To
quote my publisher's publicist (Hi, Vida!): "VOYA(Voice of Youth Advocates) magazine is the leading library journal
dedicated to the needs of young adult librarians, the advocacy of
young adults, and the promotion of young adult literature and
reading."
This
is a great organization of which I just recently became aware. I
think they're doing terrific work. So it's really satisfying to me
that they chose to review Zomburbia, and that they seemed to
like it.
Here's
the TL;DR version in case you don't have time for the whole thing:
“Gallardo
provides a fresh take on the post-zombie apocalypse…Gallardo
develops Courtney with an authentic voice, and while she is
thoughtless at first, she becomes a strong heroine. Teens looking for
zombie action with a determined female narrator will enjoy this quick
read.” – VOYA
And
here's the full review: “How do you live like a normal
teenager after the zombie apocalypse? For snarky high school junior
Courtney, this means dealing with boys’ attention, working at a
fenced-in fast food joint, and selling illegal drugs derived from
zombie brains, all while the undead lurk just outside. In the suburbs
where Courtney lives, the rich are protected in gated communities
while people like Courtney press their luck with chain link fences.
Her only dream is traveling to soon-to-be-reclaimed New York City to
attend college. She almost has enough drug money saved when popular
jock Brandon Ikaros shows interest in her, leading Courtney into a
world where parties, drugs, and bad decisions are the norm. As
Courtney struggles with managing different cliques, more reports of
zombie attacks crop up. Courtney is among the first to notice the
zombies are different now: smarter, faster, healthier, younger. When
a few bad decisions lead Courtney and her friends into a dangerous
situation, Courtney must decide whether she has the guts to fight or
become a zombie.
Zomburbia
is filled with the typical high school drama, but Gallardo
provides a fresh take on the post-zombie apocalypse. The world is not
destroyed, but the challenges faced in high school are much more
tense and violent. Students carry weapons, take zombie virus courses,
and deal with more death. Gallardo develops Courtney with an
authentic voice, and while she is thoughtless at first, she becomes a
strong heroine. Teens looking for zombie action with a determined
female narrator will enjoy this quick read.”
That's
nice, right?
This
reminds me – I know I've been writing about the reviews that appear
in big magazines, but I also wanted to give a shout out to everyone
who's taken the time to review the book on sites like amazon and
goodreads. I really appreciate everyone who took the time to read the
book and comment on it or rate it. And that includes the people who
gave it one star (there are a few), not just the ones who gave it
four or five (the majority, I hasten to point out...). Really, thank
you! It means a lot to me. And it's never to late to add your review
if you feel so inclined. It really does help.
Thanks
again.
