Review: Zombie Queen of Newbury High

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
4 stars

Reasons for reading: sounded fun, zombies are all the rage with the kids these days; Young Adult Challenge

Synopsis: "Quiet, unpopular, non-cheerleading Mia is blissfully happy. She is dating super hot football god Rob, and he actually likes her and asked her to prom! Enter Samantha—cheerleading goddess and miss popularity— who starts making a move for Rob. With prom in a few days, Mia needs to act fast. So she turns to her best friend, Candice, and decides to do a love spell on Rob. Unfortunately, she ends up inflicting a zombie virus onto her whole class, making herself their leader! At first she is flattered that everyone is treating her like a queen. But then zombie hunter hottie Chase explains they are actually fattening her up, because in a few days, Mia will be the first course in their new diet. She's sure she and Chase can figure something out, but she suggests that no one wear white to prom, because things could get very messy."

First line: "Mia Everett was doomed."

Great line: "You know, I'm sick of living in the real world. I think I'm going to stick with television from now on. It's a lot less draining."


My thoughts: This was a fun book. I loved that Mia was so into Buffy and Angel and kept expecting things to work out the way they do on TV. For example, she was very disappointed that her school didn't have a basement "the size of a mall" to hide out in like they had on Buffy. And I was in a particularly Buffy mood when I read it, so that was a bonus.

Chase the zombie hunter was a clever hottie - the best kind - and his earnest explanation of how zombies are real, while scoffing at the prospect of vampires and werewolves, was a hoot. Candice the hypochrondriac was a riot, but also surprisingly helpful. The zombie lore was great, particularly when all of the proto-zombies started giving Mia snack foods, not because they liked her, but because they wanted to fatten her up.

A thoroughly enjoyable, lighthearted addition to current the zombies-are-cooler-than-vampires trend.