About this item
After becoming undead, a boy tries to survive middle school.Adrian Lazarus has met with a curious fate. He's returned from the dead (after a bad bike accident, no helmet) , yet not a lot has changed. He's always been an outcast. But it's not just being a zombie that makes Adrian feel different. He notices the world has changed, too: bees are vanishing, forest fires are burning, super-flus are spreading. The holographic advertisements in the night sky assure people that all is well. Adrian and his friends - a beekeeping boy, a mysterious new girl, and a seventh-grade sleuth - aren't so sure.When they discover a birdlike drone has been spying on Adrian, the clues lead to two powerful corporate moguls. What do they really want?James Preller brings his singular humor to Better Off Undead, a zombie story that's about fitting in as much as it's about the end of the world.This title has Common Core connections.
About the Author
James Preller is the author of the popular Jigsaw Jones mystery books. He has also written widely for young readers of all ages, from picture books to young adult novels. Some middle-grade titles include: Blood Mountain (October, 2019) , Bystander, named a 2009 Junior Library Guild Selection, Six Innings, an ALA Notable Book, The Courage Test, 2016 Junior Library Guild Selection, The Fall, a YALSA award-winner, Better Off Undead, and Before You Go -- as well as the "Scary Tales" and "Big Idea Gang" series. Younger readers might enjoy his pirate-themed books (A Pirate's Guide to First Grade) and an upcoming picture book of haiku, All Welcome Here (Spring, 2020) . He lives in Delmar, New York, and gratefully visits schools around the country. He maintains a lively blog at jamespreller.com and may be contacted through that site.
