Allison Hewitt Is Trapped

November 1, 2010
Plot gaps diminish this otherwise exciting horror adventure debut. When the zombie apocalypse breaks out, bookstore clerk Allison escapes the titular trap and finds a group of survivors at a community center, including handsome astronomy professor Collin. Complications—aside from the usual attacks by ravenous undead—include religious zealots, paramilitary survivalists, and Collin's estranged and intimidating wife. As Allison blogs about her experience on SNet, an emergency military network, commenters provide some sense of the disaster's scope, but there's little explanation for how she created the blog and why no other sites are mentioned. Likewise, a pivotal early attack by a zombified squirrel is ignored later as the heroes traipse through the woods ignoring all nonhumanoid threats. These flaws aren't enough to hide Roux's obvious talent for witty characters and gory action sequences, but they will frustrate attentive readers.

November 15, 2010

A fierce young bookseller blogs the zombie apocalypse in this debut novel from Wisconsin resident Roux.

The author brings a neat concept to her tale about the end of the world—but ironically fails to land the ending. The book's heroine, Allison Hewitt, is involved in a terrifying scenario. "They are coming and I don't think we will ever get out," she blogs. "If you're reading this, please call the police. Call them now; call the cops if there are any cops left to call. Tell them to come find me." We soon learn that Allison and her crew are trapped in the back room of a Wisconsin bookstore, while the undead roam the aisles outside. It's not worth introducing her compatriots because, like in all good stories of the damned, most of them aren't long for the world. What are worth mentioning are the comments left by other survivors around the world on Allison's blog. They run the gamut from terror ("I can only hope that someone else will save my boy") to snark ("Go easy on the crazy pills?") to courage in the face of jeopardy ("Allison knows a thing or two about hopelessness. Listen to her and me, don't give up man. Fight the good fight"). There are some early moments of unnerving humor—during a run for supplies at the bookstore's entrance, Allison can't resist grabbing a little light reading—but things soon turn much darker, and her lighter side rarely surfaces during her long, circuitous journey. Between axe-wielding skirmishes, she follows the trail of her mother and flirts with a romance with a married survivor. But along the way, she also discovers the horrible capabilities of men without law.

A treat for lovers of groaners and roamers with neither enough gore nor pathos to keep casual readers engaged.

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2011

The worst has happened--Allison and her coworkers are trapped at Brooks and Peabody Bookstore. Outside their safe haven is a crowd of the infected--zombies. No one knows what has happened, but luckily the WiFi still works. Somehow the government has enabled a backup Internet system that allows communication. In a series of blog posts, Allison records her experiences and communicates with other survivors to help her small village fend off the dreaded infected. This fast-paced thrill ride offers an eye-opening look at what is more dangerous--humans or their zombie counterparts. Gory in places and certainly intense, the story features strong character development and plot movement. Some suspension of disbelief is required, as Allison's group of survivors easily acquire weaponry and sustain themselves on Doritos and SoBe for longer than the average human. VERDICT Zombies remain popular, and overall this is a great undead time for adult and YA fans of the genre.--Jennifer Zoethout, Pickering P.L., Ont.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011
Rouxs debut tells the story of a zombie apocalypse through the eyes of Allison Hewitt, graduate student and bookstore employee. Allison is working in the bookstore when she sees one her regular customers have her head bitten off. Its clear that something very bad has happened. Alison and the survivors lock themselves into the back rooms, hiding out from the relentless zombies. In an attempt to stave off her loneliness and connect with the outside world, Allison begins a blog (blog entries and comments from readers are included at the end of every chapter). The use of the blog as a storytelling device, drawing in additional characters and points of view, helps enliven what is otherwise an average zombie story, albeit one with plenty of action and a high body count. Suggest it to zombie fans who enjoyed Ben Tripps Rise Again (2010) or Charlie Hustons Sleepless.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)