The Bite

by Jim X Dodge

Thirteen-year-old Mitzie Collins makes a desperate gamble in order to survive in a world full of hungry undead. She uses a childhood scar to pretend to be immune to the Gee-bug so that those who are more capable will see to her continued existence. It doesn't take long for Mitzie to realize she's made a horrific mistake and people will die because of her dishonesty. An eclectic cast of characters makes The Bite a story that's as deep and thoughtful as it is brutal. The situations they get into, and occasionally out of, are as varied as the characters themselves. Once you dig your teeth into this story you won't want to let go until you've chewed all the way through to the end.

Genres: Fiction

156 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2023

Reviews

[Mark Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once heard it said that a lie told to gain sympathy from others, will one day leave you standing alone when you really need help. These words couldn’t be more true of Mitzie, who lies about a scar on her arm, claiming it to be a bite mark from an undead cannibal. The truth is that the bite came from her brother during a childhood fight. However, this one little lie will set Mitzie on a decisive course that will impact her life, and those around her, in deadly ways.

The Bite is a great read for fans of post-apocalyptic zombie stories like the Walking Dead, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead. Heck, while reading The Bite, I couldn’t help but compare Mitzie to Ellie from the Last of Us video game by Naughty Dog. Similar to the Last of Us Parts 1 and 2, The Bite is a character-driven story that will leave you clambering for more.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, this isn't my usual genre of book so I'd normally have overlooked it in a shop. But I'm so I didn't, because it was fab!

The characters were a real varied bunch who had to learn to get along with each other as the alternative was quite literally death. I think Fuschia and Mauve were my favourites, their petty squabbles really had me laughing, they reminded me in some ways of my sons. (Admittedly they have a 2 year age gap, not 2 minute)

I thought the story was a really good lesson in how a little white lie can snowball. In real life it's rare that it becomes a life or death situation, but that's what makes fiction so fun. You can expand and exaggerate.

I kind of had an idea about who I could and couldn't trust. But I did not expect the ending at all! What a fab twist! I'm looking forward to reading more of Jim's books in the near future.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this when I read another review that said this was different from the usual zombie story. And that statement is true. The zombies (or Goners - never use the z word) are part of this post-apocalyptic world, but the heart of this tale lies in its characters, the diversity of their backgrounds, the lies they tell and the secrets they hide. The ending is a surprise, but it feels right.

[Cameron Trost · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bite certainly does bite. This YA novella is a fun - and funny - read for all ages. Action-packed, quirky, and full of dark humour from the get-go to the final menacing line, this one is not to be missed if you enjoy zomb... (I mean Goner) mayhem!