Never Slow Dance with A Zombie
Author: E. Van Lowe
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (August 18, 2009)

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Summary:
Margot is a really fun character. She forges notes from her parents to get out of gym that have ridiculous reasons. The reasons were hilarious for her to get out of gym were pretty hilarious. I found myself chuckling more than once.

Her best friend Sybil was also pretty awesome. She loves Tom Jones and is always really nice. Sometimes she's so nice that Margot can't believe that she's actually from planet Earth.

This book didn't click with me, and I don't know why. I tried really hard to like it, but I think it just wasn't for me. Although I really did like the way that E. Van Lowe used the zombie cliques to kind of show that most cliques are mindless zombies anyway, all following one leader who is also a mindless creature. That to me was a really awesome way of showing that.

I would recommend this book for kids in middle school, it would be a great teaching tool and a good way to open up discussion on hanging out with people outside of your cliques.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 10, 2009)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth was a truly bone chilling read. I stayed up all night reading it and literally as I finished the last sentence the sun started coming up. It seemed fitting to me that a new day was starting for me, just as it was for Mary.

Mary wants more from her life. She wants to see if there really is an Ocean out there, or if her life just ends where the fence begins. The struggles she goes through, trying to pretend to be happy with the life she has in the compound really made this book for me. Mary seemed so realistic and the way the author described what was going on actually gave me chills.

There were times while reading this that I wanted to put the book down and go to sleep, but I just had to read one more chapter, one more page, one more word until finally the book was done. Even after I finished it I laid there, eyes open wanting more. I wanted to know what happened to Mary at the end.

According to Carrie Ryan's website there is a possibility of a movie. This really excites me. I think this book would translate very well into a movie. And if you doubt that then watch this super amazing book trailer:

Generation Dead
Author: Daniel Waters
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; Library Binding edition (May 6, 2008)

From the back of the book:

Phoebe is just your typical goth girl with a crush. He’s strong and silent — and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is happening. Some teenagers who die aren’t staying dead. They are coming back to life, but they are no longer the same — they stutter, and their reactions to everything are slower. Termed “living impaired” or “differently biotic,” they are doing their best to fit into a society that doesn’t want them.

Fitting in is hard enough when you don’t have the look or attitude, but when almost everyone else is alive and you’re not, it’s close to impossible. The kids at Oakvale High don’t want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn’t breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the differently biotic from the people who want them to disappear — for good.

With her pale skin and Goth wardrobe, Phoebe has never run with the popular crowd. But no one can believe it when she falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids. Not her best friend, Margi, whose fear of the differently biotic is deeply rooted in guilt over the past. And especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has just realized his feelings for Phoebe run much deeper than just friendship. He would do anything for her, but what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

Personal Review:

When Phoebe did the unthinkable and fell for a zombie it was her making a stand. Her best friends couldn’t stand it, and her other best friend was a DB (Differently Biotic) person as well. This book really touches on how people react to things they don’t understand, and how they react to people who are different from them. The author had an amazing grip on how the average teen would react to certain situations. This book was fast paced and the ending really threw me for a loop. I’m hoping that there is a sequel written, because there is a lot left to be explained. For example, what’s going to happen with the DB’s who made their own pack, and what’s going to happen with the Hunter Foundation. All in all though, a great read!

Rating: 3 out of 5