Night of the Zombie Chickens

April 1, 2014
An aspiring director, 12-year-old Kate's first feature-length film involves zombies, chickens and mayhem. Although a recent family move to accommodate her mother's career change from corporate worker to chicken farmer has left Kate feeling adrift from her friends, it has resulted in a cinematic opportunity. Kate translates her skepticism about her mother's chickens into her film. However, a rift with her lead actress and longtime BFF, Alyssa, jeopardizes Kate's production. When Alyssa invites reigning popular girl Lydia to participate in Kate's movie, things quickly go wrong. Soon, Kate's social status at school plunges, and she endures relentless teasing. After a confrontation with Alyssa culminates in an epic argument, Kate schemes for revenge. Yet when Kate's retaliation is successful, remorse compels her to reconsider her actions. Mata's tale subtly addresses the issue of changing friendships and the concept of forgiveness. Kate's fledgling friendships with Doris and Margaret, who are on the social outskirts, offer Kate a respite from her school woes and transform her perspective. Throughout the story, Mata conveys Kate's exuberant enthusiasm for the filmmaking process, including Kate's relish in the special effects tactics used in zombie films and other movies. The surprise twist that provides a timely solution to Kate's dilemmas is suitably theatrical for the movie enthusiast. Preteen and middle school readers will respond to the dogged tenacity with which Kate pursues her moviemaking dreams. (Fiction. 10-14)

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March 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-Seventh-grader Kate Walden is pursuing her aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. Things are going mostly well, despite the fact that her mother's prized organic hens are behaving nothing like the zombies she has cast them as in her first feature-length film. Problems arise when her friend Alyssa, who is also the star of her movie, abandons the project as well as the friendship. When Alyssa starts hanging out with the most popular girl in the school, Kate finds herself the butt of class jokes. She feels lonely, isolated, and not the least bit like a movie director. However, she manages to solve both her friendship and movie-making problems by befriending two of her school's outcasts. In the process, she realizes that popularity does not necessarily equal happiness. The tale comes to a climax as Kate devises a plot to exact revenge against her former friend. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as Kate makes the ultimate decision of whether or not to ruin Alyssa's reputation. Zombie Chickens is an original take on friendship between girls and middle-school angst. Fans of Wendy Mass, Sharon Draper, and Rebecca Stead will appreciate this clever and quirky piece of realistic fiction.-Lauren M. Sinacore, George M. Davis Elementary School, New Rochelle, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2014
Grades 3-7 Aspiring filmmaker Kate Walden thinks she has a handle on her life's cast of characters: Devoted Dad; chicken-farming Mom; annoying little brother, Derek; and Alyssa, Kate's BFF and the star of Kate's most ambitious movie to date, Night of the Zombie Chickens. She has less of a handle on her relationship with other people in her life, such as social outcasts Margaret and Doris, as well as Lydia, the most popular girl at school. But when Lydia turns her attention to Alyssa, Kate finds herself shunned and picked on, and her plans for her movie are swiftly running off the rails. Amid all the upheaval, the only constant in her life is Derek, who is still annoying. Can she get her life back on track (along with some tidy revenge)? Debut author Mata has an unerring ear for tween dialogue, and she conveys Kate's hurt and anger with presence and clarity, evenand perhaps especiallywhen she lashes out irrationally. Despite all the drama, there is humor and a great deal of warmth in this enjoyable read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)