Book Review: Undead by Kirsty McKay

Title: Undead

Author: Kirsty McKay

Series: Undead #1

Publisher: The Chicken House

Publication Date: September 1, 2012

Out of sight, out of their minds: It's a school-trip splatter fest and completely not cool when the other kids in her class go all braindead on new girl Bobby.
The day of the ski trip, when the bus comes to a stop at a roadside restaurant, everyone gets off and heads in for lunch. Everyone, that is, except Bobby, the new girl, who stays behind with rebel-without-a-clue Smitty.
Then hours pass. Snow piles up. Sun goes down. Bobby and Smitty start to flirt. Start to stress. Till finally they see the other kids stumbling back.
But they've changed. And not in a good way. Straight up, they're zombies. So the wheels on the bus better go round and round freakin' fast, because that's the only thing keeping Bobby and Smitty from becoming their classmates' next meal. It's kill or be killed in these hunger games, heads are gonna roll, and homework is most definitely gonna be late.
Combining the chill of THE SHINING, the thrill ride of SPEED, the humor of SHAUN OF THE DEAD, and the angst of THE BREAKFAST CLUB, Kirsty McKay's UNDEAD is a bloody mad mash-up, a school-trip splatter-fest, a funny, gory, frighteningly good debut!

MY REVIEW

Undead by Kirsty McKay is a hilarious and enjoyable read, without being to over the top. That is saying a lot for a book about zombies. A group of teens bands together to survive, when a class trip goes unbelievably wrong. The group includes the outcast, the new kid, the nerd, and the cheerleader in a somewhat pseudo Breakfast Club, if they had to fight zombies during detention. Bobby is the new girl who just moved back to the United Kingdom from United States, and with her US slang, she stands out more than she would prefer too. Undead is set in Scotland, but any slang used is very easy to understand for anyone not familiar with British/Scottish slang. 

Out of the group, Bobby and Smitty are the two who pretty much take charge of exploring and securing any location traveled too. In other words when something goes bump in the dark or around a corner, those two are the only ones who will go investigate to make sure everyone is safe. I really like the dynamic between the two of them, and how they worked together to protect everyone even when they did not need too. Both Bobby and Smitty are hysterically funny and sarcastic at the just the right times. I really liked Bobby as the main character; she really made the book in my eyes. 

This book is not really about zombies lurking around every corner, and constant battles with the Undead. There are plenty, but I think my favorite moments were the semi-quiet ones where you learn more about the characters and they relaxed their guard a little bit. I really prefer zombie novels that are not zombies all the time, but still manage to throw the action and suspense in there throughout the story. There is even a touch of romance in Undead. 

I really have to say I enjoyed Undead. It is a hilarious, fast-paced read with I really enjoyed. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this book, and I cannot wait for the second book, Unfed, to be released. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

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