Dearly, Departed

Gr 7 Up—In a post-apocalyptic world set in 2195, a society modeled on the Victorian era has emerged. Leaving her prestigious school for the holidays, 16-year-old orphan Nora Dearly is aghast that her aunt expects her to marry to secure the family fortunes. However, Nora soon has more immediate problems—she's kidnapped by a contingent of zombies and thrust into the world of the undead. Shocked to learn that these zombies are actually the good guys, Nora is told about the Lazarus Syndrome, a virus that reanimates those infected after death—though some are more intact physically and mentally than others. One zombie who has retained his memory and self-control is Bram Griswold, a soldier recruited to fight against the mindless undead and with whom Nora forms a close bond. Lia Habel's story (Del Ray, 2011) unfolds through the narration of a number of characters, voiced by a full cast. Kim Mai Guest and Mike Chamberlain carry most of tale, since this is primarily Nora and Bram's story. Both have believably youthful voices and deliver solid performances. Guest brings out the strength and stubbornness belied by Nora's slight appearance, while Chamberlain succeeds in capturing Bram's wry humor and moments of vulnerability. The narrative drags in places as the plot wanders, but overall, this unique combination of the steampunk and zombie genres will appeal to fans of paranormal romance.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL