The Undertakers

September 1, 2012
Will Ritter continues the battle started in Rise of the Corpses (2011) to protect humanity from the corpse-possessing invaders from another dimension. When a surveillance mission provides an opportunity to unearth a Corpse plot still in development, and with the new knowledge of how to use salt to kill the interdimensional invaders, the human Undertakers can take the offensive in their war over the world. To do this, they face the titular queen, sophisticated Lilith Cavanaugh, who has replaced the late Kenny Booth as the leader of the invaders. She blends a higher level of competence with a downright savage monstrosity, posing a much more pragmatic threat than Booth did. Alternating with Will's first-person narration, chapters written in third-person that focus on Lilith reveal more about the world the Corpses come from as well as their purpose. Lilith makes the fight personal for Will and in doing so, raises the stakes. While the first part of the story drags, near the end, a switch is flipped, and the story comes to life with a daring plan. Additional ponderings on corpse theft that go beyond gross-out descriptions, as well as the clear consequences of battle and lack of adult support, give moral and emotional dimensions to the otherwise straightforward story. Uneven, but the quality improves as the story progresses. (Science fiction/horror. 10-15)

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December 1, 2012

Gr 5-10-Creatures from another dimension are trying to take over the world, and only kids like Will Ritter can see them. These beings inhabit human corpses, projecting a cover image that fools most people, but Will and the rest of the Undertakers see the rotting bodies beneath the glamor. In Rise of the Corpses (Sourcebooks, 2011), the young people foiled the plans of one of the Corpses and discovered a key weakness, but now a woman known to them as the Queen of the Dead has taken on the persona of Lilith Cavanaugh, a city planner, and has two goals: to increase her political power and to eradicate the Undertakers. Will and his friends face greater challenges than ever as they fight this new evil. As in the previous book, this one is full of fast-paced action and gripping suspense, along with a dose of humor. Drago does a good job of including key details from the first book as they are relevant to the plot, making it possible to enjoy this novel on its own. However, readers will get the most out of this book if they are familiar with the first one. Hand this series to readers who are looking for zombie stories and books with a lot of action.-Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OH

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2012
Grades 4-7 When the Corpses return to Philadelphia, their boss is ticked that they were defeated by 12-year-old Will and his fellow Undertakers (which occurred in Rise of the Corpses, 2011). The queen of these zombielike creatures crossed the Void between worlds on Halloween to ruthlessly lead her minions in their revengeful attempt to take over the earth, and what follows is a play-by-play of rotting cadavers versus resourceful and brave teens. Each side has its own chapters, perspectives, successes, and occasional plodding plotting before the final (at least until the third book) climax, which anyone clamoring for some entertaining macabre adventures will want to devour.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)