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On the way home from the ski trip, when the bus comes to a stop at a roadside restaurant, everyone gets off and heads in for lunch. Everyone, that is, except Bobby, the new girl, who stays behind with rebel-without-a-clue Smitty.
Then hours pass. Snow piles up. Sun goes down. Bobby and Smitty start to flirt. And to stress a bit, too. Till finally they see the other kids stumbling back.
But they've changed. And not in a good way. Straight up, they're zombies. So the wheels on the bus better go round and round freakin' fast, because that's the only thing keeping Bobby and Smitty from becoming their classmates' next meal. It's kill or be killed in these hunger games, heads are gonna roll, and homework is most definitely gonna be late.
Combining the chill of THE SHINING, the thrill ride of SPEED, the humor of SHAUN OF THE DEAD, and the angst of THE BREAKFAST CLUB, Kirsty McKay's UNDEAD is a bloody mad mash-up, a school-trip splatter-fest, a funny, gory, frighteningly good debut!
"Fast, furious, freaky, funny, and seriously sick." -- CHARLIE HIGSON, author of the ENEMY series
"A hilarious and lively mix of cunning, bravery, and tomfoolery...Bobby's narration is spiked with wit and perceptive snarkiness...First-rate fun." -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"McKay plays her tale for maximum snark...humor and action keep the pages turning...Blood spurts; entrails drag; body parts shed; hearts (living ones) throb -- it's all good, gory fun." -- KIRKUS
"The typical school-centered zombie story is given a fabulous reboot in McKay's debut novel...The perfect balance of humor and horror...will have readers alternately biting their nails and snorting with laughter...A fun, pulse-pounding addition to the zombie genre." -- VOYA
"Fun to devour." -- BOOKLIST
"Loved the black humor. Think SHAUN OF THE DEAD in the Scottish wilderness." -- THE BOOKSELLER UK
Anonymous
Posted October 13, 2012
BEST. ZOMBIE. BOOK. EVER!!!!! Even if you are afraid of zombies and that type of thing, don't worry about this book! It is a comedy, so even if there is a gory part, you won't be scared. This was my first zombie book, and I am completely impressed by it. The diolouge, plot, and everything about it makes it one of the best books I've EVER read! The end just leaves you hanging, oh God! I was like whiningm screaming, and just having fun with the ending. I am ten years old and I thought that this was a very great teen book. (I read like teen and young adult stories, so you may think differently about it.) I would recommend this book to anybody ages ten and up. FUN FUN READING, GUYS!!!!!!!!!!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 15, 2013
I read this book and fell in love because it had the comedy, action and romance. It is the best book I had ever read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 21, 2012
Thank you for reading this first of all and then we are saying this a good book becaause it has alot vof action that yiu can read and so you can be happ wheb they survive so thank you forreading or listning sorry so thank you so much so that i can be better on my reading and writng in my avanced reading group in grapevine school
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 10, 2013
One of the best zombie novels ever-Even better on the Nook! Truely a best seller.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.firestar22
Posted February 20, 2013
I Love this book. Cant wait until the sequel.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 14, 2013
I'm a sucker for anything zombie - it's an obsession almost to the point that it's shameful. So picture a happy me hugging this book when I found it as a surprise in my mailbox. CUE EXCITEMENT.
And thankfully, Undead did deliver plenty of excitement. And plenty of zombies. Which is all I really need in a zombie book, so keep in mind that if zombies just aren't your thing.
REASONS TO READ:
1. Non-stop action:
Undead starts with a bang, ends with a bang, and every chapter is guaranteed to include a little emotional angst, some blood, and a scene that will leave your heart pounding. I felt like I was constantly waiting for a monster to jump out at me - which is saying a lot because I don't get that feeling too often while reading books.
2. Conspiracy theories that will make your head spin:
Admittedly, zombie stories aren't known for being the most creative - they're usually standard fare. But Undead doesn't launch into theories about why there are zombies right away (something to do with kids running for their lives). But once they do? I appreciated that there were a few surprises. Some things were predictable, but not everything.
3. Characters who evolve:
I wasn't too sure what to think of Smitty and Bobby at first. They didn't grab me initially, but they quickly wormed their way into my little heart. Bobby especially took a while to get to know, because she has herself so well-guarded and hidden away. But I was surprised about halfway through the book how much I was rooting for these two to get out of there alive. And? I loved that they could poke fun at each other and their situation. Undead is great partially because of the jokes and how it doesn't take itself too seriously - which is key for a zombie horror book.
I still felt like I was hoping for more from Undead to really WOW me though. Secondary characters that were more dimensional, a stronger & more unique story behind exactly what's taking place and why... both would have turned this into a book that I loved rather than just one I liked.
But this is still an excellent pick for fans of zombies like me.
Review copy received from Scholastic Canada for my honest review; no other compensation was received.
Anonymous
Posted November 24, 2012
Loved it!!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 18, 2012
Reading this book gave me the chills. Every time i went to bed i was so scared. I would definatley recommend this book to zombie lovers.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Read_A_Book
Posted September 3, 2012
I really like the cover of this novel, and I was truly looking forward to reading this story, especially because I enjoy zombie books and I’m always looking for new books to push on my high school students. But, while I liked the novel for the most part, I felt like it was a little too fast paced, too convenient, and too middle grade for me, personally. The novel starts off with Bobby sulking in the back of her school bus, refusing to get off and use the bathroom. She watches students pile into the restaurant and wishes for friends, to be home, etc. Soon after, she finds herself stuck on the bus with a particularly arrogant student who makes too many jokes, and soon after that, all hell breaks loose.
I felt like the novel went from 0 to 60 in a matter of pages, and while some readers may like jumping right into the midst of a story, I felt left behind. The characters were suddenly running around trying to figure things out, stay away from the zombies, all while trying to get to safety and I just felt like I missed something. I think it’s because I didn’t have any time to make connections with the characters before they found themselves in peril. I never did feel anything for the characters as I read—no sadness over deaths, no fear for their safety. Instead, I found the plot a bit too convenient. Here the survivors are, surrounded by zombies, driving a school bus through blizzard like conditions, and suddenly they find themselves at a castle that holds all the secrets. Too perfect for me, but honestly, I think this would be a great read for middle schoolers. I teach high school, and I don’t see most of my students being enthralled by this novel, but I think it’s perfect for the younger crowd. The writing, especially, lends itself to youngsters. Just take a look at the synopsis. The entire novel is written in the same type of format as the synopsis, and while I knew that was probably the case going in, I didn’t think it would actually affect my reading of the novel. It did. Things that would have come across as funny to younger readers just made me roll my eyes, and the characters began to test my nerves after a while. Of course, having no connection with them could be another reason behind that, but I just found that this novel never really drew me in past enjoying the mayhem. I liked it, but I wasn’t in love with it, like I sometimes am with MG novels, but that doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy it! If you like really fast paced novels and the way the synopsis is written (or if you’re kids do), then I highly suggest checking this one out.
This is one of the few reviews that I actually changed my rating while writing my review. I thought I liked it more than I did when I finished it, but when I sat down to put my thoughts on paper (or screen) I realized all of the things that I didn't like about it. I still enjoyed the book enough though. I was really excited for this book due to the synopsis. I thought it sounded pretty awesome, except the synopsis is not a great judge of the book. It's not an exciting all out thrill ride with crazy zombies lurking around every corner like it would suggest. So unless there were some major changes between the ARC and the final copy, I wouldn't go by that at all. I am a sucker when it comes to zombie books. I also love humor and this sounded like a great combination of the two, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.
I liked Bobby and her snarky, don't give a crap attitude at first, but it got old quick. She has just moved back to the UK with her mother (Thanks to her moms work) and is the new girl who doesn't fit in. Total cliche, I know. This book is full of the typical cliches, I think it's supposed to be part of the humor. She stays on the bus to be alone away from all the other kids and gets stuck on there with Smitty, the bad boy and the bus driver. He attitude doesn't really improve much for most of the book. She tries to put on the tough girl act to prove she's not a helpless weak girl. She does some selfless things and really does try to do what she can to help their growing group survive, but in general she wasn't that likable. I just didn't feel her character.
So onto the actual storyline. School trip, zombies, stumbling upon other survivors...you get the point. Now these people who are nothing alike have to work together to survive and try not to kill each other. They manage to travel to a gas station, then a parking lot, back to the cafe, so and and so on until they get to a castle. I get that we are trying to be on an adventure here, but it was just sort of okay to me. Th ere were a few funny lines here and there, and some interesting things that happened. And lets not forget the plot twist...was that supposed to be surprising? Are we supposed to feel shock? I felt like I wanted to be finished with this book already.
So maybe I am just getting more picky with my reading, but this just didn't entertain me as much as I would have liked. I wasn't expecting a blow me away, awesome book, just fun entertainment. I know this review seems pretty negative, but I did like the book, I just thought that at times it got a bit lame and there was a lot of unnecessary things going on. Maybe if I had been able to connect with the characters, or at least like them I would have liked it more. I just didn't get that. The characters started to annoy me and the plot was not keeping me engaged. What saved this book for me was the small amounts of entertainment I got out of it. 3 out of 5 stars.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 14, 2012
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Posted October 22, 2012
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Overview
Now in paperback! When the rest of the class goes all brain-dead on new girl Bobby, it's a school-trip splatter-fest and completely not cool!
On the way home from the ski trip, when the bus comes to a stop at a roadside restaurant, everyone gets off and heads in for lunch. Everyone, that is, except Bobby, the new girl, who stays behind with rebel-without-a-clue Smitty.
Then hours pass. Snow piles up. Sun goes...