The Undertakers

March 15, 2011

More zombies doesn't necessarily equal more action. Will Ritter has just discovered the Corpses, weird alien creatures that possess the bodies of the recently deceased. When he learns that his neighbor, his teacher and his assistant principal are all rotting husks, 12-year-old Will flees with fellow student Helene and heads to the Undertakers—a group of teenagers who can see through the disguises of the Corpses and have dedicated their lives to fighting the invaders. Will must shake up the complacency of the Undertaker leadership and launch a full-force assault against the creatures before they can take over the city of Philadelphia. Stuffed with action, Drago's novel never achieves the level of excitement it reaches for. Squirt guns filled with salt water don't pack much punch, and the repetitive Corpse fights begin to feel like a tedious video-game swarm battle. Narrator Will comes across as both very young and curiously removed; he embraces the Undertakers' dietary laissez-faire of microwaved food and endless candy while frequently remarking on the peculiar nature of a guerrilla war waged by teenagers. The elements of a good action novel are here but are assembled into a soulless shell. (Adventure. 10-14) 

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July 1, 2011

Gr 5-10-One morning, 12-year-old Will Ritter discovers that his cranky old neighbor, his math teacher, and the assistant principal of his school are all rotting corpses, and that they want him dead. Rescued by a mysterious new classmate, he ends up at Haven, the secret hideout of the Undertakers-a group of kids between the ages of 12 and 18 who can actually see the corpses and are attempting to rescue kids like Will, just coming into their Seer abilities. Will discovers that his dead father, evidently the only adult Seer, started the Undertakers with the help of Tom and Sharyn, former street thieves turned remarkably competent leaders. There's a lot going on here: weird aliens, a possible angel, cool gadgets and potentially magical weapons, and Will, who is Every Kid, only with skills that develop extraordinarily fast. Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Harry Potter, with bug-filled corpses. Fans of comic-book heroes and video games will not be disappointed, and will be eager for further adventures. Fast paced and surprisingly moving.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2011
Grades 4-7 Whatever you do, do not call them zombies! These are Corpses, reanimated bodies that have been possessed, and they are everywhere, although they are only visible to a select few, including 12-year-old Will Ritter. After realizing suddenly that he is able to See, Will is taken in by the Undertakers, a rogue group that rescues other, similarly targeted teens and fights to defeat the Corpses evil plans to conquer Philadelphia and, ultimately, the world. With elements reminiscent of works by Rowling, Riordan, and Stine, Drago unveils the plot through many short chapters, calling into action a cast of distinctive characters with authentic voices and behaviors. (Well, corpse-fighting behaviors, anyway.) Wills breathless adventures as he faces his destiny of becoming an Undertaker are thoughtful and exciting, and the descriptions of decaying flesh will likely both disgust and delight readers. As the climaxing battle wraps up, there is yet another surprise: a satisfyingly complete ending. The suggestion of sequels, though, will pacify new fans, who will be clamoring for the continuation of the story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)