10/31/11
10/30/11
Series: Zombie Chasers Author: John Kloepfer - Ages 9+
Zombie Attack
The Zombie Chasers Book 1
What's the Story?
Meet the Zombie Chasers:
Zack: His house is a wreck, his sister's a zombie, and he's stolen his mom's Volvo. He's totally going to be grounded if he survives the night. . . .
Rice: He's studied The Zombie Survival Guide, but is he prepared to fight the living dead?
Madison: She seriously cannot believe her best friend has become a zombie and left her alone with these dweebs!
They're on a mission to save the world, but first they have to survive their flesh-eating, half-dead neighbors—and one another. Can the Zombie Chasers make it out alive?
What's the Buzz?
"Kloepner does an incredible job of pacing this book, of writing realistically funny dialogue for Zack and Co., and of coming up with clever action scenes using zombie mayhem and the creative responses of our young carload of heroes. A very fun new series!" - Book Aunt
This feels like a story two kids tell each other at a sleepover to see who can create the creepiest, gooiest storyline. Logic is not necessary. The ending was lame. Overall, I disliked the book. - Massachusetts Youth Services
"I was very leery of this book for middle schoolers, because the illustrations make it look as if it falls on the elementary side of the Pilkey Line, but it doesn't." - Ms Yingling Reads
"There is plenty of spookiness but not a lot of intense zombie action but definitely age appropriate for the middle grade audience." - Fiction State of Mind
Undead Ahead
The Zombie Chasers Book 2
Sludgement Day
The Zombie Chasers Book 3
Where Can I fight Zombies?
The Zombie Chasers official website
Zombie Mommy: A Pals in Peril Tale by M.T. Anderson - Ages 9+
Zombie Mommy
Pals in Peril Book 5
What's the Story?
Our intrepid heroes are home from their Delaware crime-stopping excitement, only to discover that Lily’s mom has become possessed by a menacing zombie who wants to take over the world! (Or, at least, the world of stage and screen.) Thank goodness Lily’s friends Katie, Jasper, and foxy Blue-Hen-State monk Drgnan Pghlik are around—accompanied by Jasper’s Astounding High-Pressure Holy Water Extruder Gun, of course—to help save the day.
What's the Buzz?
"The layers of nonsense grow ever thicker and funnier as our heroes encounter a haunted theater ..., a ghost actress from French-occupied Russia (or was that Russia-occupied France?) and a giant Adirondack tarantula."
Ridiculous in all the best ways. - Kirkus Reviews
"Although there are gruesome scenes including zombies, vampires, and more, the silly and outrageous actions of our heroes make this a fast-paced and fun book." - Common Sense Media
Where Can I Learn More?
This book is so new (released October 25th), there's not much else. No video and the author doesn't even have the book on his site yet!
If you'd like to browse the book, publisher Simon & Schuster will let you do that here
If you want to learn more about the Pals in Peril Series, I posted about it here
10/29/11
Zombiekins by Kevin Bolger - Ages 9+
Zombiekins
What's the Story?
The little town of Dementedyville is as boring as they come--but a mysterious stuffed animal is about to liven things up . . .
Stanley Nudelman buys Zombiekins at the yard sale of his neighbor, the Widow Imavitch. It looks cuddly and creepy-cute--but expose the TEDDY OF TERROR to moonlight, and strange things happen. . . .
When Zombiekins gets loose at his school, Stanley finds himself in GRAVE danger. Because if his teacher Mr. Baldengrumpy discovers he turned the whole school into zombies, Stanley will be in detention till he's, like, 80!
Can Stanley and his best friend Miranda save their schoolmates from eternal zombiefication? If not, will Mr. Baldengrumpy even notice?
What's the Buzz?
"Take the “Bunnicula”, “Goosebumps” and “Captain Underpants” series and mash them all together, and the result would be something resembling Zombiekins. An elementary school teacher for a decade, Bolger obviously knows what will amuse his audience..." - Canadian Review Magazine
"For those of you who worry about finding books for reluctant boy readers, look no further!" - Book Aunt
"The pictures in the book are very cool. The cover is perfect for the story too. So if your looking for a book to read you should get Zombiekins." - With A Book
"Bolger skewers the teachers... and their attitude ... But his tone never reads as snarky or snide. He skewers dodgeball. He skewers Winnie the Pooh, Barney and Elmo. No one is safe, not the interfering neighbour, not Stanley, not even Bolger's own horror story, as he parodies the genre." - Globe & Mail
"Onomatopoeia, puns, and alliteration rule the school in this ghastly gala of gleefully goofy gore by Kevin Bolger" - Library Journal
"Anyone who knows me well, knows I'm pretty immature. One of the best parts of being a mother for me is discovering the childhood I missed. I bought Zombiekins for my son yesterday. He loved the book, but I think I've loved it even more." - The Zombie Review
Where Can I Eat Brains?
Try the official Zombiekins website
Aaron Blecha the illustrator of Zombiekins has his website here
If you'd like to read an interview with Author/teacher Kevin Bolger just click on the zipster below (hipster + zombie = zipster)
10/28/11
Series: Undead Ed by David Grimstone - Ages 9+
Undead Ed and the Howling Moon
Book 1
What's the Story?
Forget everything you've ever seen or heard about werewolves, zombies and vampires because Ed Bagley's going to tell you the single most important fact you'll ever learn: BEING UNDEAD SUCKS ...especially if you're a kid.
On his 13th birthday, Ed Bagley is hit by a truck and killed. But things go from tragic to freaky when Ed wakes in the sewers beneath the town of Mortlake with only a note from his missing left arm to explain that he's undead: a zombie, a walking corpse whose skin rots and oozes. And as if all this misfortune wasn't enough, there's a lunatic killer on the loose in Mortlake ...and only Ed can stop him.
What's the Buzz?
"Undead Ed and the Howling Moon is such a fun book, and is ideal for fans of the Scream Street series. It's gruesome and clever, with some great illustrations alongside the text." - Wondrous Reads
Where Can I Eat Brains?
The official Undead Ed website. Warning! if you go to Ed's site you're going to see the cover below. That book isn't available in the US yet, sorry.
10/27/11
The Death of Yorik Mortwell by Stephen Messer - Ages 9+
The Death Of Yorik Mortwell
What's the Story?
Inspired by the artwork of Edward Gorey, Windblowne author Stephen Messer delivers a mock-Gothic tale about poor Yorick (alas!), son of the Gamekeeper at venerable Ravenby Manor, who meets an untimely demise—in chapter one! Worry not, dear reader, for Yorick returns in ghostly form, intent on revenge. In the course of his hauntings, however, ghostly Yorick discovers that all manner of otherworldy creatures inhabit the manor grounds, and that he has a part to play in saving not only his still-living orphan sister but also the manor and everyone in it.
What's the Buzz?
"And this book is creepy, but also funny and is a wonderful addition to any middle grade to YA reader’s library who may, like me, not really enjoy the full-blown horror/slasher novel." - SMS Guys Read
"Most middle grade students will be in the mood for a good ghost story this time of year, and this story could fit the bill. The beginning is engaging, but the middle slows down quite a bit followed by a rather abrupt and anti-climactic ending. I would give this book to students who were looking for a quick, slightly spooky read." - Middle Grade Reads
Author's Site
10/26/11
Sipping Spiders Through a Straw (Campfire Songs for Monsters) by Kelly Dipucchio - Ages 8+
Sipping Spiders Through a Straw
Disgusting highlights include "If You're Scary and You Know It," "99 Bottles of Blood on the Wall," and the classic in the making, "Do Your Guts Hang Low?" Gather your creepy, crawly friends and get ready to slither and slink and howl and stink!
What's The Buzz?
"Haunting lyrics and spine-chilling music make this hair-raising collection frightfully fun."-Barry Bodies, ROLLING BONES
"...bloody brilliant!" -Ima Biter, THE TRANSYLVANIA TIMES
"Dreadful. Appalling. Hideous. Loved it!" -Simon Howl, MONSTER IDOL
"Ah….fall is here! It’s the perfect time of year for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire. As soon as the last s’more is gone, it’s time to gather with your favorite monsters to howl a verse or two of the classic "99 Bottles of Blood on the Wall". Or maybe "For He’s a Stinky Old Fellow" followed by "Do Your Guts Hang Low?"" - Missouri Reading
"Monsters sing about gross and macabre things and the detailed images -- of rotting, creepy things with bulging eyes -- will probably be disturbing for the usual picture book crowd. " - Common Sense Media
"A full complement of 18 songs rewritten for maximum horrifying effect means there's a new chance to get completely grossed out on every single page. " - The Imperfect Parent
"Perfect for kids who like a little bit of scary with a whole lot of giggles." - Three Silly Chicks
"Ghastly illustrations filled with grime and gore accompany each song. The drawings are so real you can almost feel the slime." - BookHive
Author's Site
Kelly DiPucchio
10/25/11
10/24/11
Scary School by Derek the Ghost - Ages 9+
What's The Story?
Ms. Fang, an 850-year-old vampire
Dr. Dragonbreath, who just might eat you before recess
Mr. Snakeskin—science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombie
Mrs. T—break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry Tyrannosaurus rex!
Plus Gargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the loose; The world's most frighteningly delicious school lunch. And the narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost!
Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends—including Petunia, Johnny, and Peter the Wolf—and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky!
What's the Buzz?
Normally I keep the front page of my blog clean. I think it makes it easier to scroll through book covers to see what you might like, but Scary School is an exception because the author Derek the Ghost (and his friends), have done all my work for me on the Scary School website including links to great online reviews! All that's left for me to do is link you to Scary School and wish you good luck.
10/21/11
10/20/11
10/19/11
10/18/11
10/17/11
10/14/11
10/12/11
10/11/11
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)