Never Slow Dance with a Zombie

I really loved this book, especially after coming off of Zombie Blondes, which I didn't like, to this one was wonderful! I really enjoy satires, books that go over the top to make their point. This book did not disappoint. We have Sybil and Margot who discover that all most all of their classmates have been turned into zombies. What does Margot want to do? She wants to be the most popular girl in school (though, she is the only one not undead!). While Sybil just wants to get the zombies to "declique" from their cliques! As Margot strives to rule the school and stay safe from the zombies her and Sybil slowly grow apart. Can they keep their friendship, cure their classmates, discover the culprit, and survive high school? These are the themes I experienced in high school. How to hold onto the good friends I've got and not worry about what the popular kids say, etc. How to make a difference in school? How do I survive? Granted, I never had to fight off zombies and live among them, but don't we all have a bit of zombie in us?

When I first started reading Never Slow Dance with a Zombie I sighed in dismay..... another story about a girl who dreams of being popular. You know the slightly pudgy dark headed girl with a skinny blonde nemesis. The nobody who wants to be the somebody. I was even tempted to just close the book and set it on my pile of TBR, near the bottom where other books would pile atop it, and it would disappear between 'similar' and 'a million other books used that plot'. Then Margot went to school and found that it was overrun with zombies. This was when the book took a hilarious and interesting turn. Instead of reporting this massive zombie outbreak to the authorities or even running away and telling their parents, Margot and Sybil talk to their principal. Ok, you're thinking, he's an authority figure right? Wrong he enlists them to help keep the school running smoothly despite the 'mmmmmphhhgrwwwwwl'-ing zombies at the school. Guess what? The thought of being the queen bee and able to be head cheerleader (oh and prom queen) hits just the right note and Margot ploughs ahead full force. In order to survive high school you have to find your pack. (are you goth zombie or emo zombie?) Not be an individual, everyone wants to be popular right? (oh and zombies hate non-zombies, so try to fit in!) And have a gaggle of adoring wannabes behind you. (do hungry chomping zombies count?) Point is E. Van Lowe made a unique and quite funny connection between teenage/highschool angst and living with the undead. The heroines of this book aren't perfect, in fact one of them has a dark little voice inside her head telling her to be selfish and mean. These girls are real in a way Bella never could be. It's an easy humorus read, just get through the first 1/4 filled with empty thoughts of popularity and on to the zombie party!

I picked this book up for my niece because she loves all things zombie and opened it casually thinking I'd just read the opening paragraph. Well, I was hooked. It was so fun to read about this crazy canvas of characters. I felt like a YA all over again. Would make a great movie, no doubt about it. Great job E. VanLowe. p.s. This made me think that about "The Book Thief"- another supposed YA novel that adults soon found and loved. This certainly doesn't have the heavy topic that book has but it has the wit.

In high school, Margot remains a failure when it comes to popularity especially her fantasy of having Dirk ask her to the carnival. Her BFF Sybil says she has it under control as she will ask Dirk out for Margot. Sybil hides her attraction to Dirk from Margot. Meanwhile making matters worse for Margot is her most hated enemy Amanda Culpepper is dating Dirk. Whereas Margot does not go to the carnival, Sybil does but leaves early as she had no one with her. The next day the pair expects to hear how everyone had a good time and by implication they are losers. Instead they find their classmates have become zombies, but remained with their pre zombie subculture. Instead of fleeing screaming Margot and Sybil mount a coup d'etat taking over as the new kids on the block in charge. They instigate the anti zombie laws while converted Dirk remains a stud muffin albeit a bit slower than before the carnival. With a nod to chick lit lits and principal rules, NEVER SLOW DANCE WITH A ZOMBIE is an amusing tale as Margot the magnificent and her bud work the high school. The story line uses student stunts to provide some sense of realism, but this young teen urban fantasy focuses on how to lead the in crowd when your school is overrun (bad term as zombies don't run) by zombies and your hunk gives off hunks of epidermal parts. Harriet Klausner

Never Slow Dance With A Zombie is a super cute *arghhh* (sorry that was supposed to be a zombie growl, but it sounds more like a pirate hehe) zombie novel. E. Van Lowe's writing is funny which makes it a fun, fast paced read. I liked most of the characters, except with the exception of one. The main character Margot starts out being a self-centered brat that only cares about being popular, being invited to parties and getting a boyfriend. It seems like her whole life revolved around a manifesto list which she created that includes those wants and more. My favorite character would have to be Sybil, she is a sweet, caring girl that wants nothing more than her best friend Margot to be happy. If only Margot could see that right, or does she?...hmmm, don't want to give that away. To sum it up a little...one day Margot and Sybil go to school and pretty much 90% of the student body are turned into zombies for the exception of a few classmates, the principal and gym teacher. At first I was a little confused because their was no explanation to why this occurred, but as I read it all the answers were eventually revealed. I also enjoyed how E. Van Lowe used different, unique names for his characters instead of the cliche names found in books today. Overall, a very cute read and I definitely recommend it if you're a zombie lover! Grrrargh...is that more zombie like?