Love Story by Rusty Fischer
Medallion Press, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-1605423821
Available: New
A stray lightning strike burned out Maddy's life, but not her existence, and after a few hours of unconsciousness she wakes up undead. Not that her life was wonderful (or terrible) to begin with, but now that she's a zombie it's definitely more complicated. And so are the things she wished could change—namely her pseudo-relationship with jock cutie Stamp, and the mysterious deaths of her fellow students ,with all signs to Maddy being next, living or not.
Zombies Don't Cry is a fun read with a true vein of darkness and tons of engaging characters. Highly recommended for public and private YA collections, its pacing and conflict make it a wonderful option to keep readers interested and amused in an increasingly disappointing fiction landscape.
Contains: language, violence, brain-munching
Reviewed by: Michele Lee
The Zombie Handbook: An Essential Guide to Zombies and, More Importantly, How to
Avoid Them by Dr. Robert Curran*New Review
Barron's Educational Series, 2011
ISBN: 0764164090
Available: New
Thanks to AMC’s The Walking Dead, interest in zombies has
risen once again! In The Zombie Handbook,
Curran gives background on zombie lore, ways to identify a zombie, and how
to avoid a zombie attack.
For example, in Voodoo beliefs, the word “zombie” doesn’t refer
to the walking dead at all, but instead a serpent that is the symbol of the
chief of Voodoo gods. It is actually in places like Haiti and the southern
states in the US that zombie lore has taken hold, largely due to the slavery
once common in these areas. It is said that slaves brought with them tales of
the walking dead, stories that frightened their masters.
How does one identify a zombie? The stiff, halting walk might help, as would the smell. Additionally, one of the sure signs a creature is a zombie is its lack of communication. Zombies are unable to answer a direct question, only able to utter a few words. They also have a vacant & “lost” stare.
The best way to protect
oneself from a zombie attack is to avoid them. When this is impossible, there
are charms called gris-gris that can protect the wearer. Also, as with
most other “supernatural” beings, a ring of salt stops zombies, as does fresh,
running water (as in a river or stream, not a bathtub!)
The Zombie Handbook also distinguishes between the types
of zombies. In Jewish lore, the Golem, a figure made of clay, protected groups
of Jewish people. In Ireland, the marbh bheo (night-walking dead) walk freely
among the living at certain times of the year, seeking vengeance for past
grievances. Others are granted a night to enjoy things they had in life.
Curran also provides some historical perspective. Paramount to
the existence of zombies are zombie masters, those who had the power to raise
the dead, including John Domingo who lived in Charleston, SC in the 1880s; Dr.
Buzzard, who lived in the Low Country of South Carolina in the mid 1900s; and
the most famous “Voodoo Queen”, the zombie mistress of New Orleans, Marie Laveau.
These individuals had the power to raise the dead and provide other charms using
magical powders and potions.
The Zombie Handbook educates the reader on every aspect of
the walking dead, through vivid, colorful illustrations and photographs as well
as noteworthy facts. It is guaranteed to be a hit for any fan of horror. Highly
recommended.
Warning: Some of the images can be a bit frightening to young children.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Lawrence
The Dead by
Charlie Higson*New Review
Hyperion, 2011
ISBN 978-1-4231-3412-1
Available: New and e-book
The Dead is the prequel to Higson’s book The Enemy. Unlike books in most series, this book can be read as a stand-alone. As a prequel, there are no references to Higson’s previous work, which is refreshing. The book is once again set in present day London, and follows a small group of survivors from a boarding school as they make their way across the city to safety. Ultimately, they become the Tower kids found in The Enemy.
Higson’s writing style is very simple and elegant. Paragraphs are kept short and easy to understand. He keeps the suspense going at every turn, making the reader unable to put the book down. With talk of more books in the series, Higson is destined to become a legend among zombie authors equal to Brooks and Matheson. I would highly recommend this book.
Contains: Violence, gore.
Reviewed by Denize Toms.
The
Enemy by Charlie Higson*New Review
Hyperion, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4231-4504-2
Available New and used/e-book
The Enemy is a unique twist on the zombie survival story. In this version, only people over the age of 14 are infected, leaving children as the survivors of the new world. Set in present-day London, the story focuses on a group of children known as the Waitroses, surviving in a supermarket. When the children learn of other survivors living in Buckingham Palace, they trek across the city to join up. Along the way they battle “grown-ups” as well as each other. Upon their arrival at the palace, they find things aren’t the utopia they had expected. The Waitroses’ idea of survival differs starkly from the ideas of those there already, who are looking to become rulers of London. There is also a sideline story about Small Sam, who was taken by “grown-ups”, and his battle to make his way back to the Waitroses.
Unlike many books in the zombie genre, the writing style is very straightforward and it is easy to follow along. A plus to the book is that paragraphs are kept short, making it easy for readers to keep up, and hard to put down. Higson is not shy about losing core characters, which adds an air of suspense to the story. The moral to the story is quite clear. Children are survivors, tougher and smarter that we adults give them credit for. I recommend this book for adults and young adults. It is sure to be a classic in the dystopian genre.
Contains: Violence, gore, cannibalism
Reviewed by: Denize Toms.
Zombies vs.
Unicorns edited by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black*New Review
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010
ISBN: 978-1416989530
Available: New - Hardcover , audiobook, and Kindle and Nook ebook
It began as an Internet debate on the blogs of YA authors Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black. Which one is cooler-zombies or unicorns? Justine announced that she was pro-zombie and anti-unicorn, and Holly stood up for the awesomeness of unicorns versus the nastiness of zombies. The discussion grew animated enough that Holly and Justine recruited writers to form Team Unicorn and Team Zombie and published an anthology. The resulting stories, some about zombies and some about unicorns (clearly marked), are unconventional, imaginative, sometimes funny, and often disturbing. Each story is preceded by an introduction and bickering between Justine and Holly about the pros and cons of zombies and unicorns. My favorites include Alaya Dawn Johnston’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, a powerful, terrifying, somehow sweet, and ultimately doomed, love story from a zombie’s point of view; Naomi Novik’s “Purity Test”, a wisecracking urban fantasy that shatters the stereotypes of unicorns and virgins; Maureen Johnson’s “Children of the Revolution”, which veers between creepiness and humor as a college student babysitting for a rock star discovers the hard way that the children are monsters; and Meg Cabot’s “Princess Prettypants”, an entertaining send-up of the hearts-and-rainbows unicorns everyone thinks of when unicorns come up in conversation, with a great revenge scenario to boot. All the stories are strong, though, and I came away with a new appreciation for both zombies and unicorns. The only thing missing was a story with an actual battle between them: in the battle between zombies and unicorns, who really WOULD win? Highly, highly recommended for YA collections and high school library media centers. Ages 14 and up.
Contains: language, violence, gore, bestiality, homosexuality, drug use, zombie cannibalism, animal cruelty, childbirth.
Review by Kirsten Kowalewski
I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked it
by Adam Selzer
Random House Children's, 2010
ISBN: 9780385735032
Available: New, used and digital
Ali Rhodes is the quintessential teenage curmudgeon. Music reviewer for her school paper and notorious snark queen she's the last person to fall for trends and scams--or in love. But at a local show she meets a guy who is tall, Goth and handsome, and who knows how to sing with soul. It's just too bad Doug is a zombie.
While it starts off as a snarky, humorous, paranormal tale, in the end, I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It makes a statement on the social pressures teens (and everyone really) face. (It manages to make fun of a lot of the trends in YA fiction as well.) Ali thinks she's highly resistant to the fall-in-love-with-a-vampire deals, but finds herself reconsidering the rest of her life when her guidance counselor pushes “converting” on her and Doug's personal limitations are revealed.
I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It is witty, funny, and meaningful- the only problem is that it ends too soon. Highly recommended, especially for school or public collections with a lot of paranormal YA readers.
Contains: mild language, hinted adult situations
Reviewed by: Michele Lee
Generation
Dead: Passing Strange
by Daniel Waters
Hyperion 2010
ISBN: 1423121996
Available: New
The latest installment in the
Generation Dead
series changes focus from Phoebe Kendall to Karen DeSonne, an undead teen who
actually manages to pass as a living girl. We pick up where the last story
ended. Waters delves into Karen’s past and reveals how she died and also how she
is different from the other zombies. Karen wants to uncover what really
happened with the murder of a lawyer by zombies. Karen’s biggest lead is Pete
Martinsburg, who has come back on a mission for the Reverend Nathan Mathers to
hunt down the remaining zombies in town.
Waters is able to keep the overall story arc going forward and yet takes the time to really flesh out Karen, one of the more interesting characters in the series. We also learn more about Pete Martinsburg and what drives his hatred towards zombies, which takes him a step out of being a mindless foil for the zombie population. Passing Strange is an engrossing read, and it is easy just to set yourself down and get lost in the story. Waters has created a fascinating world of the dead teens coming to life, and lets them tell their tale. In an ever-growing world of zombie titles, the Generation Dead series stands out, with great storytelling and interesting characters. Highly recommended.
Contains: reference to suicide and homosexuality, some violence.
My
So-Called Death
by Stacey Jay
Flux, 2010
ISBN:
978-0738715438
Available: New
Karen
tragically died from a major fall from the top of the cheerleading pyramid. Even
more tragically, she has discovered that she is a genetic zombie and now has to
live out the rest of her days slurping down animal brains and fearing maggot
infestations. She's even transferred to DEAD high, where supposedly she'll learn
how to cope with her new, long-lasting, but secret, un-life.
But high school, even undead high school, is cruel, and to make bad things worse, a full day into Karen's new life a body of a student is found with her brain harvested by an unknown bad guy that just happens to be lurking around the school. Now perky, driven Karen is taking it upon herself to ferret out the killer before something really, really bad happens.
My So-Called Death weaves back and forth over the line between strong characterization and too much. As amusing as Karen's ultramodern and perky inner monologue is, it, and the lack of strong characters outside of the lead, her best friend, and her boyfriend, is bound to annoy some readers who never saw the spirit behind similar tales, like the movies Clueless and Legally Blonde. It's a perky-fun-gruesome mystery, horror-lite in terms of gore, violence and general darkness. But it's not without creepy, and almost-serious scenes, sort of like the dread one would feel at seeing a bedazzled pirate flag on an approaching ship.
As for its value to collections, there's definitely an audience for Jay's kind of
creepy-gross-not-quite-dark
humor. At the very least, adults could enjoy it for all the in-jokes about
iconic 80s and 90s culture.
Contains: fried brain
bites and giant maggots
Review by Michele Lee
Zombie
Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
Penguin Group, 2009
ISBN: 9780142412565
Available: New
Mia gets good grades and has an obsession with “Buffy”. Popular kids rarely notice her, so when Rob, the most popular boy in school, asks her out, and then invites her to the prom, she can’t believe it. But Samantha, the popular girl in class, is trying to steal Rob away – and it looks like it is working. Dejected, Mia and her hypochondriac best friend Candice go to visit a creepy old lady who sells herbs and spells to buy a love spell. Mia completes the “love spell” and believes it’s working, but then suddenly everyone is being nice to her, and giving her snacks… and for some reason they all think she smells like roasted chicken. The quiet new boy, Chase, lets Mia know that the spell she cast wasn’t actually a love spell – it is actually slowly turning the whole school into zombies. Mia, Chase, and Candice get to work trying to save their school from a zombie infestation just a week before Prom!
Written for the 12 and up age group, this book is sweet, funny and quite charming. Themes of friendship and childhood relationships run through the book. (Example: just because a guy is popular doesn’t make him the right guy for you.) This book is geared toward girls and plays heavily on the scattered, over-dramatic mindset of high school girls. There is a romantic thread in the book, though it’s by no means in the forefront of the story.
Contains: people with the intention of eating Mia, a kiss, and some name calling of the catty high school girl type.
Review by KDP
The Forest of Hands
and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Delacourt, 2009
ISBN: 9780385736817
Available: New
In Carrie Ryan's
debut novel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Mary is a teenaged girl who
lives in a small village surrounded by a metal fence, all that stands between
her village and "the forest of hands and teeth," Mary's name for the seemingly
infinite flood of undead which besiege the fences day and night.
The undead are not the only source of anxiety for Mary. She is of an age where she must either marry or join the Sisterhood, the religious order which controls every facet of the villagers's lives. Mary chafes at the restrictions placed upon her by the traditions of the village and the dictates of the Sisterhood. She dreams of the ocean, a place which her mother has told her about, but which many believe to be nothing more than a fairy tale.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a
highly imaginative take on the zombie story and well worth reading. It is an
outstanding example of how a classic monster story can be reimagined as a
complex and original novel. Carrie Ryan's crisp, clear prose has created a
tense, action-packed novel which is difficult to put down. The book is listed as
being for ages fourteen and up and would make an excellent addition to any
library collection for teen readers. Highly recommended.
This review originally appeared in a more extensive form on the Green Man Review
Web site.
Review by Kestrell Rath
Generation
Dead: Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters
Hyperion Books, 2009
ISBN:9781423109235
Available: Pre-order (May release)
Kiss of Life picks up where Generation Dead left off. Phoebe Kendall is dealing with the aftermath of the events that caused the death of her best friend Adam, who died protecting her from Pete, a deranged jock upset about Phoebe’s relationship with living-impaired Tommy Williams. Adam has now returned as a zombie, and although he is not yet fully functional, Phoebe has realized she has romantic feelings towards Adam. This creates an awkward love triangle between Phoebe, Adam, and Tommy. In the meantime an anti-zombie group co-opts Pete into joining them and making trouble for the zombie population. Kiss of Life is a continuation of the strong storytelling from Generation Dead. Unlike the first book, though, Kiss of Life moves beyond Phoebe’s experiences to include the impact of the living-impaired and their enemies on a larger scale, throughout the United States. While Phoebe is still the main character, Waters starts to flesh out the other characters, devoting more time to them in this book. As with any sequel, readers will want to know if Kiss of Life is a stand-alone book, or if it’s necessary to read Generation Dead first. In this case, enough of the story is built upon Generation Dead that you really need to read it first. It is likely that we can expect another book as well, as the ending includes enough unknowns to keep fans of the series waiting for the next installment. Highly recommended.
You are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
Razorbill, 2009
ISBN: 9781595142252
Available: New
Megan Berry wants a date to Homecoming and a place on the pom squad, but just as everything seems to be coming together, missing memories return and she discovers that she is a Settler. Her job is to help zombies, who rise from the dead to deal with unfinished business, to finally rest in peace. It’s not enough that she’s being followed by the needy undead, though. Someone is using black magic to send bloodthirsty RC’s, or reanimated corpses, after her. Megan has a lot on her plate as she searches for the person behind the RCs, plans for her pom squad tryouts, and works out her feelings for Ethan, another Settler who also happens to be a hot guy. The premise of You are So Undead to Me requires considerable suspension of disbelief. According to the story, Settlers are a secret group, but it’s a challenge to believe that zombies are crawling out of their graves trudging around town in search of a Settler, with nobody the wiser. Still, in spite of this, and although the plot doesn’t make much sense, You are So Undead to Me is a nice mix of romance, mystery, and breathless action that will keep teen girls turning the pages. Readers advisory note: Readers who like this book may also like Zombie Queen of Newbury High or Generation Dead, but are likely to prefer paranormal romance to more hard-edged zombie fiction. Recommended for general YA fiction collections in public libraries and for middle and high school media centers.
Contains: violence, black magic, kissing.
Feiwel and Friends, 2008
ISBN 9780312372989
Available: New
When Hannah and her father move into the town of Maplecrest, Hannah finds herself into the familiar role of the “new girl”. Hannah notices that the popular group in her new school are a set of blonde, blue eyed cheerleaders. Lukas, a school misfit, warns Hannah that the cheerleaders are dangerous creatures that hold sway over the entire town. When Hannah is invited to join the cheerleading squad she jumps at the chance to enjoy the benefits of popularity, including the hunky boy friend. What lies underneath the surface, though, isn’t pretty, and once Hannah’s “in,” she may not have an out. Zombie Blondes is an effective little tale of terror that taps into the anxieties that go along with wanting to fit in successfully in high school. It should be noted that Zombie Blondes is much more of a horror tale than many of the other young adult “horror” books. Zombie Blonds is recommended for public and school libraries.
Contains: Violence, a little blood letting
Generation
Dead by Daniel Waters
Hyperion, 2008
ISBN: 143210921X
Available: New
Something is causing teenagers to return from the dead as zombies, or “living impaired.” Unlike traditional zombies, though, Daniel Waters’ “living impaired” creations are simply teens reanimated with varying levels of functionality and ability to communicate. The “living impaired” are not accepted by society at large. They have few rights and can even be killed without penalty. Against this backdrop, we are introduced to Phoebe and Adam, next door neighbors with very different backgrounds- Adam is a star football player and Phoebe is a goth girl. Phoebe develops an interest in a “living impaired” student, Tommy Williams. When Tommy joins the high school football team, he and his friends become targets of a group of football players called the “Pain Crew.” Adam must choose his loyalties and decide how far he will go for friendship.
The characters in Generation Dead are beautifully layered. Although it seems at first like Waters is depending on common stereotypes, as the book continues, the characters’ surfaces are peeled away, revealing much more complex personalities and motivations than a reader would initially expect. The plot is gripping and moves at a good pace. Readers will want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next, and the ending is extraordinarily powerful. Waters leaves enough plot threads dangling to easily write a sequel, but this book clearly stands alone. Daniel Waters has written an incredibly strong first book. He enters new territory by writing zombie fiction for young adults, but his work transcends categorization. Generation Dead will appeal to a wide audience of both horror readers and general readers in young adult fiction, and has strong enough writing that adult readers will want to pick it up as well.
It is still early in the year but Generation Dead is compelling and innovative enough that it has already earned itself a spot on our top picks for young adult horror fiction for 2008. Highly recommended for both public and school libraries.
Contains: violence, minor gore.