Monday, May 21, 2012

Review: 'Undead' by Kirsty McKay


Undead by Kirsty McKay releases September 2012.

A school sponsored ski trip in the wilds of Scotland, becomes the ultimate fight for survival for a small group of high school students.  Newly repatriated after years in the U.S., Roberta doesn't fit in with her new classmates but she never expected them to try and EAT her!  The bus stops for a lunch break and Roberta's life changes forever when teachers and students mysteriously drop dead only to reanimate into flesh-craving zombies a short time later. In order to survive Roberta and her few surviving classmates must put aside their differences and work together.  It's going to be a bumpy ride.

McKay's debut novel is funny, fast-paced and creepy - everything that a reader could want in a zombie novel.  She has obviously done her research on buses, diners and snowboards which allows her characters to react both creatively and realistically.  Instead of the usual remote cabin often found in this type of novel these teens are trapped in a passenger bus, which presents unique challenges for staging, survival and security.  The plot leaps into a sprint on the very first page and continues at a breakneck pace throughout the novel.  While Roberta is female and the story is told from her perspective, she is wonderfully pragmatic and should not bother male readers.  If you've got teens looking for a great zombie novel this is one to send their way.

McKay is an author to watch.

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