Monday Mention: Zomboy

Zomboy

by Richard Scrimger

Bob and Evil-O have been friends forever and puberty is not the only thing making their friendship questionable. Imre, a new boy in school, catches the eye of Evil-O. Bob finds Imre weird, gross, cold, and just odd. Well he has a good reason to. After a piano falls on Imre and not a scratch is left on him, the school soon finds out Imre is a survivor from some nuclear something or other and now he is a zombie....or rather zomboy. The school becomes a battle ground for protesters to support Imre or get the undead kid out of there and Imre even runs for class president. But something else is going on that Bob is noticing. Imre is keeping a secret. A secret that could wreck the town if it ever got out.

First off Bob is hilarious. He is kind of a coward, accident prone, and pretty honest as well. Bob as the narrator is what makes the novel. Imre is a little strange beside being a zombie boy and Evil-O is just a chillaxin' girl that believes in everyone. She also has an arch nemesis Susan. Their banter is hilarious! The story is intriguing but I was getting skeptical as to where it was all going and then finally in those last chapters you find out Imre's secret and all the testing and the doctors that Imre has been dealing with. Makes a really exciting ending that I actually didn't see coming. By no means did this book feel really childish like some other junior or elementary books. I kept forgetting these characters weren't in high school.

4 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Zombie Elementary: The Real Story

Zombie Elementary: The Real Story
by Howard Whitehouse

Larry Mullet is your typical fourth grader. He's not the biggest kid or the smartest kid or the best looking kid. He rides his bike, plays baseball, takes the school bus, avoids cafeteria food, and--oh yeah, he's a zombie hunting expert. Larry was just doing his usual thing when Alex Bates from Ms Hoag's class tried to eat him. Sadly, that was only the beginning. - Goodreads

While being cute and easy to read for most kids, this story could have used a bit more zombie dialogue than the redundancy of "BRAAAAIIINS" and "AAAAAARGNNNNNN". I did enjoy how the story was set up. Larry is doing a Tell All file to a buddy named Kyle about zombies coming to school, how they got rid of them, and how no adults really seemed to take notice. I enjoyed a character called Chucky and his Grandma since they were kooky and all hillbilly. There was just enough gore like heads being hit off bodies and missing legs but no blood or guts type of gore. It was good for what type of audience this is intended for. I just had such struggles with that redundant zombie noise and how Larry kept trying to explain metaphors or ask if something was a word. It was like the author was trying too hard. 

The research, aka movie watching, Larry was doing seemed like content beyond his age and too mature to watch alone. As much as I love zombie flicks, kids should not watch 28 Days Later or WWZ, Resident Evil or Shaun of the Dead.
I thought the layout of the book worked great with a back and forth narrating to a script like dialogue by Larry and the interviewer. Also "Zombie Tips" are thrown through out the book which are both zany and helpful.

2 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Afterlife With Archie #8: A Ghost Story

Afterlife With Archie #8: A Ghost Story (Afterlife With Archie #8) 
by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Writer), Francesco Francavilla (Artist)

The spirit of Xmas can't be ruined with zombies! Spirits of the dead have come to say hello as the gang takes refuge in an abandoned hotel. Archie rehashes his journey so far with his old pal Jughead, who we  are sad we didn't get to know much about before his fatal run in with a dog ironically named after a food Jughead loves to eat. 

Just one night of "magic" lets this gang see their loved ones again. But with this loving time we learn evil is still roaming and has been for many years in Riverdale. Years ago a deal with witches was struck, sacrifices were to be made. Could this be why zombies have emerged? People should know magic always comes with a price. DUH!

I thought a great background story worked well in letting us tie in Sabrina and Archie and getting to know zombies aren't something new. It did seem kind of random for zombies to start happening so this Archie explains that. I kind of had a GASP moment too. It all makes sense now. I really enjoyed seeing some Jughead. We didn't get to know his character pre-zombie apocalypse. 

3 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Good Night, Zombie (Scary Tales #3)

Good Night, Zombie (Scary Tales #3)

by James Preller, Iacopo Bruno (Illustrations)

Welcome. Have a seat. Ignore the shambling undead outside. Let us tell you a story. But be warned. Good Night, Zombie isn’t just any tale. This is a Scary Tale. - Goodreads

For young children this tale has such a spooky feel to it. Any school after hours always feels strange and scary with the dark, quiet halls. Now throw in an old man spouting tales about curses and phrasing like "They are coming" and no one will feel comfortable. These three unknown children end up creating a bond as they go through an evening of black crows and zombies surrounding the school, a creepy old janitor they have never seen before, and a having their memory wiped of it. With little character build but a fast moving plot, this little tale would have been great until the very end where it got cheesy and the author reiterated the experience in a closing paragraph. Besides that it was still a great read for young kids looking to be scared shitless. 

3 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide

Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide
by Heather Dakota, Ali Castro (Illustrator)


The coiled bound book is designated into 3 parts: one explaining the zombie virus; second, how to properly identify zombies, and a third on some skills to use in the zombie apocalypse. 

Visually intriguing with chicken scratched writing, blood spatter, pictures looking like they are taped in, this book has such an awesome appeal to it which is why I wanted to read it. Even the cool illustrations, minus the weirdly photoshopped zombies, are something to bring life to this book. It is great to see a book about something almost fictional supported by epidemic and pandemic information, actual ways to survive in the wilderness with skills such as purifying water, how to build a proper fire, edible insects and plants, even a cloud pattern guide so you know what kind of weather to watch out for on top of the walking dead. 

These are the kind of zombie books I don't mind really showing people who aren't zombie fans since it talks about survival and just common safety measures.

The cover was in one of those holographic morphing changing images that goes from this young man to the scary zombie you see at the top.

some of the art

3 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Zombies vs. Mummies: Clash of the Living Dead

Zombies vs. Mummies: Clash of the Living Dead
by Michael O'Hearn, Michael Delahoyde (Consultant)

In a battle of the undead who will prevail? The cursed wrapped mummy or the virus stricken zombie? Both doomed to attack the living, each with a strengths and weaknesses, these creatures will put up their rotten dukes and declare a winner in this book. 

Obviously really short with its 32 pages and while it has some great highlights and makes a great argument that mummies are the tougher, smarter of the undead, this book seems unbelievable since zombies would not attack something dead with no brains. Duh! Zombie logic. Enough said. 

2 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead

WARNING! GROSS IMAGE BELOW

Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead
by Rebecca L. Johnson

What's scarier than movie zombies? Knowing they actually exist!!!
Okay. Not like the human kind, but there are many creatures in nature that become mindless, crazed zombies all because of some minuscule parasite. 
Read about it all in Zombie Makers. 
The one parasite that creeped me out the most was the Guinea Worm that actually crawls in humans in Africa after being consumed in contaminated water. These worms can grow up to 3 feet long, looking like spaghetti crawling around inside of you.

They crawl to the leg of the host and lay their eggs there causing a painfully sore blister. Often heading to water to calm the pain (the obey command zombie trait), the worm them crawls out causing the gross cycle all over again. Blech! People actually would get this slowly pulled out over the course of days or even weeks. Breaking the worm could leave you crippled, infection and even death. Sounds like a great time! 
So if you want to be grossed out by bugs that turn other creatures into weird zombies then go on and read Zombie Makers. 

4 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish (My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish #1)

My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish (My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish #1)
by Mo O'Hara

When Tom’s big brother decides to become an Evil Scientist, his first experiment involves dunking Frankie the goldfish into toxic green gunk. Tom knows that there is only one thing to do: Zap the fish with a battery and bring him back to life! But there’s something weird about the new Frankie. He’s now a BIG FAT ZOMBIE GOLDFISH with hypnotic powers . . . and he’s out for revenge! - Goodreads

Really this is a juvenile book and it can be read in a day. And if you like reading about fish to your kids or students...well think again.

SO won't be reading the rest of the series. I understand the novel is for elementary kids (I work in a library), and I have no problems checking out what kids are reading, but I really won't be recommending this to anyone. I found too many things that irked me and normally I can move past those and still see a cute read, but not in this one. 
First this book is really like 2 small books into one. That threw me off but I did enjoy the second part better....If I had to choose. 

Second, the word "moron" was overly used which made me feel like I was being verbally abused and that is basically what the older brother(s) were doing to the main character and his friend on top of being dickhole older siblings. Plus be creative with your wording. Repetition makes for a really dull read, even if it is a kids' book.

Third, this "zombie" might be one of the worst zombie concepts I have come across and I have read a lot of smack out there. The zombie goldfish was atleast dead at one point and like Frankensteined back to life BUT basically the fish liked moldy green things to eat, could hypnotize people, and understood humans and was personified quite a lot. Other than the moldy eating and having died at one time, I don't know how this was a zombie.....And why he was called fat. NO FAT SHAMING!
The main character also did too much of explaining himself after he did something. Example, he high-fived his friend and then explained why he thought it was a good time to high-five. Pretty sure those things shouldn't need explaining. What was cute was the misunderstanding of words like perpetrator he thought was PURPLE-TRAITOR. Adorbs! I did enjoy the second story since it was less...mean, I guess. Not too many "moron"s but still overly used. 
No kid besides those in like grade 4 or below should read this so it makes me sad I have seen grade 5 and 6 students take this out and I know their reading levels are higher. This novel doesn't challenge them enough. 

Done rant. 

2 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: The Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3)

The Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3)
by Gena Showalter (Goodreads Author)

This series is done-zo!

Now I am just trying to remember all that happened in this one. Too much really. All I know is that Cole and Ali do a lot of talking and , ahem, dry humping and it makes me gag a bit but FINALLY things ... "connect". 
The gang is being attacked and 4 slayers are killed from Anima trying to attack them. The gang gets ready to attack back and Ali showcases more powers and is starting to see another Witness, one that Cole says not to trust. Ali of course doesn't listen and finds out her past has been totally not what she thought. Is this Helen Witness to be trusted? And why is Anima coming after them? Why are so many things going wrong for Ali's gang and their rival-now-allies? Can we trust anyone?

Well of course now more spies may be in the group. And on top of it all, zombies are constantly showing up around Ahnk's place. If you thought battles were just beginning, then you are in for a war! 


I liked how there was more powers in this and the happy thought about zombies being saved, but so much "my softness leaned against his hardness" was used. YIKES! Also real SAD parts! Why people gotta die? Like A LOT! (BFF!) Atleast they mentioned why this novel was called by it's title, but otherwise I think it being a Wonderland reference and besides her being called Alice, it had nothing to do with the classic in any way. She sees white rabbit clouds. Whoopie. 
Anyways series was still good as a whole for plot action and character development. I still enjoyed it overall.

3 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2)

Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2)

by Gena Showalter (Goodreads Author)

"Zombies stalk the night. Forget blood and brains. These monsters hunger for human souls. Sadly, they've got mine..." - Ali

First off...that cover. Someone one Goodreads was thinking that it was ugly and it resembled a little too much like White Chicks. YIKES! and lol. That is just the icing on top of this bizarre novel of weird spiritual zombies and ghosts that has nothing to do with Alice in Wonderland more and more. 

So dead on

So the gang is still fighting zombies but Justin, a distrusting dude from the first book, gets bit while out on a zombie run. Within moments he starts to turn and bites Ali. Thus begins the spiral of Ali versus her evil Zombie self that is starting to emerge from within. She sees this evil Ali in her reflection; a hint to AIW. 

Cole thinks there is a spy among the group, zombies are getting stronger, and teen hormones are going nuts!! And that is where I went from wanting to rate this 4 to a 3. SOO much teen lust and horrible "sexy" talk. I kept being disturbed cuz in most of the YA I read it is just more kissy stuff. This was trying to be subtle in some boob grabbing and dry humps. Yup! That happened. (I was going to insert a gif for that but....its too weird out there on the net). Plus these characters are now 17 so I had to keep that in mind when it came to all the sex talk. Cuz there was a lot. And a lot of this on my end..

Anyways, still enjoyed the plot probably better this time since I knew what to expect with the zombie spirit stuff. Will read the next one for sure. Gone this far.

3 out of 5 monkey brains

here is from my first review  White Rabbit Chronicles #1

Monday Mentions: Afterlife With Archie #7: Thanksgiving

Afterlife With Archie #7: Thanksgiving (Afterlife With Archie #7) 

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla (Illustrator), Jack Morelli (Illustrator

Archie and the gang have been away from Riversdale for awhile, stumbling across America and zombies. The gang decides to rest and give thanks and hunt for some turkey-like food. Soon they aren't the only ones hunting. 

So Betty is being a teen and writing her emotions on paper. We dive into her life with sis Polly, the death and loss from Jugdead's reign, and her secret time with Archie. oooooo Veronica not going to be happy about that.  And she isn't. 

Princess veronica is being all jelly. Meanwhile, folks are dreaming of Sabrina's honeymoon I think. Weird. Did she marry Cthulhu?! On top of it all, the Blossom siblings got a Flowers in the Attic relationship minus Cheryl liking it. Gamgam will for sure be punishing these too. 

3 out of 4 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Zombies Have Issues

Zombies have Issues 

by Greg Stones

From the same guy that brought you Zombies Hate Stuff, here is another quick humor book dealing with zombies. 

"With humor, wit, and braaaains, Greg Stones's colorful painted panels offer a sympathetically funny, new perspective into the trials and tribulations of the undead in a world made for the living." - Goodreads

Just like in Zombies Hate Stuff, categories appear like "Zombies have issues with" as one. One feature I guess they have problems with is their decaying selves, whether it is they look so gnarly or they just can't even see through their rotting eyes. 

Another is... 

 Being OCD in the afterlife is a thing and lists are just something everyone enjoys dead or alive. My man would argue this. 

 Other enjoyments I liked included tornadoes to sweep up delicious red-shoed darlings and ignorance from sweet little ladies. 

I giggled at some of the things zombies had MAJOR issues with...

• banana peels
• Greek mythology gods turning people to stone
• Renaissance fairs
• bunnies??? why I am not sure

With a really cute ending, this book gave me enough chuckles to give it a higher rating. I don't want to spoil it for you so please check the book out! Wanna see my review for Zombies Hate Stuff?? Click here. 

4 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Dead Guy Spy (Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie #2)

Dead Guy Spy (Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie #2)

 

by David Lubar

*SPOILERS*
So Nathan is still a zombie and he just wants to do something great with his zombie powers, but he learns he needs to be careful since someone could be watching him and someone is. Kinda weird!

Nathan gets stalked which sounded waaay too much like pedophilia territory with creepy guys with mustaches lurking in bushes, late night chatrooms, secret meetings in cars and on street corners... Ya no idea why that was all like that. Totally not a Stranger Danger moment at all... Nevertheless, a corporation called BUM (teehee) wants Nathan to work for them and in return he will get his bones made stronger which is much needed with a wrestling match coming up with the scariest and toughest kid. 

Does Nathan get molested? No. 

Does his zombie life get more complicated? In a way.

Which bones will he break now? Read and find out. 

3 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie

Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie (Stepping Stones)
 

by Bill Doyle (Goodreads Author), Scott Altman (Illustrator)

 

After Keats and Henry lose their bikes, they need money—fast. The help-wanted ad at the supermarket seems ideal for them. All they have to do is weed Hallway House's garden, find some lightbulbs in the attic, sweep the garage and battle a shark-headed zombie...? 

 - Goodreads

This was actually pretty cute and magical. Boys had to go through a lot to earn some cash. Shows some responsibility. What I don't know is why its a shark-headed zombie. Of course the title made me attracted to this gem when it came across my work desk. The shark was just a shark zombie or zombie shark, whatever way you want to say it. The title makes it sound like its a zombie aka human with a shark head. It looked like a shark, swam like a shark, flopped like a shark, so it was a shark turned zombie. Plain and simple. So weird. It could swim through ground too. 

3 out of 5 monkey brains