ARC Review: ZOMBIE TAG

The Book: ZOMBIE TAG
The Author: Hannah Moskowitz
The Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
The Genre: Middle Grade
Expected Release Date: December 20, 2011 (perfect addition to the old holiday shopping list. I'm just saying)

Summary: (as taken from Amazon)
Wil is desperate for his older brother to come back from the dead. But the thing about zombies is . . they don’t exactly make the best siblings.

Thirteen-year-old Wil Lowenstein copes with his brother’s death by focusing on Zombie Tag, a mafia/
capture the flag hybrid game where he and his friends fight off brain-eating zombies with their mothers’ spatulas. What Wil doesn’t tell anybody is that if he could bring his dead brother back as a zombie, he would in a heartbeat. But when Wil finds a way to summon all the dead within five miles, he’s surprised to discover that his back-from-the-dead brother is emotionless and distant.

My Thoughts:
I have to say that lately, I've fallen in love with MG, and with ZOMBIE TAG, I've fallen hard.  This book has everything you want in a good story.  There's the lovable, slightly damaged main character, the family ravaged by tragedy, the friends who want to help, those who the MC betrayed. 

And, of course, there are zombies. 

Wil is the kind of main character you want to get behind.  He idolized his brother, and hasn't quite been the same since Graham's untimely death.  He'd give anything to bring him back, but everyone knows that zombies are no more.  The last time they walked the earth was close to thirty years ago, and after they all abruptly died the second time, none have come back.  They're gone.  It's a fact, one that Wil wishes wasn't true, because how great would it be to see his brother again? 

Then, his family would be whole again.  They'd be normal, real people, and not the broken, hollowed-out shells they've all become.  So, when Wil learns that the one instrument capable of raising the dead is within reach, he jumps at the chance.  All he has to do is steal it...from his best friend's dad.

The dead rise, and Graham comes home. One problem: While Graham may not have turned into the mindless, flesh-starved undead creature everyone expects, he's also not the brother Wil knew.

So, get your spatula's ready, kids, for the ultimate undead fighting game out there, ZOMBIE TAG.  Can you make it out alive?

Road-Trip Wednesday: The Music of Your (Character's) Soul...

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This week's topic:

If your WIP or favorite book were music, what song(s) would it be?

I am so glad that this is the topic I jump back into Road-Trip Wednesdays with.  *does little happy dance*  As we all know, my writing is heavily influenced by music (isn't that true for us all, though?)...but by one band in particular.

Yep, you guessed it.  SEETHER.  only the best band ever...and nearly every one of my manuscripts have been influenced in some way shape or form by their music.  Don't believe me?  Well, here are some examples of my Seether-esque writing obsession:

BROKEN (about a girl battling her way back from addiction) was inspired by Fine Again off the Disclaimer album.

A SLIVER OF HOPE (the one I affectionately refer to as my suicidal sister novel) emerged from (in addition to a rather freaky weekend marathon of Discovery Health's Mystery Diagnosis) the lyrics of Fake It from the Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces album.

ALWAYS AND FOREVER (i.e. cancer girl who's a real bitch to everyone she loves most...yeah, I need to fix that...make her more likeable and shit) was actually the product of an ee Cummings poem, a Rise Against song (Savior), Seether's Breakdown, again off Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces and Remedy from their Karma and Effect CD.

Which brings me to my current effort(s) SHUT UP and an as-yet untitled WiP.  SHUT UP was inspired by Rise Above This from (you guessed it...my fave of their albums) Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces and the untitled work grew out of my current obsession with Country Song, the first single off their upcoming album Holding onto Strings Better Left to Fray.  Hello?  How can I not be obsessed with a band whose album titles alone are sheer poetry?

Oh! and while you're visiting, you should really enter my Friday Five contest. It closes tomorrow.

Friday Five: Greatest Hits of 2010

Well folks, I haven't done a Friday Five in a while, and a Road-Trip Wednesday in even longer.  Today, I'm going to smoosh the two into one fantabulous post.  So without further adieu, I give you:

My Top Five Reads of 2010!!!

**randomly listed**

In the I only bought/read this cuz an agent tweeted so much about it category:  EPITAPH ROAD by David Patneaude:  I must admit that I only purchased this book because the lovely Elana Roth tweeted and tweeted and tweeted such rave reviews about it.  And, guess what folks? It didn't live up to the hype.  It SURPASSED her glowing praise.  If you haven't read it yet and you like dystopian...well, what are you waiting for? Go get it!

In the Books I picked up at the store and then promptly passed up like a bazillion times before actually buying it category: The HUNGER GAMES trilogy by Suzanne Collins.  Yes, I said trilogy.  We all know from previous posts what a vain book reader(why yes, I do judge books by their covers) I am.  But, once I got over the stark cover art, HOLY WOW.  If you are one of the very, very few who have been living under a rock in the middle of the Sahara, let me tell you that you are missing something so amazing I can't even talk about it without making this a 60K word blog post.

In the Why did I even bother putting on makeup this morning because I just cried it all off category: This one is a tie.  I just can't decide so, I'm going to give you two.  LOVE YOU HATE YOU MISS YOU by Elizabeth Scott and THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher.  Guh.  Heartbreaking tales, both of them.

In the Friends don't let friends read alone category: The CHAOS WALKING trilogy by Patrick Ness.  I have to admit that when Abby Mumford told me about these books, I did run right out to the library and pick them up.  The first line of THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO was very intriguing, but the style of writing kind of threw me and I set the book aside.  A month later as the due date approached, I picked the books back up and said, "Self, you will read this, at least the first one in the series."  And HOLY WOW, am I ever glad that I did.  Once I settled into the writing and the world of Todd and his faithful dog, Manchee, I was trapped.  I finished all three books within a matter of days.  Quite a feat considering each book is over 600 pages.  GREAT GREAT GREAT reads.  Thank you, Abby for browbeating me into reading this!

In the Friendship, Death, and Eating Disorders never sounded so beautifully poetic category:  WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson.  Really, I shouldn't have to say anything more.  LAH is a brilliant writer.  Anything she produces is pure poetry.

Honorable Mention: In the I have literally no words to describe how this book affected me category:  FORBIDDEN by Tabitha Suzuma.  I've already ranted about this book in previously, and more than a month later, I still have no words for how this book made me feel.

Okay, friends.  That's it for my 2010 reading round-up.  How about all of you?  Have you read anything that you just need to tell everyone and their mother about?  Well, I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

First Lines: You Had Me At...

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This week's topic:

A novel's opening is like a pick up line. If it's good, you might take it home. If it's bad... well. You know.

What are your favorite first lines? How do your own WIPs start?

 
 
I haven't participated in a Road-Trip Wednesday in quite some time, but I'm so glad that I'm coming back into the fold with this topic.  First lines always get me.  Good or bad, they tell me everything I need to know about the book I'm about to read.  I know almost immediately whether I'll like, love, or be somewhat ambivalent about.
 
So, first with my favorite first lines.  Some of you may recognize many (Hell, three out of the four) of these from my Friday Five a couple weeks back when I regaled you all with my list of books that make me jealous want to be a better writer. 
 
"So she tells me, the words dribbling out with the cranberry muffin crumbs, commas dunked in her coffee." WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson   GUH...sheer poetry.  Why, oh why, can't I write like that?!?!
 
"The first feeling is exhilaration."  BREAK by Hannah Moskowitz  Jeeze, Hannah!  Five words and you have me slathering for more.  Just goes to show you that you really don't need long, flowery prose to snatch your reader's attention.  In the immortal words of Nike, "Just Do It."  And, Hannah does.
 
"Everyone thinks it was because of the snow."  IF I STAY by Gayle Forman  A simple, yet poetic beginning to an achingly beautiful story.
 
"I knew it would begin with the end and the end would look like death to these eyes.  I had been warned."  THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer  This is one of my favorite books of all time.  Science fiction for those of us who don't really like sci-fi (and those of us that do).  I highly recommend this to anyone, and FYI: this is the December Book Hungry book club pick :)
 
Now, for the second part of this road-trip.  My favorite first lines of my own works.  I'm actually going to give you two, because I can't decide which ones I like more.
 
"This was the place for society's rejects, where the bottom feeders came out in support of one another.  And, I was their newest initiate."  BROKEN (2 drafts complete...still revising)
 
"All my hiding places have disappeared, vanished into thin air within a fraction of a second."  ALWAYS AND FOREVER (current WiP...40K into approximately 70K)

Road Trip Wednesday: The Best of the Best

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This week, YA Highway begs the question: What is the best book you've read this month?

This is a difficult one as I have read several excellent books this month! As such, there were two that stood out as bright shining beacons for me. Yes, two. What? I can't be a little indecisive?

EPITAPH ROAD by David Patneaude. Set in the year 2097--thirty years AFTER a deadly virus swept around the world, killing off 97% of the male population--we meet Kellan, a 14 year old boy wandering among a sea of women. He lives under constant scrutiny. Girls want to be near him. Women distrust him. But, when he stumbles upon evidence about the origins of Elisha's Bear and a possible resurgence in the area where his father now makes his home, Kellan and two friends set out on a quest to reach his father in time. Fast-paced and beautifully written, EPITAPH ROAD is a must read for anyone, whether you're fifteen or fifty.

PAPER TOWNS by John Green. Many of you fine folks are already acquainted with the pure awesomeness that is John Green. Whether you've read LOOKING FOR ALASKA, AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES, or his newest effort WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON or if (like me) this is your first foray into the world of Green, on thing is for certain. The man knows how to weave brilliant stories that are relevant to today's youth and teaches us a little something about life without us actually realizing it. In PAPER TOWNS, Q spends one wild night with the girl of his dreams...the incomparable Margo Roth Spiegelman. The next morning, she is gone, and Q seems to be the only one who cares about whether she is found or not. With his friends Radar and Ben, he embarks on a journey to track down the elusive Margo, but what he really finds along the way is himself. Plus, the book is so awesome that they use my new favorite word: asshat. If you're still on the fence about whether to read this book, allow me to share my favorite lines from this book

Please stop. You're scaring the black santas.

The beast is stuck on me.

Ben Starling, you did not just buy your token black friend a racist shirt.

Classic! You must go out and get both books ASAP! You will be so glad you did!

Road-Trip Wednesday: If I had $1,000,000...I'd buy your LOVE

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic. We'd love for you to participate!

Last week, we asked whose writing career you'd like to have. The overwhelming response: NOT Stephenie Meyers or JK Rowling. "The money would be nice, but too much pressure." This week, we want to know: If you did have that kind of monetary success, what would you do with it?

TRAVEL!!! Since I am currently only a hundredaire and not a millionaire, my travel plans are very few and far between. And, when I do go somewhere, it's usually within a day's drive....BUT If I had a million dollars **cue Barenaked Ladies soundtrack** Here's my itinerary:

Of course, this would just be the first leg of my globetrotting...but you get the point...

BUY MY DREAM HOUSE...okay, and I would buy my parents a house too...and, yes I am kind of strange, but I NEED a house like this out in the middle of the woods...kind of Unabomber-ish, but whatever! LOL

Then, of course, I would go all Sarah McLaughlin and spend all my time speaking out about the one thing that pulls at my heartstrings like no other....Tell that doesn't make you want to go out and save a puppy or kitty!

I'm sure I'd do some other things...like waste money on strippers, booze, and blow....you know, the usual. But, this is all I can think of right now!

...Uh, I guess I should qualify that last bit by adding: MALE strippers...and preferably ones that look like this:

Road Trip Wednesday: Attack of the Clones...

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic. We'd love for you to participate!

Borrowing a prompt from the illustrious Mr. Nathan Bransford, YA Highway wants to know: Which writer's career would you like to emulate?

Hmm. That's a good question! And, obviously one I feel compelled to answer. So here we go!

When I was eight, I discovered my mother's book collection and never looked back. This precipitated the monumental decision to become a writer. But not just any writer. I was going to be female Dean Koontz! I was going to dazzle the world with my tales of homicidal adventurers on a weekend killing spree, aliens landing on planet Earth intent upon creating a super species that would eradicate mankind, and genetics-enhancing experiments gone terribly wrong and the resulting government cover-up. Yes, lofty goals, but I knew that I could do it.

Years went by before I realized that that dream would never come true. Don't get me wrong. I was still going to be a writer, damn it. But teen years gave birth to the discovery of the romance. And just like that, I was hooked. So, is it any surprise that I now wanted to spend my days writing epic romances with beautiful headstrong heroines and dashing, brooding heroes?

Now, I am old. Yes, I can admit that, but I still won't tell you just how ancient I am! A girl needs to have some secrets ;) So, with all the wisdom that my years have amassed, I know with absolute certainty that I was not made to be the stylish clone of an already great writer. My interests in reading material are far to varied to allow myself to be pigeon-holed into only one genre.

No, I am me...As cliche as it sounds, I really am what I am...and what I am really needs no excuses! So, I may be poor and unpublished, but I am me! And, really, that's the way I like it!

Road Trip Wednesday: How Do You Procrastinate??

Road Trip Wednesday is a "Blog Carnival," where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.This week's question:

How Do You Procrastinate?

I have to admit that I am a long-time lurker of Road Trip Wednesdays. I have read and read and read some more, all the while saying "I should do that, too!" And, do I? Ever? That would be a big, fat NO.

"Why start now?" you may ask. My answer, as always: "Why not?" Plus, this week's question is particularly relevant to my writing life as of this moment. So, again: "Why the heck not?"

Here we go. How Do I Procrastinate? Let me count the ways...

My computer is on all day at work, and when I'm not busy with actual work (happens a lot these days considering I work for a construction company...in Florida), I will plug in my flash drive and open it up, which is about the time I notice that....

1. I have a text message from some random friend/acquaintance/co-worker
2. I decide to check my email (all three accounts and my work email, just in case)
3. then I think that I must Twitter stalk the agents that have my full
4. which pulls me into convos others are having on Twitter and before I know it, an hour (or two) has passed :)
5. which leads me to check my email...AGAIN! Hey, one of those agents might have emailed me! you never know
6. which makes me think of my sometimes neglected blog...
7. and of course, AW. I've got to check that....and comment....there goes another hour
8. and back to Twitter
9. About this time, I'm thinking, "Enough is enough! Quit procrastinating!" My inner voice is ofttimes very mean to me :(
10. So, I go back to the flash drive...
11. and find myself opening up one of the saved docs from my beta...
12. where I inevitably begin to read her newest novel....for the thousandth time! It's okay. She's a great writer so I don't feel all that bad about it...
13. except for when I realize that another hour has passed!! so, I check my email...
14. and find a note from said beta gently reminding me TO QUIT MESSING AROUND AND GET TO WORK!!!
15. and so back to the flash drive...but not before I check Twitter one more time...There goes another hour
16. And, now it's five o'clock, and while I haven't been all that busy with work, I really didn't get all that much accomplished except for some snarky remarks made on Twitter...
17. At home, I must tend to actual stuff...dogs, dinner, phone calls, and before I know it, it's way past o'fuck thirty and I have to work in the morning!
18. At which point, I climb into bed, turn off the light, and in the next second, the alarm is going off, so I can start all over again!!!

So, that's me! What about all the rest of you procrastinators?