The Zombie Survival Guide

Title: The Zombie Survival Guide (Adult Cross-Over)

Author: Max Brooks

ISBN: 9781400049622

Publisher: Broadway Books

Copyright: 2003

Genre: Horror/Fictitious Non-Fiction/Humor

Age Range: 16+

Reader’s Annotation:

Plot Summary: The Zombie Survival Guide is divided into six sections and includes an appendix with the history of zombie attacks. The first chapter establishes Solanum, a fictional and incurable virus that creates a zombie. It cements the zombie lore where an open wound or bite will transmit the disease through saliva. Behavioral patterns and abilities of a zombie are assessed. There is also a difference drawn between a voodoo zombie and a biological zombie.

            The next chapters cover a variety of topics. The weapons chapter describes the pros and cons for each class of weapon and adds a severe warning about the use of fire. Brooks states that the human body can be the most capable weapon when trained and cared for properly. Combat techniques are discussed in a different chapter mainly talking about destroying the brain case. The next chapter talks about the different shelters to take. The best shelters are hinted to be high above ground level. The last chapter talks about survival in the zombie-infested world. This chapter addresses some of the basic survival techniques but specializes in topics like setting zombie alarms, setting up different defenses, and assessing friendly or rouge bands of humans.

            The book ends with a fictional list of different occurrences where zombies were encountered during history. The oldest entry is from Central Africa at the dawn of humanity and includes events in ancient Egypt to modern times including a 2002 attack in the US Virgin Islands. When reading through the timeline of events, Brooks uses many different unexplained disasters in history, like Roanoke Island, as part of the story he is weaving about zombie attacks.

Critical Evaluation: This book was widely accepted when it was published. It was one of the highest books stolen from libraries. It can be considered the book that started the zombie craze in media and TV. It spent many weeks on the New York Times Bestseller’s List. It has spawned a card deck version, comic book, and is the basis for World War Z. The narration of the zombie history and accounts was the real bridge that Brooks used to create World War Z. This book solidifies the different zombie world guidelines. It could be considered a foundation level book for a young adult horror collection. It has mass appeal to boys in particular due to its subject material that has both weapons and zombies and the application for both.

Author Information: Max Brooks is the bestselling author of "World War Z", "The Zombie Survival Guide" and its graphic companion, "The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks." His new comic book series, "The Extinction Parade" is available in print from Avatar Comics and can be downloaded from Comixology.com. His upcoming graphic novel "The Harlem Hellfighters" will debut in April of 2014 from Broadway Books. Source - http://maxbrooks.com/bio.php

Curriculum Ties: English; Science

Challenge Issues: Use of Weapons

Booktalk Ideas: Preparation – One could ask the teens what kind of preparation they have done to prepare for disasters. After going over basic disaster preparation, one can flip the conversation toward zombies.