Girls Save the World in This One

February 1, 2020

Gr 9 Up-June loves zombies, and her friends have bonded over their passion for the undead. To June's surprise, Zombie Con is going to be held in her boring ole town. For one day, she can put her worries about applying to college behind her and have the time of her life. But things at Zombie Con are weird-there are real zombies there. Now June and her two best friends must take them on to save the town, and maybe even the entire world. While some of the content is suited for older teens, the novel is written in a rather simplistic manner with a humorous, laugh-out-loud tone. It offers up plenty of action laced with a tinge of gore, and has a light romance. Readers will connect with the characters, whose emotions are laid out on the page. This fun coming-of-age story tackles popular topics such as cons and zombies with an inclusive cast of characters, and highlights the power of friendship and strong women. VERDICT For those who love zombies and action-packed books, as well as reluctant readers.-Gilly Yildiz, Eisenhower Public Library, Harwood Heights, IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2020
June Blue has a solid plan--make special memories with her friends Imani and Siggy at the highly anticipated ZombieCon! and not think about life after high school. At least, that is the plan until real zombies take over: Now June and her friends must save the day! The time has finally come for June, Imani, and Siggy to experience the rush of ZombieCon!, the fan convention centered around their favorite show, Human Wasteland--a huge event for their small town to host. June has carefully laid out every detail, from floor plans to an itinerary, in order to capitalize on their most significant adventure yet. She thought her biggest problems would be avoiding former bestie Blair (who stole June's not-quite-boyfriend) and braving the long lines to meet her favorite actors. But at an all-cast panel, chaos ensues, causing everyone to question the reality of the very concept they've gathered to celebrate. Now they must fight their way out of the convention center and save their town with June leading a motley cast of characters, some of whom are not well fleshed out. Parsons (The Falling Between Us, 2018, etc.) successfully maintains a fast, humorous pace with heartfelt moments and palpable enthusiasm for zombies while also inserting social commentary about allyship for people with marginalized identities and the portrayal of women in horror. June and Siggy are white; Imani is black and Korean. A ravenous read. (Horror. 12-18)

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March 2, 2020
Zombies are unleashed on small-town Georgia in this adventuresome survival tale. High school senior June Blue just wants to have a fabulous day at ZombieCon! and make Special Memories with her best friends Imani and Siggy, but things go from thrilling to strange to downright terrifying as some of the zombies shambling through the con turn out to be more than cosplayers. When the girls discover that they’ve been locked in and essentially left to die, they use their obsession with the zombie show Human Wasteland along with their wit and wiles to guide a small group of survivors through the convention center in a desperate bid for safety. Though this book starts slow, with the first third taken up by ordinary convention activities, the descent into horror and chaos is rapid and immersive. The best friends stick together, protecting each another and the survivors they encounter, deepening the bonds of friendship and leaning into each other’s strengths. This is an excellent read for any teen who loves thrills, action, and stories of survival. Ages 12–up.

March 1, 2020
Grades 7-9 Readers looking for all of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the zombie apocalypse will be absolutely thrilled to read this book, in which a trio of BFFs go to ZombieCon!, a convention for lovers of all things zombie horror, only for an actual zombie virus breakout to occur. Our leading ladies, along with a smattering of their favorite actors and other folks they've met at the convention, band together to find a way out. You've got the heroic older lady, the man who is out for himself and doesn't believe in teamwork, the tragic death of a loyal friend, and even budding romance in the zombie apocalypse. All of these most satisfying notes come in a modern setting and without resorting to gratuitous violence, featuring girls who are just about to graduate from high school and are dealing with all of the ensuing problems. The title sets the tone; from the get-go, you know girls are going to save the day and take names. Hand this book to anyone who likes zombie apocalyptic horror.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)