What's Behind the Zombie Phenomenom

A recent article in the Tween Tribune called, "In hard times, zombies make us feel better" it was noted that zombies seem to be everywhere these days. I just posted on Facebook about the amazing and terrifying movie trailer I saw last night for the upcoming World War Z movie based on the ever famous book by Max Brooks and also starring the one and only Brad Pitt! Zombies are also hitting hard on the popular TV series "The Walking Dead," where every week humans have to try and escape from a pack of hungry flesh eating zombies! The article also talked about "prank alerts that have warned of a zombie apocalypse on radio stations in a handful of states and across the country, zombie wannabes in tattered clothes occasionally fill local parks, gurgling moans of the undead." Whoa that sounds pretty crazy all right.

I've got a question for you - do you think that these types of strange events are created by people that just happen to have unhealthy obsessions with the dead and the decayed? According to professor Sarah Lauro, "the phenomenon isn't harmful or a random fad, but part of a historical trend that mirrors a level of cultural dissatisfaction and economic upheaval. We are more interested in the zombie at times when as a culture we feel disempowered, and watching a show like 'Walking Dead' provides a great variety of outlets for people."

Lauro talks a lot about the idea of having a "zombie walk," where a mass wannabe zombies get together dressed up in tattered clothes and zombiesque makeup with the traditional marks of the undead and then drag their feet around and try to do the zombie dance."

Here's the question that the Tween Tribune asked: "Do you agree with the author’s belief, that zombies make us feel better in hard times?" Well, I'm not sure but I sure do have a few zombie themed books that I can recommend to cure the zombie brain drain.

Here are my suggestions:

Rot & Ruin by Jonathon Maberry


The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan


Enclave by Ann Aguirre


Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter


Check these out and let me know if you think they equal up to the vim and vigor of Max Brooks' World War Z!

Happy Reading to you!

All my best, Mrs. Librarian Lady

- article Posted on Tween Tribune on March 11, 2013

Apocalyptic Dream Team

ALERT! I love this Book!! "Enclave" by Ann Aguirre 2011

"In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known."

I think this book would be a great movie!

To Zombie, or Not to Zombie, That is a Good Question Indeed

Hi Mrs. Librarian Lady,

All my friends LOVE zombies and they are really into playing video games where they get to either chase zombies or run from them. I’m not sure if I like zombies that much and don’t want to try those games yet. Do you know of a book that has zombies in it that I could read? Not too scary tho!

Signed,

??Zombiees??



Greetings ??Zombiees??

I feel your pain! I am not really a big zombie fan myself. There’s something creepy about the way they drag themselves around. Oh, and the thing that I hate the most is that they usually want to eat you too. I know of a book called The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan that I would highly recommend for you to read if you are not sure about zombies. The story involves a futuristic world where humans become infected and turn into zombies. It’s not too scary and if I can read it and not be too scared then you can too! Let me know what you think because there is a companion book also by Carrie Ryan called The Dead Tossed Waves you might like as well.



Happy Reading and Good Luck with the Zombies!

Mrs. Librarian Lady



The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Review: Mary lives in a nice little quiet village on the edge of a forest where nothing much happens except when someone gets bit by one of the infected dead zombies called the Unconsecrated that gather by the fences that surround the area. You may think that this sounds weird, but basically it’s all Mary has ever known. Her father has recently disappeared and turned up Unconsecrated, and her mother pretty much goes insane and gets herself bit in order to be with him outside the fences. Once someone is bit they become infected and then it is only a matter of time before they turn Unconsecrated as well. After losing her parents, Mary is in an awful state and even her own brother turns her away so goes to live with the Sisterhood who just happen to be the keepers of many deep dark secrets. In the meantime Travis, the guy that Mary has had a crush on for a long time ends mashing his leg and ends up convalescing at the chapel where she is staying with the sisters. The two become very close and have a strong connection that just may last forever. Unfortunately the Sisters have different plans for them and they decree that Mary must instead become betrothed to Travis’ brother Harry. Many things happen after this and there is a breach in the fences and the Unconsecrated swarm the village biting and eating lots of people. The only ones to make it out alive are Mary, Harry, Travis, her friend Cass, a little boy named Jacob, her new puppy Argos and her brother Jed. As they flee from their village, they leave behind the only world they have ever known. Mary always wonders what lies beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth and would like to explore, but she is constantly being pursued by those annoying flesh eating zombies. This is an amazing apocalyptic tale that will have you on the edge of your seat and chewing your fingernails, well at least it did for me. Ryan’s writing is haunting and intense as she shows readers what life will be like when zombies take over the world dubbing it appropriately as The Return. I really enjoyed listening to this on disc and Vane Millon’s voice was perfect for Mary. Readers will enjoy this book because there is plenty of chasing and running and tons of action. Especially when Mary takes charge, that’s when some zombie heads start to roll!



You can also read this article at Examiner.com: To Zombie, or Not To Zombie, That is a Good Question Indeed - San Francisco young adult fiction | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/young-adult-fiction-in-san-francisco/to-zombie-or-not-to-zombie-that-is-a-good-question-indeed#ixzz1EtzdI3S6