Gravediggers: Mountain of Bones (review)

Sixth-grade daredevil Ian Buckley strays off the designated path during a class hike when he sees a twelve point buck; his best pal, film buff PJ, follows with camera in hand, while nerd Kendra treks after to scold the two boys back to the group. Unfortunately, the trio is soon lost, and when night falls, it becomes clear that an impending rainstorm and wild animals may be the least of their worries: pursued by zombies hungry for their flesh, Ian, Kendra, and PJ tackle mountainous terrain, endless underground tunnels, and the witch who seemingly controls the reanimated corpses. For a zombie book, this is far lighter on the gore than many, but it still maintains a quick pace and a level of suspense that will please readers looking more for a genuine scare than a putrefied bloodbath. Narration alternates among the kids, broadening the book's appeal, and each of the voices has a distinctive, if stereotypical, flair (jock Ian tends towards sports metaphors, egghead Kendra's contribution are peppered with vocab words, etc.). The eventual revelation of the witch's true purpose adds an interesting twist, and the kids' unwitting entry into a world of zombie hunters promises further installments.