The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier (review)

Thirteen-year-old Jack has made good use of the forty-two days since the zombie/ monster apocalypse began. He’s set himself challenges (complete with badges) that keep his mind busy while also helping him build survival skills, and he’s never lost sight of his key goals of reuniting with his best friend (who is brilliant enough to have undoubtedly survived) and saving his crush, who he’s sure is barely hanging on without Jack’s help. It’s slightly convenient that Jack didn’t really lose anyone important to him (being an orphan comes in handy as a plot device once again), but it clears the way for readers to focus on how well Jack has adapted to this new world of epic monsters and slavering zombies. Add in a school bully who redeems himself, a quick tweak to the damsel-in-distress scenario (she’s been kicking butt quite well, thank you), and a fierce battle against a monster smart enough to hold a grudge, and you’ve got quite an appealing mix for the middle-grade set. Jack is a fantastic narrator, readily admitting to his own quirks while also being savvy enough to spot when he’s pegged someone wrong (which is most of the time). The frequent, often full-page illustrations are key here, as they highlight dimension, grossness, and humor and sometimes directly contradict Jack’s bravado-laced narration. Young zombie fans will rejoice in this new series that has all the oozing (by the zombies) and heroism (by the kids) that they could hope for.