Eat Brains Love

Gr 9 Up—A loner and a bit of a derelict, Jake is not your typical high school student. His ideal day is playing Call of Duty-type games on Xbox. But all that changes when he turns into a zombie in the school cafeteria and consumes his best friend and many members of the senior class. When he becomes human again, he finds himself allied with the most unlikely partner-Amanda Blake. A popular and gorgeous cheerleader, she has never given Jake the time of day. Realizing that they need each other to survive as zombies, Jake and Amanda try to retain their humanity while searching for answers or a possible cure. To complicate matters, they are being hunted by a top-secret government organization that uses teen psychics to locate zombies. Cass, one of the psychics, finds herself sympathizing with Jake and Amanda's situation while discovering that members of this organization are involved in experiments that Cass considers unethical and immoral. Told from alternating chapters by Jake and Cass, Hart's action-packed plot is full of suspense and humor. Although some characters seem superficial and stereotypical, readers can't help but identify with their struggles, their principles, and, most importantly, their humanity. A captivating first installment that leaves fans eagerly awaiting its sequel.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY