Disaster Diaries: 01: ZOMBIES! by R. McGeddon

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Disaster Diaries: Zombies by R. McGeddon
Series: Disaster Diaries #1
Published by Macmillan on May 24th, 2016
Genres: Middle Grade
Goodreads

During a zombie apocalypse, the important thing is to not panic.
Actually, that's not true. Definitely panic.
These things are going to try to eat your face off!

Sam and Arty are looking forward to summer vacation so much that they barely notice when their bumbling science teacher causes an explosion of purple goo that drenches their classmate, Simon. They're sure Simon will be fine--he looks a little gray, but things like this happen all the time in the town of Sitting Duck.

But Simon is not fine--and totally loses his head when he becomes a zombie! Soon the town is crawling with rabid zombies looking for braaaaaains! The adults are busy panicking and screaming, so it's up to Sam (the leader) Arty (the brains), and their friend Emmie (the rebel) to take charge. If they can't find a cure, it will be a disaster!

This book was seriously the CUTEST THING EVER!

I haven’t read a middle grade book since…..well since I was in middle school! But when I got the Macmillan catalogue and saw this adorable and guaranteed hilarious beauty I had to request it! And I’m so happy that I did.

I’m not sure if its the illustrations in random surprising places throughout, or the craftiness of our MCs, or even the hilarity of a zombie outbreak hitting a town called “Sitting Duck”! I am sure that, this is the kind of book I envision when I say “I want to read more middle grade!” This is the kind of story that is easy for me to make it through in one sitting, but also the kind of story that makes me want to sit through more sittings of it….preferably while sitting with my kid who is equally impressed by the story within the pages.

The story actually starts with the end of the school year. Kids are being kids in class, not even pretending to pay attention and completely engrossed with the countdown of the clock, when suddenly something happens in science class. But again, it’s the last day of school! No one is paying attention to what’s happening in science class and before we know it the bell has rung and the class is off to begin their break.

From here our MC’s are taken for a hilarious zombie ride. From rolling heads, to jungle gym escapes, to idiot adults not listening to kids. Our MCs experience it all with a hilarious atmosphere and I seriously loved ever second. But more importantly my 8 year old daughter did too! For some this may be suited for an “older” audience because the little (hilarious) violence but that’s a personal choice for parents. My daughter enjoyed it and wasn’t scarred or afraid and we’re both really excited to read the rest of the series.