Zombie Winter

by Jason Strange, Phil Parks (Illustrator)

Overview

Which is worse, a long, cold winter, or a town of zombies?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781434230959
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	01/01/2011
Series:	Jason Strange
Pages:	72
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	650L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

About the Author

Phil Parks is a Michigan native who has been illustrating books for more than twenty years. With subjects ranging from adult mystery and dark fantasy to whimsical children's literature, he has had the opportunity to work with authors such as Dean Koontz, Ray Bradbury, Lawrence Block, and many others.

Table of Contents

The long winter — Cure for grumps — Three late students — Too crowded — Too quiet — The mob — Brains! — Into the woods — Mr. Entwhistle — Main street — Cornered — In the drink.

Editorial Reviews

Typically, the genesis of a zombie plague is but a pesky preliminary to the main-event brain munching. Here, though, it’s the book’s primary pleasure. Middle-schooler Kane’s allergy to chocolate makes him the only student who turns down the free hot cocoa being offered in their lunch room. Yes, that’s right: this is the hot cocoa of evil Soon, the student body has been transformed into glassy-eyed zombies with chins slathered in brown cocoa rather than the ubiquitous blood or slime. There’s not much to the story, but the details make it enjoyable: the aforementioned demonic cocoa, the weirdo hermit who helps Kane save the day, the wintry setting, and the old standby of the nefarious lunch lady. Parks’ illustration of the sneering, hairnetted lunch lady is especially creepy, but all of the pencil sketches have a certain spooky, if rudimentary, charm. Part of a series, this concludes with a detective’s case summary, a note from the author, a glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts.

Booklist

Typical reader: Elementary students who also like Goosebumps. . . .Kids like things that spook them.  This is such a book.  It's a quick read, aimed at children aged 8-11.  The sentences are simple, and the plot is pretty easy to follow.  It's a chapter book with illustrations scattered throughout; the artist behind these did a good, realistic job.

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