At a Glance

Category/Genre(s):

Middle grade Spooky-Silly Horror

Age Range:

8-12

Plot Summary:

“August DuPont has spent his whole life inside a dilapidated house with his aunt Hydrangea. His lonely existence ends abruptly with the arrival of an invitation to meet an aunt–and cousins–he didn’t even know existed. When Aunt Orchid suggests that August attend school with his cousins, it’s a dream come true. But August has scarcely begun to celebrate his reversal of fortune when he is confronted by a small problem on his way home. So begins an adventure filled with a wild child, a zombie, a fabled white alligator, and an unimaginable family secret.” (source)

Strengths:

• Funny and quirky with zombies
• fast-paced and fun
• the cast of characters are zany and interesting to read

Full Review

I read an ARC of this book through NetGalley. I knew nothing about it other than the cover looked interesting and the title promised zombies. I found A Small Zombie Problem to be a really fun, zany, quirky adventure.

The book, in my opinion, has a very British feel, despite being set in the South. I actually enjoyed the narrative voice quite a bit, so it didn’t bother me when something would happen and I’d be reminded that it was set here in the USA.

I also, given the character’s outfits in illustrations, felt like the book was set in the past, but occasionally a character would do something like pull out a phone, and I would be reminded that it was set in the present. This aspect was a bit jarring, but I also think it was intentional because many of the characters are very much set in the past, all while things are crumbling down around them.

I especially enjoyed how the zombie is introduced. Without giving too much away, I will say it was kind of neat how the zombie just sort of drops into the story without much explanation. The reader must discover what on earth this supernatural creature is doing in an otherwise ordinary world right along with the main character.

Final Verdict

If you are looking for a fun, easy-on-the-horror zombie story with some heart, check this title out!