Review - Undead

Title - Undead 

Author - Kirsty McKay

Series - Undead #1

Genre - YA Zombies

Published - September 1st 2011

Publisher - Chicken House

Format - Hardcover

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

Out of sight, out of their minds: It's a school-trip splatter fest and completely not cool when the other kids in her class go all braindead on new girl Bobby. 

The day of the ski trip, when the bus comes to a stop at a roadside restaurant, everyone gets off and heads in for lunch. Everyone, that is, except Bobby, the new girl, who stays behind with rebel-without-a-clue Smitty. 

Then hours pass. Snow piles up. Sun goes down. Bobby and Smitty start to flirt. Start to stress. Till finally they see the other kids stumbling back. 

But they've changed. And not in a good way. Straight up, they're zombies. So the wheels on the bus better go round and round freakin' fast, because that's the only thing keeping Bobby and Smitty from becoming their classmates' next meal. It's kill or be killed in these hunger games, heads are gonna roll, and homework is most definitely gonna be late. 

Combining the chill of THE SHINING, the thrill ride of SPEED, the humor of SHAUN OF THE DEAD, and the angst of THE BREAKFAST CLUB, Kirsty McKay's UNDEAD is a bloody mad mash-up, a school-trip splatter-fest, a funny, gory, frighteningly good debut!

Review

Bobby has recently returned to the UK after spending several years living in the US. Her mother signs her up for a ski trip before school starts hoping she will be able to make friends.  Unfortunately for her making friends isn't really working so when the bus stops at a café for food she has no desire to get off the bus. Bobby is stuck on the bus with Smitty the troublemaker and the bus driver when things go south quickly. While the bus driver steps off to see what hit the bus Alice returns being chased by their teacher screaming about everyone being dead. They also add the pasty nerdy kid to the group after checking out the gas station.

Soon Zombies are intent on get them forcing the group to go extreme by blowing up the gas station killing all their fellow classmates. The group heads for the café in the morning hoping to find wifi that will allow them to get help.  When they are overrun by more zombies they run back to the bus attempting to escape but they run across a tree blocking the road. They start thinking that maybe this whole zombie outbreak was planned because of the camera and road blocked. They set off down the road with two new members hoping to find a place to stay safe and get help. When they find a castle they learn the truth of the outbreak but will the make it out to tell about it?

Bobby is the new girl at school without any friends she sets off on a ski trip that will change her life. She’s smart, stubborn and knows how to kick ass when she needs to. She’s paired with a bad boy who wears leather and who can really wield a dwarf ax. I had my moments where I wanted to strangle Malice I mean Alice she frustrated me but adds to the story. Pete was a fun nerdy character who I rooted for even if he wasn't kicking butt like Smitty.

I've had this one on my shelf forever and when I saw it on amazon I had to pick up a copy. I’m a zombie addict I can’t seem to get enough of them. I love the idea for the zombie outbreak it’s one of those concepts I could totally see happening in the future. Undead is a fast paced action thrill that keeps you sucked into the story to the end only to tease you for the next one. Even though it’s an intense zombie thriller the author has thrown in a little humor to keep it light. I found the characters easy to connect with you can’t help cheering them on as they fight the zombies. I found the authors writing style enjoyable she created a brilliant story that I found captivating. This was one of those books I had a hard time putting down I read it in one afternoon. I can’t wait to start on the next one thanks to the ending of this one. If you love zombies Undead is a must read.

5 out of 5 stars

A little taste of Undead

 I would rather die than face them all again. 

Die horribly. 

In a messy, fleshy, blood ’n’ guts kind of way. 

It is a total no-brainer.