Top-10 YA Zombie
Books Every Fan Should Read
By Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don’t Cry
The first zombie book I ever read, ever, the first
time I ever knew you could write a book about zombies was Stacey Jay’s You Are So Undead to Me (see below).
Which is, not surprisingly, on this list. But since then I have read so many
great zombie books and even though I have ten whole slots to fill here, with
the way zombie books are coming out these days, I know I could probably fill
this list two or three times over. But, for now, here are the Top-10 YA Zombie Books Every Fan Should
Read:
You
Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay: Like I
said, this was THE first zombie book I ever read and it taught me, above all
else, the power of a really good title!
Rot & Ruin
by Jonathan Maberry: My Dad once said about his favorite sports writer, “This
guy writes about more than just sports; he tells the truth.” Replace “sports”
with “zombies,” and that’s almost exactly how I recommend this book – and its
author – to friends.
Never Slow Dance
With a Zombie: By the great and powerful E. Van
Lowe, this was one of the first zombie books I ever read and the first one that
gave me permission to just straight up have fun.
Generation Dead by
Daniel Waters: This was the first “serious” zombie book I ever read. It had
such great plotting and characterization, and I really felt for the undead in
this one.
Forest of Hands
and Teeth by Carrie Ryan: This one has such an
original idea for a story and is far removed from most of my favorite teen
zombie books, where you can almost hear the lockers slamming and the gossip
spreading as you read.
I Kissed a
Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer: More
than just a clever title, this book is a great zombie read and I love the cover
because it really gives you the idea that, “Yeah, zombies and humans, this
could work. Sort of...” If you like your YA zombie books smart, creepy and fun,
you can’t go wrong here.
Zombie Queen of
Newbury High by Amanda Ashby: This is the second
zombie book I ever read, and still one of my all-time favorites. (It doesn’t
hurt that the author is an awesome sweet person, as well.) This book perfectly
captures what I think of when I imagine YA supernatural: infinitely steeped in
that young adult world of slamming lockers, prom queens, yearbook photos, BFFs,
Mean Girls, the works.
Bad Taste in
Boys by Carrie Harris: As an ex football
player (okay, the JV team, but still…) and current zombie lover, this book
really came out of left field to surprise and entertain me. Another great
zombie book steeped in high school culture with a “race against time” plot!
Strange Angels by
Lili St Crow: Okay, so technically this isn’t a zombie novel per se, but there
are zombies so… I’m calling it. There is also some great characterization and
surprises between the two main characters, who I defy you not to get hooked on!
Zombie Blondes by
Brian James: I loved this book so much. It’s almost nothing like most of the
zombie books I’ve read. It moves slowly, in an atmospheric, gothic way. What I
remember most about the book, other than the zombies, is the main character
describing the grimness of the house she lived in, which is to say the author’s
writing sticks with me to this day.
Okay, so, obviously I left a TON of good books on
the cutting room floor. So help! If I left off your favorite, PLEASE remind me
of it in the comments so I won’t sin again!
Yours in YA,
Rusty
About the Author
Rusty Fischer is the author of Zombies Don’t Cry, as well as several
other popular zombie books, including Panty
Raid at Zombie High, Detention of the
Living Dead and the Reanimated Readz
series of 99-cent living dead shorts.
Rusty
runs the popular website Zombies Don’t
Blog @ www.zombiesdontblog.blogspot.com.
At Zombies Don’t Blog you can read
more about Rusty’s work, view his upcoming book covers and read – or download –
completely FREE books & stories about… zombies!
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