Zombie Kid

November 26, 2012
Savage trades the elemental magic of his Farworld series for an entertainingly gross blend of comedy and horror in the first book in his Case File 13 series. Sixth-grade best friends Nick, Carter, and Angelo live for Halloween, but that’s before Nick is transformed into a zombie during a trip to Louisiana for the funeral of his mysterious Great Aunt Lenore. Nick’s gradual decomposition, changing appetites, and diminishing command of his motor and verbal skills provide many opportunities for humor as the boys work to reverse the curse that’s afflicting Nick. An ominous, unidentified narrator introduces and closes the book, and chapters open with one-liners that tease and provoke (“Can you really have too many cemetery chapters in a scary story?”). This is mainly Nick’s tale, but the rapport between the boys is strong (and their rivals, a trio of Halloween-loving girls, seem likely to reappear). Savage incorporates elements of voodoo practice into the creepy mystery the boys unravel, which will keep readers’ interest even as they are laughing at gags involving everything from dog food to severed fingers. Ages 8–12. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

January 1, 2013

Gr 4-7-Nick Carter's obsession with monsters proves advantageous after a chilling trip to Baton Rouge. When he returns from his aunt's funeral, he and best buddies Carter and Angelo realize that his new amulet has altered him. Initially, the power to hold his breath indefinitely and feel no pain seems awesome. However, the craving for human brains paired with losing a finger causes the boys to grasp that Nick is a zombie. They must find a way to break the zombie curse, which includes befriending a talking cat, listening to a deceased soul, and outsmarting the Zombie King. Savage's action-driven plot and short chapters are sure to keep readers intrigued. The authentic tween language is humorous and includes clues, allowing readers to make inferences, continually guessing what might happen next. Many readers will welcome the interesting folklore surrounding zombies and voodoo, echoing pop-culture appeal. Savage's character development is strong and the story, a blend of mystery, realistic fiction, action, and humor, will appeal to a wide variety of readers. They will love entering Nick's world.-Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City, UT

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2013
Grades 4-7 This series starter from the author of the Farworld fantasies should appeal to monster fans with strong stomachs. Sixth-grader Nick and his two best friends are preparing for Halloween, their favorite night of the year, only to find out that Nick has to miss trick-or-treating in order to attend his mysterious great-aunt's funeral in Louisiana. While exploring the bayou at night, he blacks out and somehow gets turned into a zombiein this telling, a gradual process. As Nick undergoes strange changes (he craves raw meat, for example, and his skin gets cold) and starts smelling bad, his clueless parents advise him to take showers. It is his friends who diagnose ( Awesome! they all yell at once) and eventually cure him. Savage keeps up a lively and light tone as the boys deal, surprisingly calmly, with additional challenges, including a large bully, nosy girls, and an evil zombie king. They stick together through thick and thin and the truly gross, as when Nick's pinkie falls off into the mashed potatoes. Doesn't that say it all?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)