War of the Rebellion Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Series 1, Vol. 4)

A feast for the brain, this gory and genuinely hilarious take on zombie culture simultaneously skewers, pays tribute to, and elevates the horror genre. Seventeen-year-old Nero is stuck in the wilderness with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents on an "Inward Trek." As if that werenвЂTMt bad enough, his counselors have turned into flesh-eating maniacs overnight and are now chowing down on his fellow miscreants. As in any classic monster flick worth its salted popcorn, plentiful carnage sends survivors rabbiting into the woods while the mindless horde of "infects" shambles, moans, and drools behind. Of course, these kids have seen zombie movies. They generate "Zombie Rules" almost as quickly as cheeky remarks, but attitude alone canвЂTMt keep the biters back. Serving up a cast of irreverent, slightly twisted characters, an unexpected villain, and an ending you wonвЂTMt see coming, here is a savvy tale that thatвЂTMs a delight to read — whether youвЂTMre a rabid zombie fan or freshly bitten — and an incisive commentary on the evil that lurks within each of us. Review BeaudoinвЂTMs blackly comedic tale takes zombie lore to new territory—not only with the outbreakвЂTMs unusual point of origin but also with its consideration of the next phase of human evolution. An utterly original voice, plenty of sly pop-culture references, and a twist ending make for a satisfying read. —The Horn Book Horror goes hand in hand with dark comedy in this wickedly unpredictable adventure, as Beaudoin simultaneously skewers the fast food industry and familiar zombie tropes. —Publishers Weekly NickвЂTMs job at the local chicken plant ends in disaster when he stabs his hand and jams up a conveyor belt, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage... Beaudoin fans will recognize themes (a sharp critique of unreflective consumerism), rhetorical style (razor-sharp, sophisticated, darkly inflected wit), plot concerns (manic twists, moral complications that are likely unresolvable), and character types (including a tough protagonist with a heart of gold, his sharp but vulnerable autistic sister, and some misguided and evil adults) from his previous works. For those unfamiliar with his work, itвЂTMs an impressively cerebral and engaging entry in zombie lit, offering a self-conscious parody of the conventions of the genre that focuses attention on the underlying cultural forces that make the zombie such a compelling symbol in the contemporary imagination. It is the zombie novel only Beaudoin could write, an allusive horror novel that engages in philosophical, social, and humanist critique while providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. KC —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB) About the Author Sean Beaudoin is the author of three cutting-edge young adult novels, including You Killed Wesley Payne. The Infects is his first novel with Candlewick Press. He lives in Seattle, Washington. The word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It's usually more like Don't try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he's finally gone too far. But thanks to a mix-up by one of the administrators, instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to the Academy of Scholastic Distinction (ASD), a special program for gifted and talented students. It wasn't exactly what Donovan had intended, but there couldn't be a more perfect hideout for someone like him. That is, if he can manage to fool people whose IQs are above genius level. And that becomes harder and harder as the students and teachers of ASD grow to realize that Donovan may not be good at math or science (or just about anything). But after an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing come-from-behind robot victory ever, Donovan shows that his gifts might be exactly what the ASD students never knew they needed. (Book Cover)