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rosflames's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
levi892's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Blood
This book focused a lot on racism in a way that did not seem productive at all and actually seemed like some racist fantasy written with a thin veil of “racism is bad :/“ I almost didn’t finish this book (I wish I didn’t) but I kept on because I read online that the author wants to point out how much the children of bigots have to change, but the mc literally didn’t change. There was no character development whatsoever until the last chapter but by then it’s far too late because the mc literallychaosstrolling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Omg....British zombies......just....just yes
-2015
I’m going to add a little blurb for each book to quickly remind me what each one was about. This one was: B’s backstory, lots of racism, and the outbreak.
**Spoilers in review!!**
Absolutely mortified that that’s the only review I left when I first read this. I didn’t get ANYTHING else from it?? Jeez.
I wanted to read this again to get back into zombie books and I remember Darren Shan being one of my all time favorite authors in middle school.
I was expecting a fun, easy to get through zombie book, but this is honestly pretty difficult to get through with just how intense and often the racism is. And the fact that B just refuses to realize that they are indeed racist. It gets very annoying very fast.
I’m also a little sad with how long it takes to get to actual zombie time. I get that it was needed because the story and characters needed to be set up, I was still frustrated by it though.
However, I absolutely loved when the zombies finally did arrive. The different types of panic shown, the gore described, the transformations, it was all fantastic. I also love that it was all a set up, it puts a slightly different spin on a genre that can get a bit overdone. Tyler’s death is devastating and I don’t think B’s reaction makes up for it. I really wish they could’ve had that realization BEFORE murdering someone.
The ending is definitely a shock and makes me wonder what’s going to happen next. I’m just not ready for any more of B’s dad, so I really hope that gets handled quickly but I honestly don’t have high hopes.
I will continue to read this series even though I’m obviously not enjoying it as much as I did when I was younger. I’m still curious as to where the story goes.
-2015
I’m going to add a little blurb for each book to quickly remind me what each one was about. This one was: B’s backstory, lots of racism, and the outbreak.
**Spoilers in review!!**
Absolutely mortified that that’s the only review I left when I first read this. I didn’t get ANYTHING else from it?? Jeez.
I wanted to read this again to get back into zombie books and I remember Darren Shan being one of my all time favorite authors in middle school.
I was expecting a fun, easy to get through zombie book, but this is honestly pretty difficult to get through with just how intense and often the racism is. And the fact that B just refuses to realize that they are indeed racist. It gets very annoying very fast.
I’m also a little sad with how long it takes to get to actual zombie time. I get that it was needed because the story and characters needed to be set up, I was still frustrated by it though.
However, I absolutely loved when the zombies finally did arrive. The different types of panic shown, the gore described, the transformations, it was all fantastic. I also love that it was all a set up, it puts a slightly different spin on a genre that can get a bit overdone. Tyler’s death is devastating and I don’t think B’s reaction makes up for it. I really wish they could’ve had that realization BEFORE murdering someone.
The ending is definitely a shock and makes me wonder what’s going to happen next. I’m just not ready for any more of B’s dad, so I really hope that gets handled quickly but I honestly don’t have high hopes.
I will continue to read this series even though I’m obviously not enjoying it as much as I did when I was younger. I’m still curious as to where the story goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Murder
pageboi31's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Wow. This was a rough one for me, luckily it was a quick read once I finally decided I needed to finish is and move on. Lots of people mentioned being disappointed after the prologue, so I reread that and it was very dark, but...ok, I guess? For being a zombie book, there was less talk of zombies compared to the topic of racism. B's father is a full-blown racist, a wife-beater, and there's really nothing more to his character than that. You'd think this would allow for some empathy towards B the protagonist, but despite their struggles with being racist and being scared of their dad and not trying to rock the boat, B is hella racist throughout and constant acts as if they're different from their father because their actions aren't due to "racism". Zombies finally come around towards the second half of the book, where characters at this point are being brutally killed by zombies left and right, with no time in between to grow tension or care about the losses (not that any characters were worth caring about, except Cass and Tyler). The revelation that B is actually short for Becky, and that the protagonist is not a dude was spoiled when I went to look at reviews to see if other had the same issues with this book that I did. It really doesn't change B as a character in my eyes, and the whole "I can't believe you made me push Tyler dad" is complete BS and is obviously Becky's fault. Her blaming her dad and then running away from their imminent escape was stupid. Her dying to Tyler at the end with him literally eating her heart was...shocking? I should of assumed that with the title of Zom-B that B would become a zombie (or perhaps a mutant?), but it still felt like it came out of left field. Also, what's up with Owl man? Perhaps I'll spark note it since I'm curious, but I'm definitely not reading more of these books... the pictures were a nice touch, but all in all, this book wasn't good, and left me annoyed and disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gore, Racism, Xenophobia, and Mass/school shootings
I feel like the discussion around racism in this book was done poorly, and true lack of character growth despite what the book was leading you to believe was frustrating and sadbrookey8888's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This was awful. First off this whole time I thought this character was a boy but turns out she’s a girl and I was shocked. Anyways this is full of racism for no reason. The main character kept saying I don’t agree with my father’s opinions but then was literally saying racist things and hate-crimeing. News flash actions speak louder than words. Just because you say you don’t agree and then are actively doing the things you are “against” doesn’t make it ok. The author tries to redeem the main character but a little to late. Literally after she sacrifices a poc character she’s like I’m going to change and then she dies 🙄.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism
stephsbookreviews's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I picked this up at a used bookstore because the cover caught my attention. Reading the description that it's a zombie story set in a school, yes, please! I regret all of it. Do NOT read this book. It's AWFUL. I haven't had this negative of a reaction to a book, maybe ever.
The main character, B, has an extremely abusive father. He beats his wife, he beats the main character, he's verbally abusive, and then add to that that he's a racist piece of shit. B copes with this by "pretending" to be racist as well, but it's not really pretending. B repeatedly uses racial slurs, bullies people of color, and is an all-around awful person, even when their father isn't around! The racism is never properly dealt with or condemned. It felt like either the author was trying to use it for the shock factor and/or wanted to make a big moral lesson but then just forgot to put that part in. This book was WAY more about the unchecked racism than it was about zombies. Seriously, this book is awful and you should definitely not read it, let alone let your kids read it, as it has some terrible messages. I've never thrown a book in the trash before but there's a first time for everything.
The main character, B, has an extremely abusive father. He beats his wife, he beats the main character, he's verbally abusive, and then add to that that he's a racist piece of shit. B copes with this by "pretending" to be racist as well, but it's not really pretending. B repeatedly uses racial slurs, bullies people of color, and is an all-around awful person, even when their father isn't around! The racism is never properly dealt with or condemned. It felt like either the author was trying to use it for the shock factor and/or wanted to make a big moral lesson but then just forgot to put that part in. This book was WAY more about the unchecked racism than it was about zombies. Seriously, this book is awful and you should definitely not read it, let alone let your kids read it, as it has some terrible messages. I've never thrown a book in the trash before but there's a first time for everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
disniq's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gore, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse
hollowfinch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Violence