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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.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia