Never Slow Dance with a Zombie

Sep 14, 2009 Eleni ( La Femme Readers ) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Never Slow Dance With A Zombie is a super cute *arghhh* (sorry that was supposed to be a zombie growl, but it sounds more like a pirate hehe) zombie novel. E. Van Lowe's writing is funny which makes it a fun, fast paced read. I liked most of the characters, except with the exception of one. The main character Margot starts out being a self-centered brat that only cares about being popular, being invited to parties and getting a boyfriend. It seems like her whole life revolved around a manifesto...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Molly Westemeyer rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was alright all around. Not the out come I expected, but still very good. The beginning was slow and seemed a little dragged out. I was expecting zombies right away, but no. I (as all of the readers) had to read through a TON of teenage drama (such as a list of high school goals, guy crushes, nerds, and gossip). After you get past the "intro" (which in my opinion is way too long) the book gets better, for a short time. Zombies invade the high school, but due to muscle memory they keep...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm currently on a zombie spree when it comes to reading, so after randomly sighting this book, I naturally had to read it. Its premise is rather funny; two years into high school, and the main characher hasn't accomplished anything on her ""Do This Before the end of High School"" lost, including such typical wants as ""Be popular,"" ""Get a boyfriend,"" etc. When a sudden zombie plague hits the school turning all but a few students into zombies, she decides to exploit the situation to make all...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: debut-author, fantasy, young-adult, kate

Never Slow Dance With a Zombie. I mean, come on. How could I not want to read a book with a title like that!? I dare you to read the title and not snerk just a little bit. And the cover (see right) is pretty! I’ll fully admit that I bought this book because of the title, the cover, and the fact that the zombies were, GASP, gross. (No, I’m not still bitter about Generation Dead being such a letdown. Why do you ask?).

The book, written by E. Van Lowe, tells the story of Margot Jean Johnson, intrepi...more Never Slow Dance With a Zombie. I mean, come on. How could I not want to read a book with a title like that!? I dare you to read the title and not snerk just a little bit. And the cover (see right) is pretty! I’ll fully admit that I bought this book because of the title, the cover, and the fact that the zombies were, GASP, gross. (No, I’m not still bitter about Generation Dead being such a letdown. Why do you ask?).

The book, written by E. Van Lowe, tells the story of Margot Jean Johnson, intrepid high school junior who, like all geeky high school junior girls, desperately wants to be cool. She’s finally given her chance when, with no explanation and completely out of the blue, every student in the school shows up as a zombie. And these are proper zombies, complete with flesh eating urges, crumbling/decomposing bodies, grotesque smells of funk, and weird, green pallor. Suddenly, Margot is chair of the Homecoming Committee, the Prom Committee, the Christmas Festival Committee, and the Caroling Committee…all of it. Her arch nemesis, Amanda Culpepper and former It Girl of Salesian High, is stuck scrounging for raw meat. As a result, Margot, along with her best friend, Sybil, decides this will be her best semester ever.

I loved this book. So much. It was real, the voice was relatable (and appropriately obnoxious), and, most of all, it was smart. This is a smart book. As I was reading I was reminded, strongly, of Kafka. Specifically The Metamorphosis. Except instead of Margot waking up and suddenly discovering she’s a bug, everyone else is the bug. Margot has become Gregor’s sister, the one really being tested.

The rest of the students are zombies and this means that Margot is officially the coolest girl in school, so the question is: is being popular worth it? Despite being the coolest girl in school, Margot still has to go along with the pack. She can’t show originality. She can’t be unique. She can’t show any individuality lest she be eaten by her classmates. Literally. But Margot doesn’t care. She’s living her fantasy high school experience.

This is another real strength of this book. Margot is incredibly relatable. She’s not a delicate snowflake who doesn’t realize that she looks like a supermodel…she’s a real girl who, while not ugly, isn’t gorgeous either. But she’s quirky. She’s hysterical. And you can’t help but root for her. Being Margot in high school (and let’s face it, most people are), is hard. High School teaches you that you want to be with the in-crowd. You want to be the person people like. Even if you know it’s ridiculous and even if you know that the people who are the It Crowd maybe kind of suck.

That said, Margot is so real and so relatable that you can’t help but find her annoying. I’ve been through that awful seventeen year old girl stage, and I was a twit during it. But I grew up and got past that, and so I couldn’t help wanting to grab Margot by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. Knowing the things Margot struggles to figure out can make her seem petty and weak and just plain stupid. But as Margot starts to get a clue, you remember that moment when you realized how ridiculous you used to be, and your fondness for her only grows. You feel sorry for her as you see just how pathetic she is at her lowest point, and that just makes you root for her even harder.

As I began reading, I was disappointed at the cut-out-esque qualities of the “villains” in the social structure. You have the beautiful blonde who doesn’t care about anyone but herself and lives to make other people miserable so she can feel cool. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked this portrayal of the villain. That’s what high school is like. The mean girls are almost always petty and superficial and just that…mean. But that’s what they’re like in school and that’s what people see. That doesn’t mean that’s all there is to them, something Margot will learn for herself.

The genius of the book was the characterization of the good guys. Margot. Sybil, her eccentric and adorable best friend. Baron, the boy who is crazy in love with Margot and not afraid to show it. And Milton, the boy version of Margot.

The biggest weakness of this book was the ending. Not that the ending wasn’t great, because it was. but because it felt rushed. This was one of the shortest YA books I’ve read in a while, and I think it could have benefitted from another 25-50 pages. The action at the end is intense, but there isn’t a lot of time to come down from it and I would have liked that. It wasn’t a set-up for a sequel, either (though I’d love to read more about Margot, even without the zombies), so it was a little bit frustrating to know that there was no more.

My only other quibble was that, despite Margot seeming so relatable, there were a few instances when I felt like she was a little older than she should be…places where the author maybe peeked through the prose to say hi. Still, these were few and I was so busy giggling at what Margot said/did next that I didn’t care.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It’s funny and smart and does a great job at poking fun of what YA literature has been reduced to lately. There are twists and turns and actual plot to go along with Margot’s personal struggle, and I couldn’t put it down until complete.

Reviewed on WhatchYAreading on October 13, 2009.(less)

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Feb 05, 2011 cecilia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: green-covers

Never Slow Dance With A Zombie is quite a fun read that is sure to bring some chuckles along with some incredulous looks at the things Margot does (e.g. "train" zombie-Dirk to being her boyfriend). I loved the lists that she made throughout the book including Top Ten Advantages To Having A Zombie Boyfriend and some of the forged parent's notes to excuse her from gym class. Great humor! I thought the college application cover letter at the very beginning was an excellent touch :D

Margot's best fri...more

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Jan 02, 2010 Sophia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-2010-reads-for-bcchs-advisory

Margot and her best friend Sybil try to accomplish the things she wrote on her manifesto list which was mainly to be in every way better than the most popular girl in school, Amanda Culpepper and by that it meant being more popular than Amanda, being invited to more parties than Amanda, having parties that did not include Amanda, having a boyfriend who is cuter than Amanda's, be homecoming queen in place of Amanda, be a cheerleader, be prom queen, and that Amanda could not be any of these things...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: physical-books, young-adult, read-in-2012

Reviewed at On a Book Bender.

You know when you're reading a book and you know it's supposed to be tongue in cheek and you try really hard to take it in that vein but it doesn't quite happen and you're staring in this kind of stupified trance through large portions of said book? Yeah, that happened to me. - pauses - I *know* that it's a allegory about high school and the lengths we'll go to the fit in and be liked but... I didn't like the main character until the very end and that was very dist...more Reviewed at On a Book Bender.

You know when you're reading a book and you know it's supposed to be tongue in cheek and you try really hard to take it in that vein but it doesn't quite happen and you're staring in this kind of stupified trance through large portions of said book? Yeah, that happened to me. - pauses - I *know* that it's a allegory about high school and the lengths we'll go to the fit in and be liked but... I didn't like the main character until the very end and that was very distracting.

Let's start there, shall we? Margot was not a nice person. She's mean. She treats her best friend terribly when Sybil is nothing but supportive (in a vacant, not-quite-there way) of all of Margot's weirdness. Dude, I get that high school is cutthroat and vicious but Margot's sole aim is be the "It-Girl" of Salesian High and she acts - in the beginning of the book - pretty much exactly like the girls she loves to hate. The things she said to Sybil were downright hurtful and I kept wondering why Sybil was bothering to put up with it. Then there's the unobtainable jock that Margot is determined to have. Uhhh... okay. She really knows nothing about him, she doesn't even know if he knows her name before he gets zombified, and yet she's willing to risk her humanity to have him as her "boyfriend" once he is a zombie. I'm shaking my head over this, can you tell?

Meanwhile, there's another boy. This one isn't popular but he likes Margot. Do you guys want to know what I was thinking as I read that? WHY??? WHY DO YOU LIKE HER??? She's a terrible person who cuts down her best friend constantly and has very few redeeming characteristics. Part of me wanted Baron (Heee... I love that name) to end up with Margot because that's what he wanted and part of me was screaming at him to run in the other direction because Margot was not good enough for him. *le sigh*

I think my problem here was twofold. First off, I didn't like Margot until she realized the error of her ways and starting thinking of other people but herself. Secondly, the idea behind why they thought they could get away with pretending that the zombies were just normal kids was silly bordering on ridiculous. Really, I get that this book is poking fun at high school and the hoops that we'll jump through to be top dog but... it wasn't for me.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
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Jan 18, 2011 N.L. Riviezzo rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one

Shelves: library-reads, read-in-2011, teenaged-angst, vampires-succubi-incubi-zombies, young-adult

Ever pick up a book - a fairly new book - and think 'I've read this book before. I know I have.'?

That's my feeling about this book. A feeling that started 5 pages in. Unfortunately, it made the rest of the pages extremely irritating to read. Rehashing the same formula and storyline - one I apparently did not enjoy much before. The main characters in this book seemed a lot more caustic, annoying and flatter (in personality) than before. But what was before? I thought on this while reading the boo...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Linda Cat added it

Review originally posted to www.books4hearts.com

This book was very peculiar. If I was required to give my opinion of it in three words I would say "Surprisingly, bizarrely epic!". I had no expectations whatsoever of this book (nothing against the author or anything, I don't mean it like that); I'd never seen or heard of it before the book fair where I picked it up at and the description reads like a middle-grade geek to popular and all of a sudden it's perfect world type of book. So often when I...more

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Aug 04, 2012 D rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book starts off really stupid. The main character, Margot, wishes she was popular, that she could have a cute boyfriend, and other typical teenage stuff. Margot as a character is insufferable in the beginning with her constant whining, bad mouthing, and general bad attitude even when her best friend, Sybil, tries to cheer her up.

Things got interesting when the zombie plot took hold and changed the game. Since Margot, Sybil, and two nerds didn't go to the dance one night they were spared fr...more

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Oct 21, 2011 Regina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-before

YAY ZOMBIES!!! how can that not be a win? that was probably why i picked up this book in the first place(my big love for all things zombie related:Dawn of the Dead,Shaun of the dead,zombieland, 30 days later...you get the idea)...though you'd think a zombie would not be a good undead boyfriend right?
description

This was obviously a parody on YA supernatural romance. I liked how unusual the book was and most of the time it was very goofy, never really taking the zombie situation very seriously.(I mean really...more

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Aug 30, 2009 Marisa rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everybody!

Shelves: signed-books, favorite-book-titles

At school, Margot is a nobody. She and her best friend Sybil don't belong in any cliques and are bullied by the "popular" clique. Margot really wants to improve her social status. Since there is a carnival going on in town, Margot decides to ask handsome, smart and popular Dirk Conrad to go with her in hopes of becoming popular. When Margot learns that Dirk is apparently Amanda's (the prettiest and most popular girl in school) boyfriend, she decides to not go to the carnival. And going with just...more At school, Margot is a nobody. She and her best friend Sybil don't belong in any cliques and are bullied by the "popular" clique. Margot really wants to improve her social status. Since there is a carnival going on in town, Margot decides to ask handsome, smart and popular Dirk Conrad to go with her in hopes of becoming popular. When Margot learns that Dirk is apparently Amanda's (the prettiest and most popular girl in school) boyfriend, she decides to not go to the carnival. And going with just Sybil is social suicide in her opinion.

When Margot arrives at school the day after the carnival, she learns that every student in school, besides her and Sybil, have been turned into zombies. Everybody who went to the carnival. The only living people in her school are her, Sybil and Principal Taft. Their principal begs them to try to live with the zombies at school, promising them popularity and important roles in school such as Prom Queen and Head Cheerleader. He gives them a list of simple rules that will help them succeed in not being attacked and turned into a zombie themselves. Margot thinks that her dream is finally coming true. She'll be the most popular girl in school AND have the best boyfriend, even if he is a zombie who wants to rip her head off. Everything is going great until things start to turn bad and she realizes somebody is out to get her and Sybil. Somebody wants them to be a part of the living dead. And she is not about to let that happen.

What a great read! I really like this book. I was craving a zombie comedy read and I definitely satisfied that craving with the book. It's cute, funny and full of action. The book is very well written and I couldn't put it down. I was hooked from the beginning and I laughed out loud several times. It's probably one of the funniest books I've read. The book never has a dull moment and I definitely plan on re reading it when I have time. I love Margot as the main character. She puts herself in the worst positions and gets herself out of them in a laugh out loud manner. The ending is great and the book has tons of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Recommended? Yes! Put this book in your "to read" pile because you'll fully enjoy it as I did. I'm really hoping for a sequel. Maybe it could be "Never Slow Dance With A Werewolf" or something. :P

-Marisa (less)

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Feb 24, 2012 Shandy Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, zombie, urban-fantasy, reviews-2012

This is a funny, interesting book. I really enjoy Mr Lowe's writing style.
Margot the main character is something else. As the book progresses I actually kind of wanted her to get bite. I mean she started off ok, then as the popularity went to her head I began to dislike her. She did redeem herself by the end though. The secondary characters were good. I liked Sybil as well as Baron. Having had my own Baron in high school I got where Margot was coming from when she first blew him off, although it...more

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May 31, 2010 Sarah rated it 1 of 5 stars

Sometimes I feel like I wasted two hours of my life reading a book. And, um, this is one of those. For Popular Paperbacks, I'm on the Zombie/Werewolf/Things with Wings committee, and I'm started to really mourn the lack of "good" writing and zombies. Come on, writers! If you're going to go with zombies, can't you make it awesome? Toby Barlow made werewolves awesome a few years ago with Sharp Teeth. Scott Westerfeld and M.T. Anderson made vampires awesome with Peeps and Thirsty

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Jun 26, 2010 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Best friends, Margot & Sybil don't have dates to the school carnival because they are a clique of two. However, missing the carnival also means they miss out on whatever has turned their entire student body (who in turn infects the faculty) into zombies! Oh - the principal, gym teacher and two geeky guys are also normal and learning to survive in zombieland. Margot looks at this as the answer to her prayers. The principal names her head of the yearbook, winterball and cheerleaders. However,...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Mehsi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: omg-zombies-got-my-brain, away-laughing-on-a-fast-camel, for-girls-one-shelf, warning-english-books

Lets start with the reason why I gave the book a 4 star instead of a 5 star.
One simple reason actually, Margot. She started off quite nice, just your average girl wanting to be popular, wants to have a boyfriend and all that. But who never got all that. But as soon as the whole school (ok almost all of them) went to zombie berzerk mode, and she and her friend were the only ones alive (for now), she started to become cocky. Taking on everything that would make one popular, snorting when her best...more

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Oct 11, 2009 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: To all zombie fiction fans

Recommended to Heather by: Velvet

Shelves: 2009-read, won, zombie, contemporary-fiction, young-adult, own

I really loved this book, especially after coming off of Zombie Blondes, which I didn't like, to this one was wonderful! I really enjoy satires, books that go over the top to make their point. This book did not disappoint. We have Sybil and Margot who discover that all most all of their classmates have been turned into zombies. What does Margot want to do? She wants to be the most popular girl in school (though, she is the only one not undead!). While Sybil just wants to get the zombies to "decl...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Danielle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-reads

A little slow to get to the zombies (60 pages in), this one was a decent, fun read but a little predictable at times. What was surprising was that this was written by a male author; I didn't realize that until after I finished the book. He did a great job of writing in the voice of a high school girl. This would be a good read for my sarcastic kiddos who don't like the cliques in school, as well as my kids who like the Marlene Perez Dead Is Series.------------------This one's another slow-mover...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Night rated it 3 of 5 stars

Quite a fair YA read, once you can get pass the Me-Me-Me attitudes of Margot.

I know teenagers seek popularity, but in this case, to the extent that she would let the whole schoolmates remain zombies so she could have everything her way. I just can't love this girl in the beginning.

Luckily the story gets better in the later half--with the girl learning what's important and the vampire virus cured.

The idea of the school administrators wanting zombies as students for they are a lot easy to contro...more

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Oct 26, 2009 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

I don't think that I've ever read a zombie book before that I would call cute but there is a first time for everything. Never Slow Dance with a Zombie makes for easy, light hearted reading.

In some ways, I suppose you can say that NSDWAZ can be called Mean Girls meets Dawn of the Dead. The focus of the story, though, is more on the path to becoming a Queen Bee and the ugliness that it can bring out in a person. How far would you go to become the it-girl? Would you lie? Hurt your best friend? Take...more I don't think that I've ever read a zombie book before that I would call cute but there is a first time for everything. Never Slow Dance with a Zombie makes for easy, light hearted reading.

In some ways, I suppose you can say that NSDWAZ can be called Mean Girls meets Dawn of the Dead. The focus of the story, though, is more on the path to becoming a Queen Bee and the ugliness that it can bring out in a person. How far would you go to become the it-girl? Would you lie? Hurt your best friend? Take advantage of the mindless zombie state of your crush and make him be your boyfriend? In exploring the it-girl theme I thought that a number of cliché themes were also used but this didn't necessarily detract from the book. They were used, for example, to set up the tension between Margot and Amanda Culpepper, Queen Bee at Salesian High.

Being set in an American high school, the book also addresses cliques and that people should socialise outside their set social groups. I always find cliques weird to read about as part of the student experience. Maybe it's because Australian public schools mostly have uniforms, or because we don't have such large student populations in our schools, but I never experienced such defined cliques. Oh, sure, there were people who were popular or athletic or nerdy and we had a few people that were into punk in my grade, but they didn't divide themselves into social groups and shun others who didn't fit in. I remember someone once actually getting offended when she was called popular because of the stereotype it implies!

I quite liked Margot and how E. Van Lowe has channeled a teenage girl. I liked Margot's attitude towards herself and her body image, that she could admit that she was not skinny but still call herself cute and dress in flattering clothing. I thought that opening with her application cover letter to a college was a nice opening and I loved her sick letters that she forged from her parents to get out of P.E. Oh, how I too hated phys ed.

Never Slow Dance with a Zombie is a cute and quirky approach to both the zombie genre and the high school experience. I have seen some mixed reviews for this one but if you are looking for a light hearted, easy read to relax and have a little chuckle over this one is worth a try.(less)

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Sep 05, 2009 Cecelia rated it 1 of 5 stars

Halfway through reading Never Slow Dance With A Zombie, I was ready to put the book down. The beginning was rather slow (this coming from someone who read the book in two hours) and the plot was very simple.
Basically, it’s like this: Zombies taking over a high school do wonders for people who feel they don’t fit in or are not part of the hip crowd. However, too much imagination is required to make it work, especially the part about how the parents in the book don’t care about children. The book...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Chasity rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have never a zombie book before this one. Zombies never really stood out to me as interesting but my thoughts may have changed after reading ‘Never Slow Dance with A Zombie’. I am definitely looking at zombies in a new light. I loved this book; it was a great YA read. It was so fun and adventurous. It has a great moral of the story for the teenagers who wish they were someone else. There is nothing wrong with being you and loving your indivuality and E. Van Lowe really captures that.

This book...more

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Oct 18, 2009 the golden witch. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, happy-bacteria, reviewed, teenage-shennanigans

If you're looking for a little light reading, this book is definitely for you.

Along with the journey to becoming popular through a zombie infection within high school, the subtle discussion between the two main characters of how girls express their anger is even more interesting than any evil plot by one's principal. In the early chapters, especially, talking about how girls can use compliments both to hurt and harm each other was needed and absolutely essential to understanding how girls, even...more

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Feb 23, 2010 Patty rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-for-students

Meh. As a lover of zombie fiction, I was disappointed by the particular incarnation of the undead in this novel. By focusing on the protagonist's desire for popularity, the author seemed to be critiquing adolescent conformity -- a high school would seem fertile ground for zombie mayhem -- but the premise is undercut by the self-centered inner monologue of the first-person narrator. (Frankly, what high school girl, no matter how desperate for popularity, would consider dating a fetid, slobbering,...more

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Feb 05, 2010 Melissa Helwig rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, library

I felt a bit embarrassed to be looking at books in the Young Adult section of my local library, but I had heard that Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E. Van Lowe was hilarious. It was pretty funny and I even laughed out loud a few times while reading - something I rarely do.

Margot Johnson is the typical teenage outcast: a chubby brunette with a skinny blonde enemy and dreams of being popular. In middle school, along with her best friend Sybil, she devised a manifesto for high school, setting go...more I felt a bit embarrassed to be looking at books in the Young Adult section of my local library, but I had heard that Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E. Van Lowe was hilarious. It was pretty funny and I even laughed out loud a few times while reading - something I rarely do.

Margot Johnson is the typical teenage outcast: a chubby brunette with a skinny blonde enemy and dreams of being popular. In middle school, along with her best friend Sybil, she devised a manifesto for high school, setting goals to become the most popular girl in school and to have a boyfriend. When the student body turns into zombies - with the exception of Margot, Sybil, the principal and the gym teacher- Margot uses it to her advantage, achieving her goals. With no other girls around, she becomes the "queen bee" of the high school and lures popular zombie jock Dirk into being her boyfriend. Coexisting with zombies goes great until Margot and Sybil realize that someone is trying to turn them into zombies.

From the first page of this novel, I was transported back to high school. Being an outcast myself, I too had a crush on a popular jock, hated (some of) the snooty popular girls, but still dreamed of being popular. I'm shocked that this book was written by a man because he gets into the head of a teenage girl so well.

The main character, Margo, was well-written and I could see myself (or at least me when I was in high school) in her. But her selfishness and her tendency to whine got on my nerves. And the book was told from her point of view, making some of the characters seem flat since we are only given her one-sided opinion.

The zombies didn't make an appearance until about 1/4 into the novel. Up until that point, the book is just about Margot trying to score a date with Dirk. But once you get through that part, the novel becomes hilarious with the zombie interactions and the principal's "Rules for Surviving a Zombie Uprising".

Overall, this was a pretty funny read, but probably more enjoyable if you're a teenage girl.

Read more of my reviews at http://littlemisszombie.blogspot.com (less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, paranormal, read-in-2009, young-adult, zombies

Review Posted on Reading Lark on 7/12/10: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2010/...

I was a bit skeptical going into this one. I had picked the book up several times and had always discarded it for something else. However, the last time I was book shopping I decided I should just give it a shot. I am not a major fan of zombie stories, but it seems that they are picking up steam in the recent supernatural influx into the literary world. Yes, I know supernatural books have always been around, but it...more Review Posted on Reading Lark on 7/12/10: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2010/...

I was a bit skeptical going into this one. I had picked the book up several times and had always discarded it for something else. However, the last time I was book shopping I decided I should just give it a shot. I am not a major fan of zombie stories, but it seems that they are picking up steam in the recent supernatural influx into the literary world. Yes, I know supernatural books have always been around, but it seems like more are cropping up every day. I couldn’t be happier. I’m like a kid in a candy store! However, I digress back to the zombies….

Margot Jean Johnson is your average teenager. She spends her time with her best friend, crushes on the hottest boy in school, and attempts to elevate her social status. However, that’s a little hard to do with Amanda Culpepper, the queen bee of Salesian High in her way. Margot and Amanda go way back in their bitterness for one another – all the way back to 7th grade. As Margot begins her Junior year she refuses to allow Amanda to continue to rule the social calendar with an iron fist and vows to fight back. That would be a lot easier if her best friend wasn’t crusading to the make world a better place and she could lose the dork who is enamored with her. To make matters worse, Margot is a slight bit on the chubby side so no matter how hard she tries she just can’t outcute that pesky Amanda.

Then one fateful evening everything changes. On the night of the school’s carnival, anybody who’s anybody is in attendance – which pretty much means that Margot and her best friend, Sybil, are not there. This time being a nobody is a good thing. Everyone who attended the carnival has been transformed into a zombie. How could this have happened? The undead begin to roam the halls of Salesian High in the same cliques they had in life, but now there is no tardiness, no disrespectful behavior, no normal teenage behavior. Margot and Sybil are ecstatic at first; they have full run of the school to achieve all their wildest dreams. However, their happiness is not to last. Are there other non-zombies hiding out in the school? Who caused the whole problem anyway? Is there a solution to the zombie problem?

Margot will have to search deep within herself to understand that everything is not always what it seems and learn to listen to her heart. Can she make the right decision before it’s too late?

I loved the character of Margot. She is strong and real; I also liked how the author didn’t make her perfect in every single way. Margot has lots of flaws, but in the end her spunk will win you over. I also have to admit I developed a tiny literary crush on her dorky admirer, Baron. I’d be interested to see if anyone else comes away with the same feelings. E. Van Lowe is a wonderful writer who kept me in suspense and stitches throughout the entire book. I highly recommend this one.(less)

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Sep 03, 2009 Karin rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-reads, zombies, youngadult

On the day of her Middle School graduation, Margot Jean Johnson wrote a manifesto listing her goals for high school. Being popular, having a boyfriend, and being invited to the best parties are some of the most important things on her list. Now, after four years, as Margot and her best friend, Sybil, start a new school year, she realizes she is running out of time to accomplish her goals – seeing as not even one has been accomplished.

Things turn around for Margot after the majority of the studen...more

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Nov 02, 2009 Debbie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Best friends Margot and Sybil arrive at school one day to find most of their classmates are now zombies and are quickly turning the rest of the school into zombies as well. They manage to track down their still human principal Taft and get convinced to help him cover up this little problem until he can be promoted in 7 weeks. In return, Margot gets her dreams of being the most popular girl in school, get a boyfriend and head every elite committee in school. Sybil gets her chance to try and turn...more

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May 16, 2011 Sharon Day rated it 3 of 5 stars

At first this, I wasn't sure if I'd like this story. It seemed to be a very typical teen story along the lines of Buffy the Vampire Slayer although with an annoying main character who I really didn't like. But, by the end, I realized that it was a bit more. It is a story about non-conformity, believing in yourself, and remembering that friends and family are more important than being popular. I actually ended up enjoying this book and I think that teens would enjoy it too.

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Dec 18, 2009 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Totally

Shelves: ya, middle-school, high-school, zombies, cliques

I loved this book! It was an easy, fun read that still managed to sneak in a good message about liking yourself for who you are. The think I loved most about this book was how honest the main character is. She knows she is being mean to her friends and doing the wrong things but continues to do them anyways. It was a nice change of pace to not have a character be so perfect. Loved it and very funny!

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title link	preview: Never Slow Dance with a Zombie
avg rating	preview: Never Slow Dance with a Zombie Goodreads rating: 3.17 (425 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6420556-never-slow-dance-with-a-zombie?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312053104l/6420556.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6420556-never-slow-dance-with-a-zombie?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by E. Van Lowe[/url]

Never Slow Dance with a Zombie

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