  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 09/15/2012 You can’t reach into a YA bookshelf these days without risking zombie infection, but Krovatin has done something fairly unusual here. It’s not some tweak on zombie rules; rather, it’s a seriousness rarely seen in zombie books for this age range. A nature program in the Montana mountains goes awry when 11-year-olds Ian (the wild one), Kendra (the brain), and PJ (the geek) get lost, cross over a forboding stone fence covered with painted sigils, and take refuge inside a cabin where they find a book labeled “READ ME TO LIVE.” Enter the zombies—the hungry corpses of a lost dance troupe called the Pine City Dancers—who shamble after our trio as they hunt for the alleged witch who began this curse. One part wilderness survival story and one part grueling horror, Krovatin’s text lends the characters and events just enough realism to give the plot a welcome weight, without entirely sacrificing the middle-grade attitude (“I think I see a bone sticking out of it, yeech”). A clever opener to what looks to be a series. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 11/01/2012 Sixth-grade daredevil Ian Buckley strays off the designated path during a class hike when he sees a twelve point buck; his best pal, film buff PJ, follows with camera in hand, while nerd Kendra treks after to scold the two boys back to the group. Unfortunately, the trio is soon lost, and when night falls, it becomes clear that an impending rainstorm and wild animals may be the least of their worries: pursued by zombies hungry for their flesh, Ian, Kendra, and PJ tackle mountainous terrain, endless underground tunnels, and the witch who seemingly controls the reanimated corpses. For a zombie book, this is far lighter on the gore than many, but it still maintains a quick pace and a level of suspense that will please readers looking more for a genuine scare than a putrefied bloodbath. Narration alternates among the kids, broadening the book’s appeal, and each of the voices has a distinctive, if stereotypical, flair (jock Ian tends towards sports metaphors, egghead Kendra’s contribution are peppered with vocab words, etc.). The eventual revelation of the witch’s true purpose adds an interesting twist, and the kids’ unwitting entry into a world of zombie hunters promises further installments. KQG - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 02/01/2013 Gr 5–8—What was supposed to be an exciting school trip in the Montana mountains turns out to be anything but for sixth graders Ian Buckley, PJ Wilson, and Kendra Wright. Straying from the path, the three kids get lost and realize that something is not quite right. Their sense of dread intensifies upon discovering a stone wall covered in a weird symbol. As darkness approaches, the trio stumble upon an abandoned cabin where they find a skull in the basement and a mysterious journal that warns of dark forces at work. Then zombies attack, and they must run for their lives. The group seeks out the witch they believe is behind this sinister evil, hoping she can help them protect their school friends from being attacked and end the zombie curse. Using alternating points of view, Krovatin masterfully combines horror and humor in this heart-pounding, action-packed story that deals with survival, friendship, and self-discovery. Although the ending is a little rushed, this page-turner will satisfy fans of the genre and leave them anticipating future installments.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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