Ship Breaker

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010

336 pages

approximate age level: 12+

National Book Award finalist

Printz Award Winner, 2011

There are a lot of things that Nailer doesn't know: how old he is, if he's going to get enough to eat, when he's going to lose his job, if his father is going to drink and hit him again when Nailer finally makes it home to his shanty house after another grueling day. Nailer's just a normal kid but was unlucky enough to be born in a slum on the Gulf Coast in the not too distant future, so instead of going to school or doing chores, he struggles to survive as a member of a light crew, a group of kids like him that work long hours disassembling old, rusty oil takers and taking what valuable parts are left, like copper wiring. It's a rough life -- Nailer barely gets paid and will soon be forced out of his job, and left with virtually no other work options, when he grows too big to crawl through the tiny ship ducts. His only hope is for a Lucky Strike, or a windfall so good it will lift him out of his miserable life forever. Then one day he miraculously finds a giant Lucky Strike -- a wrecked clipper ship off the coast that's full of valuable treasure. But there is one problem -- the owner of the ship, a young girl, is trapped on board but still alive. She promises Nailer riches beyond anything he has ever imagined if he will only help her. But is she lying? Nailer must decide if simply a life worth living is worth killing for or if this mysterious girl really can take him farther than he has dared to dream.

Ship Breaker is a novel that undulates, mirroring the ocean, an important and ubiquitous part of the setting. Parts are full of action and and move as quickly as a hurricane, then things slow down and Bacigalupi focuses on the characters who are revealed to us one layer at a time until the climax, which is as much about a finale to the drama as a revelation of what intentions and desires many characters have been harboring inside themselves. Nailer is a plucky protagonist with shades of Oliver Twist whom the reader can't help but root for despite seemingly enormous odds. A collection of other characters, such as Nailer's friend Pima, her mother Sadna, and even, eventually, the mysterious girl from the clipper, are multifaceted, surviving by their own unique moral compasses that are neither commendable or detestable, but understandable given their lives and circumstances. The dystopian setting is described in a detailed and believable manner and is a persuasive enough future to be rather unsettling. Even with its dark moments, such as more than a few violent and unnatural deaths, Ship Breaker is an enjoyable adventure that will leave readers satisfied and hopeful. Though Ship Breaker is Bacigalupi's only YA novel, readers may also enjoy his first work, The Windup Girl.

Read-alike suggestions:

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
published by Henry Holt and Co., 2010
352 pages
approximate age range: 13+
Morris Award Finalist

Samhain Corvus LeCroix, Sam for short, is having a hard time getting his life together since he dropped out of college and took a job in a fast food joint called Plumpy's. He's barely making ends meet and has no personal life to speak of, but at least he's got the company of his friends Ramon, Brooke, and Kevin to help him get through his cringe-worthy shifts. Then, Sam's boring world changes in a flash when a terrifying man, Douglas Montgomery, comes into the restaurant and instantly recognizes something important about Sam he never even knew about himself -- that, like Douglas, Sam's a necromancer and, with the right training, he can talk to, and even raise, the dead. From there, Sam's life only gets creepier. To send Sam a message that he's in charge and doesn't like competition, Douglas has a werewolf beat Sam to a pulp and then cuts off Brooke's head and has it delivered to Sam in a box -- still talking. Now with Ramon, Kevin, and Brooke, who may only be a head, but is still her smart and sassy self, Sam has one week to discover what he can about the powers he never knew he had and face Douglas or lose everyone he loves, as well as his life.

Sherman Alexie sums up Hold Me Closer, Necromancer best with his quote from the cover: "This is a SCARY funny book OR a FUNNY scary book. In any case, it is a GREAT book. I LOVE IT." While it might seem hard for one book to straddle the line between laugh-out-loud funny and chills-up-your-spine-scary, Necromancer does so with ease and neither the funny nor scary moments seemed forced or out of place. The urban fantasy world McBride creates is creative and unique, and as readers slowly discover its secrets with Sam, we become more and more intrigued. Sam himself is a likeable, well-rounded character, as are his friends, though McBride also skillfully shifts the perspective throughout the novel, at times telling the story from a handful of different characters, such as Brid, a shapeshifter girl and fellow victim of Douglas, Sam's mom Tia, and even evil Douglas himself. Each character's voice is distinct and easily recognizable, and these different view points flesh out the story and show past events and current motivations in a way that wouldn't be possible with a single perspective. In addition, there's plenty of action -- some comedic, some creepy -- to keep even the most reluctant reader entertained. However, Necromancer does contain some violence and brief sexuality, so cautiously recommend to younger readers. Though the book winds up in a way that's satisfying, McBride leaves plenty of room for a sequel, which most enamored readers will feel can't come quickly enough.

There are two official book trailers:






Read-alike suggestions:

Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

The Gates by John Connolly

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Lockdown

Lockdown: Escape from Furnace, book 1 by Alexander Gordon Smith

published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2009

288 pages

approximate age level: 13+

14 year old Alex knows that his life of petty theft and home invasions isn't going to end well, but it's hard to give up when his family is poor and his best friend keeps inviting him on new jobs. Finally, Alex promises himself he'll quit -- right after he helps Toby hit one more house. It should be easy since the owners aren't even home, but things go terribly wrong when horrifying men come out of nowhere, kill Toby, and frame Alex for his murder. Unfortunately for Alex, because of a bloody crime spree a few years ago, all juveniles convicted of murder are sent immediately to Furnace, a privately owned prison built underground where kids and teens will spend the rest of their lives without visitors, sunlight, or any hope of parole. And that's not even the worst part -- not many teens in Furnace survive long since if the other inmates, the guards, or the vicious dogs don't get them, the strange men wearing gas masks that come in the middle of the night will. As soon as he arrives, Alex finds out that Furnace really is a hell on earth and he has only one hope of survival -- escape.

Lockdown is part mystery and part thriller, with some very creepy, supernatural elements thrown in for good measure. Alex is a likable narrator, and readers will be rooting for him as he tries to uncover the mysteries of Furnace and plot his escape. Boys will love the all-guys prison atmosphere, compete with inmate fights, skinless, man-eating dogs, mutated guards, and even, perhaps, the devil himself playing warden. The descriptions of the prison are detailed enough to set a dark tone and put reader nerves on edge, and the action is continuous from first page to last. However, action is not the only compelling element, as the relationships between the boys are very believable and the main characters well-rounded and sympathetic. Because it's the first in a series, Lockdown doesn't answer all the questions it poses and ends on a dramatic cliffhanger that guarantees readers will be looking for the next book (luckily, Solitary has already been published).

Book trailer:

Bonus video of author Alexander Gordon Smith introducing his Furnace series:

Read-alike suggestions:

Solitary: Escape from Furnace, book 2 by Alexander Gordon Smith

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Gentlemen by Michael Northrop

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Rot and Ruin

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
published by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, 2010
464 pages
approximate age level: 12+

15 year old Benny Imura really, really needs a job. But he doesn't just want some extra pocket change, he wants to have enough food to eat. In Benny's world, zombies have taken over and his entire universe is one small town surrounded by tall fences that keep the undead at bay. Since there isn't a lot of anything, Benny's got to do something if he wants to keep his rations coming. After failing at a string of jobs like locksmith, fence tester, carpet coat salesman, and erosion artist, to name a few, Benny is forced to take the one job he swore to himself he'd never take -- apprentice to his older half-brother, and town hero, Tom, who kills zombies out in the wild and dangerous lands beyond the gates, called the Rot and Ruin. True, being a zombie bounty hunter, or, as Tom refers to himself -- a closer specialist -- sounds cool, but Benny can't stomach following in Tom's footsteps after what he did years ago -- abandoning Benny's mother to die by zombie attack while he fled like a coward. Yet, out in the wilderness with Tom, Benny discovers things that change what he was sure he knew -- about his town, about the zombies, and even about who the real enemies are. For Benny, in the untamed and unpoliced Rot and Ruin, zombies aren't even the most dangerous threat.

Though the first few pages of Rot and Ruin are similar to a few other YA zombie novels, Maberry doesn't fall into a stereotypical rut and soon takes things for a turn few readers will expect. While there is plenty of action and lots of zombies lurching about, Rot and Ruin's central focus is on relationships and society, particularly how people behave in a world where normal society has completely broken down and there are no longer any rules. Maberry's characters develop naturally throughout the novel, and even secondary characters are well-formed enough to draw and maintain reader interest. Moreover, a running discussion of how zombies are perceived by the living -- not just as mindless killers, but as the remains of loved ones -- is an important addition lacking in most other zombie books. The questions this story raises for readers would make it a good choice for a book discussion, especially a Guys Read program. It’s also nice to see a non-white protagonist in a popular YA novel (Benny is half Japanese). The ending wraps things up nicely, but leaves room for a hinted-at sequel.

There's no book trailer, but here is an interesting video of author Jonathan Maberry talking about Rot and Ruin:

Read-alike suggestions:

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

World War Z by Max Brooks

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

The Zombie Chasers

The Zombie Chasers by John Kloepfer, illustrated by Steve Wolfhard
published by HarperCollins, 2010
224 pages
approximate age level: 9-12

On the way home one Friday Zack Clarke is a bit puzzled that his neighborhood seems dead quiet, but he has more important things to worry about – like his older sister Zoe and her awful friend Madison forcing him into a “makeover” and plastering his lipsticked shame all over the internet. Then Madison eats the last slice of his super delicious birthday cake that he had been craving all day and Zack thinks his day can't possibly get any worse. But it does -- Zack soon finds out that everyone in his neighborhood has become a brain-eating zombie when they descend upon his house and turn his sister into the walking dead. Now, on the run for his life with snotty Madison and his dorky friend Rice, Zack must evade the zombies, make it to a safe zone, and possibly un-zombify Zoe, preferably before his parents find out.

The Zombie Chasers is a silly romp with slap stick action, snappy dialogue, and cartoon illustrations of scenes from the story cropping up every couple of pages. Boys will love all the zombie vs. kids confrontations, especially the multiple gross-out scenes, and the illustrations will appeal to reluctant readers. It's not going to win any awards for exemplary literature, but The Zombie Chasers is a lot of fun and a quick and easy read that kids will find appealing enough to pick up – and finish. Try to stay alive for the sequel Undead Ahead coming out March 29, 2011.

The Zombie Chasers also has a nifty official website with games and a zombie survival guide.

Read-alike suggestions:

Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot series by Dav Pilkey

My Weird School Daze series by Dan Gutman

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney

The Curse of the Wendigo

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey
published by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, 2010
448 pages
approximate age level: 12+

Will Henry and Dr. Percival Warthrop are back again with another bone-chilling mystery. Although he studies extraordinary creatures that most would consider to be monsters, Dr. Warthrop considers these monsters to be no more than interesting animals and his research to be very respectable. So, when he finds out that his colleague and former teacher Dr. Von Helrung is about to publish a paper that claims a mythical, magical beast, the Wendigo, is real, Warthrop takes it upon himself to disprove Von Helrung's claims, afraid that they will discredit Monstrumology. But, disproving the Wendigo may be harder than Warthrop first thinks when a fellow monstrumologist and his one-time best friend, John Chandler, goes missing in the Canadian wilderness while hunting the beast. Suddenly finding himself on a grueling chase with his master through the untamed woods in search of Chandler, or what's left of him, twelve year old Will Henry starts to see things that Warthrop can't – strange, unexplainable things that point to one conclusion – the Wendigo is very real, and very, very hungry.

Fans of The Monstrumologist are in for a real treat with The Curse of the Wendigo as the sequel lives up to the expectations of the first novel, and even exceeds them. Wendigo is a taunt thrill ride that's full of the nightmarish situations, scary monsters, and unbridled gore that readers have come to know and love. Yet, Wendigo also greatly expands on Warthrop's character, showing readers there is much more than meets the eye to this seemingly one-dimensional scientist. In fact, the nuanced and subtle way Warthop's character is expanded is so well done, it would not be out of place in a literary adult novel. Some strong ladies also make their debut and hold their own against Will and Warthrop, proving monstrumology isn't just for men. The constant changes in location, thrilling chases, dark mystery, and a new, even more gruesome monster, make The Curse of the Wendigo a hard book to put down, and perfect for teen readers with short attention spans. Hopefully Yancey will soon add a third volume of Will Henry's adventures for us to enjoy.

Read-alike suggestions:

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

American Gods

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
published by William Morrow, 2001
480 pages
approximate age level: 16+
Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker award winner

Shadow is a guy down-on-his luck, but as he nears the end of his 3 year prison sentence, he is hoping things will turn around. He's got a job lined up, a beautiful wife to go back to, and a best friend who's throwing him a party. Yet, before he's even out of the big house, Shadow learns his wife's dead, she was having an affair with his friend who was going to hire him, and he's dead too. Then, on a plane caught in a sudden violent storm tearing across the United States, Shadow meets Mr. Wednesday, a mysterious gentleman who has one eye, knows more about Shadow than a stranger possibly could, and wants him to be his bodyguard. When Shadow eventually accepts, one unplanned rental-car road trip later, he learns that Mr. Wednesday is a neglected god, fading from the consciousness of modern America – but not quietly. Mr. Wednesday is preparing for a great battle between the old gods and new ones, those born of humanity's love of technology -- a showdown that will probably result in complete annihilation of both. A storm is definitely brewing, and Shadow is standing right in its path.

American Gods, companion novel to Anansi Boys (Mr. Nancy being the connecting character), is a fantastical road trip and compelling mystery. Sure to appeal to older teenagers, especially boys, American Gods is a darker and more mature read than Anansi Boys and, unlike the latter, does include some rather explicit sex scenes and violence, so recommend to younger readers or groups with caution. Despite the many mythological and folklore aspects, readers don't need to know all the references to enjoy the book (for those that are curious, the American Gods Wikipedia page helps make many of the connections between characters and myths). While enjoyable overall, some readers may feel that sometimes that the plot gets a little dull as it meanders through all the road trip stops when the main mystery is sidelined since Shadow's character isn't nuanced enough to maintain reader interest alone. However, Gaiman's use of real-life attractions to play host to marvelous events is pretty neat and sure to make you want to take a road trip of your own. Shadow reappears in Gaiman's short story "The Monarch of the Glen," found in his collection Fragile Things.

Read-alike suggestions:

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman

Sandman graphic novel series by Neil Gaiman

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me edited by Kate Bernheimer

Leviathan

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
published by Simon Pulse, 2009
448 pages
approximate age level: 12+

Alek is an orphaned prince who is on the run and hiding from powers that want him dead. Deryn is also hiding, pretending to be a boy in order to fulfill her dream of joining the Royal Air Navy. In any other time, Alek's and Deryn's paths would never cross, but something terrible is happening in Europe that will change everyone's lives - World War I has just begun. Yet, this isn't the same war you've read about in the history books, as it's not only a war between countries, but one between different branches of science – fabricated beasts vs. steam-powered machines, Darwinists vs. Clankers. When thrown together under dire circumstances, natural enemies Deryn, a Darwinist, and Alek, a Clanker, must put aside their differences and work together, or risk losing everything.

Leviathan is an alternate-history steampunk adventure that pits fantastical, genetically created, living beast-machines against technologically advanced, steam-powered metal mechanisms. While some of these creations may be hard for readers to imagine, plenty of detailed illustrations pepper the story, helping to both explicate scenes and add some visual interest. Deryn and Alek are strong, well-rounded characters who grow and change throughout the book and their dual narratives provide a draw for both male and female readers. An interesting afterward by the author connects Leviathan to the real life events during WWI. Westerfeld spins a riveting, action-filled tale, but the rather abrupt ending may leave readers unsatisfied and anxious to continue the story. Luckily, sequel Behemoth is already available.

Read-alike suggestions:

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (Printz Award winner)

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

Anansi Boys

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
published by HarperTouch, 2005
416 pages
approximate age level: 14+
Alex Award recipient

Charlie Nancy is a rather banal young man. He has a mundane job, a passionless relationship with his fiance, and has no desire or ambition to improve his circumstances. Then his crazy, flamboyant father suddenly dies, with his hands on a buxom blonde while singing karaoke, and Charlie discovers his life isn't quite what he thought. First, his father was not just a strange eccentric, but was Anansi, the African trickster god. Second, he has a brother, Spider, who is everything Charlie is not – outgoing, lucky, charismatic, and in possession of god-like powers. When Spider decides to meet Charlie, and, unasked, takes over the spare room in his apartment, as well as a few other things, Charlie finds that his uninteresting life is over and he must come to terms with everything wild and mysterious he has been trying so hard to avoid, or face devastating consequences.

Companion novel to American Gods, Anansi Boys is a fun and original adventure that never takes itself too seriously. In this tall tale that expertly weaves African folklore into a modern plot, Gaiman is at the top of his game creating likeable, well-rounded characters, crazy scenes, and propelling the story forward with a fast moving, page-turning plot. This is an adult novel, but doesn't contain any content that should dissuade you from recommending it to teens. Gaiman is a big name in both adult and YA/children's lit (known by many as the "rockstar writer") and I think it would be easy to get teens interested in his works if they aren't already. Anansi Boys is also a recipient of the 2006 Alex Award.

Read-alike suggestions:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (Alex Award recipient)

Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman

Sandman graphic novel series by Neil Gaiman

The Gates by John Connelly

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Going Bovine by Libba Bray (Printz Award winner)

Dust City

Dust City by Robert Paul Weston
published by Razorbill, 2010
304 pages
approximate age level: 12+

Henry Welp has had a tough life. His mom is dead, his dad is in jail, and he's locked away in a reform school outside of town. Oh, and one more thing - he's the son of The Big Bad Wolf – yes that wolf, cold-blooded killer of Little Red Riding Hood and her Granny. When Henry's therapist dies under mysterious circumstances and his best friend Jack hightails it out of school with the help of some magic beans, Henry decides he, too, needs to escape to nearby Dust City, a gritty metropolis that's not so magical ever since the fairies vanished years ago. But when Henry discovers that his dad may have been framed by crime bosses who monopolize a black market of extra-potent fairy dust, Henry's life becomes a lot more dangerous.

Dust City is both a fractured fairytale and a dark romp through a seedy urban underbelly. While populated with a fantastic cast of characters, including ravens, wolves, nixies, and elves, the story touches on topics that are relatable to teens such as racism and drug use. Though at times the plot seems hurried and some situations feel more like ways to advance the story rather than believable events, even within the make believe world Weston has created, Dust City is still an enjoyable and quick read. Narrator Henry is very likeable and all the action and plot twists make it a hard book to put down. Teens will also like seeing their favorite fairy tale characters reborn into such a serious, mature setting. While rather mild in terms of content compared to other YA lit, there is some violence, including a torture scene, and the fairy dust use is equatable to drug use, though it is not promoted by either Henry or the plot.

Read-alike suggestions:

Gentlemen by Michael Northrop

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Fables graphic novels series by Bill Willingham

The Monstrumologist

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
published by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, 2010
464 pages
approximate age level: 12+
Printz Honor Book

12 year old orphan Will Henry is the assistant to Doctor Warthrope, a scientist in a small New England town in the late 1800s. But Will isn't learning about physics or chemistry as his master is a monstrumologist – a studier of monsters. When one night a grave robber stumbles upon the corpse of a hideous beast and brings it to Warthrope, Will finds himself suddenly preparing for a battle that pits the Doctor against a group of Anthropophangi, headless monsters with stomachs full of thousands of razor sharp teeth and a taste for human flesh. But the Anthropophangi have never before been seen in North America, so how have they appeared in the Doctor's town – and why?

The Monstrumologist is a beautifully written horror and mystery that teems with tension and abounds in creepiness. There is enough action to keep those with short attention spans entertained, but Yancey pays plenty of attention to characterization, setting, and language, making this a pleasing read for more discerning readers. Will is a great narrator, and by seeing the events through his eyes we are not only drawn into the story through our attachment to him as a character, but we also share his emotions and reactions – confusion, fear, surprise, terror – making for quite an intense and riveting reading experience. Don't be surprised if the hair stands up on the back of your neck and you find yourself looking over your shoulder more than once while reading. Boys will love the gross-out gory scenes (of which there are plenty), but the eerie mystery is also a big draw that will keep teens turning the pages. Fans will want to follow up with the sequel, The Curse of the Wendigo.

Read-alike suggestions:

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

The Gates

The Gates by John Connolly
published by Washington Square Press, 2009
304 pages
approximate age level: 12+

Three days before Halloween, 11 year old Samuel Johnson and his faithful sidekick, a dachshund named Boswell, decide to show some initiative and start trick-or-treating early. However, instead of ending up with a bag full of sweets, Samuel instead witnesses his neighbors, the Abernathys, performing a strange ritual that opens a portal to hell and releases a group of demons with one goal – to bring the ultimate evil, The Great Malevolence, onto earth. Helped by a rag-tag team including his two best friends, a confused CERN scientist, and a surprisingly sweet, but incompetent, demon named Nurd, Samuel must, against all odds, save the world.

The Gates is full of quirky characters, hilarious asides, and a bunch of fast-paced, slapstick action that makes for an amusing and engaging read. Though this book is cataloged as Adult Fiction in my library, neither the content nor the language make it inappropriate for recommending to teens and it would be great for booktalking to school classes and reluctant readers as it's a fun roller coaster ride that's easy to sell. John Connolly is also the author of The Book of Lost Things, recipient of the 2007 Alex Award.

Read-alike suggestions:

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (Alex Award recipient)

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (Alex Award recipient)

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (Alex Award recipient)

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Newbery Award winner)

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Going Bovine by Libba Bray (Printz Award winner)

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The Enemy

The Enemy by Charlie Higson
published by Hyperion Book, 2010
448 pages
approximate age level: 14+

In a dystopian world where everyone over sixteen has contracted a disease that has turned them into mindless zombie-like creatures, a group of surviving kids and teens try to traverse the dangerous streets of London to get from the grocery store in which they have been living to a promised refuge in Buckingham Palace.

The Enemy is a fast-paced horror/thriller packed with action from page one. Yet, though the story is plot driven, a handful of characters are well-rounded and surprisingly relatable despite their circumstances. Told from constantly shifting viewpoints, we follow the events from the eyes of both boy and girl narrators, making the story appealing to readers of both genders. The action between teens and zombies does get pretty gory and violent and teens are killed - and eaten - so this book isn't for everyone, but it is an engaging, quick read and would be a great choice to booktalk to reluctant readers, especially boys. With the recent resurgence of zombie popularity seen in the success of shows like The Walking Dead, and the cinematic way The Enemy is told, I doubt it'll be hard to get an audience of teens interested. Though ending with a satisfying conclusion, not all loose threads are tied up as this title is also the first in a series. I'm anxious to see where Higson takes the story in his sequel, The Dead, which is set to be released in June, 2011.

The official website for the book offers a creepy book trailer, excerpts, author information, and even a zombie gallery.



Read-alike suggestions:

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Walking Dead comics by Robert Kirkman

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey