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The No-Brainer's Guide to Decomposition
In Pura Belpré Honor–winning author Adrianna Cuevas's new spooky middle grade novel. Frani must fight to stop the undead from rising in her father’s body-farm laboratory—that is, if she can embrace the true nature of her brain and its ADHD.
No one has ever called Frani Gonzalez squeamish. Seriously, whether it’s guts (no big deal), bugs (move aside, she’s got this), or anything else that you might find at the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, to her and her dad, the university’s body farm is just home.
Having bodies buried in her backyard doesn’t exactly make Frani the most popular kid in school, and the imaginary spider that lives in a web in her brain isn’t helping either. Arañita’s always to blame for the distracted thoughts weaving through Frani’s mind. But when a hand reaches out of the ground and grabs her ankle, Frani realizes that she’s got bigger problems.
Not everything is as it seems at the body farm, and now Frani must help the teenage zombie that crawled out of the dirt…before he gets too hungry. But as more and more zombies begin to appear—and they seem to get less and less friendly—can Frani embrace the true nature of her brain and count on new friendships to solve the body farm's mystery before it's overrun with the undead?
No one has ever called Frani Gonzalez squeamish. Seriously, whether it’s guts (no big deal), bugs (move aside, she’s got this), or anything else that you might find at the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, to her and her dad, the university’s body farm is just home.
Having bodies buried in her backyard doesn’t exactly make Frani the most popular kid in school, and the imaginary spider that lives in a web in her brain isn’t helping either. Arañita’s always to blame for the distracted thoughts weaving through Frani’s mind. But when a hand reaches out of the ground and grabs her ankle, Frani realizes that she’s got bigger problems.
Not everything is as it seems at the body farm, and now Frani must help the teenage zombie that crawled out of the dirt…before he gets too hungry. But as more and more zombies begin to appear—and they seem to get less and less friendly—can Frani embrace the true nature of her brain and count on new friendships to solve the body farm's mystery before it's overrun with the undead?
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 24, 2024
6 people are currently reading
2795 people want to read
About the author
Adrianna Cuevas
9 books135 followersAdrianna Cuevas is a first-generation Cuban-American originally from Miami, Florida. A Spanish, ESOL and TOEFL teacher, Adrianna currently resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and son. When not working with TOEFL students, wrangling multiple pets including an axolotl, and practicing fencing with her son, she is writing her next middle grade novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
March 27, 2024
Being an autopsy technician who works hands on with decomposing bodies everyday, this story was super cute for me! I’ve always been the gross bugs and guts girl my whole life. I can’t wait to buy the physical book when it comes out to add to my library. I read this book on NetGalley for a review. This will be so much fun for middle school/early high school age kiddos. I highly recommend reading this!
August 10, 2025
This was a fun, fast-paced middle grade read and Frani is definitely relatable for a lot of neurodivergent folks. If you have or know a kid with ADHD/audhd who loves contemporary fantasy/paranormal stories (especially with zombies) and reads middle-grade books, consider giving them this to read. They may relate to quite a bit of this. To hear my full thoughts on this one (spoilers included), check out our bookclub discussion: https://www.youtube.com/live/GRoVhTv9...
January 18, 2025
Great neurodivergence representation, with cool coping tools. Fun middle grade adventure, particularly loved the author’s voice that speaks to tweens without speaking down to them. Author assumes a certain level of intelligence in readers that is refreshing in a middle grade read.
Oh, and lots of decomposing body parts and superhuman strength zombies to keep things hopping.
Oh, and lots of decomposing body parts and superhuman strength zombies to keep things hopping.
April 24, 2024
It’s a no-brainer! Kids will be grossed out and delighted by this fun romp of a mystery. Inspired by a real body farm at Texas State University, readers will root for Frani, a brilliant and empathetic budding scientist struggling to make peace with Arañita the spider (also known as ADHD). A great choice for kiddos who love STEM and creepy stories with heart.
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October 22, 2024Things I thought while reading this book:
1. I wanna go to a body farm!! 👀
2. Ok but not to work there 🤢
3. Frani's teen sister is a lil b**** 😒 yeah, I said it
4. Wow, ok, I didn't know middle grade horror was allowed to be this gross 😳😱
5. Adrianna, what the hell, you made me tear up OVER A ZOMBIE?! 🧟♂️
No but seriously, friends, gift this one to that kid in your life who's into crumbling body parts, flesh-eating bugs, and forensic anthropology. You'll instantly become the coolest adult they know 😅.
P.S. The main character has ADHD, in case anyone is looking for more of that specific rep. Oh and the zombie kid has maggots in his brain, which I feel also counts as neurodivergence 🙂↕️.
Happy reading!
1. I wanna go to a body farm!! 👀
2. Ok but not to work there 🤢
3. Frani's teen sister is a lil b**** 😒 yeah, I said it
4. Wow, ok, I didn't know middle grade horror was allowed to be this gross 😳😱
5. Adrianna, what the hell, you made me tear up OVER A ZOMBIE?! 🧟♂️
No but seriously, friends, gift this one to that kid in your life who's into crumbling body parts, flesh-eating bugs, and forensic anthropology. You'll instantly become the coolest adult they know 😅.
P.S. The main character has ADHD, in case anyone is looking for more of that specific rep. Oh and the zombie kid has maggots in his brain, which I feel also counts as neurodivergence 🙂↕️.
Happy reading!
April 8, 2025
Frani Gonzalez is used to being a bit strange. First off, some would give her a 4 letter label, but she likes to think that she has an active spider in her brain named Arañita who hops from web to web of thoughts in her brain at lightning speed. Sometimes Arañita creates problems, like making her late to school or distracting her during conversations so she doesn't hear what the person said or messing up the steps in the intake procedure for new specimens. And that brings us to the second strange part, Frani lives on the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, otherwise known as a body farm. Her father is the professor who oversees the acres of land where human specimens are laid out to decay and scientists study the process, and Frani loves to be his assistant. Her older sister Essie finds it gross and tries to ignore it. It's summer break, so Frani is excited to get to help out more with the research. One of the other scientists, Dr. Tanaka has brought his son, Benji along, and while she is showing Benji around the farm they stumble across something unusual. A teenage boy who should be very dead but is walking and talking to them. Frani and Benji decide to try and help the boy they dub Mateo figure out what happened to himself, but as more corpses become undead, they have to bring in their fathers and the campus police chief to help figure out what is turning the specimens into zombies and how to stop them because most aren't anywhere near as friendly as Mateo.
I really appreciate how Frani's narration of this story will help build empathy and understanding among readers for those with ADHD, and also allow readers with ADHD like Frani's to feel seen. The adventure allows Frani to process how she feels about her brain (she doesn't like it much of the time) and eventually come to a place of more acceptance and appreciation by the end, but also feeling ok to reach out for help when she needs it. Mateo (who they find out is really named Santiago) has a rather tragic story and his part of this tale is bittersweet. Frani keeps waiting for new boy Benji to dump her as a new friend for being too weird, but he's a great guy and handles all the weird and gross stuff he gets thrown into with a great attitude. He's a good friend when Frani needs it. Frani's older sister Essie is pretty awful to her the few scenes when she is on page, constantly telling Frani she's going to mess things up and she isn't trustworthy, but there is a bit of a breakthrough by the end of the book. Profe (Frani's dad), Dr. Tanaka, and the police chief get 5 stars for being pretty cool adults in a middle grade book and sharing the load in the whole solving the zombie problems thing. I found that a breath of fresh air. How often are adults treated like the tweens teammates in problem solving in middle grade adventures? I love forensics stories, strong science-based fantasy/scifi, and have read books about real body farms. I was pleasantly surprised that the body farm aspects of the book felt on point, true to life, and scientifically sound to me, and it was a fantastic setting for a middle grade horror story. The method used to reanimate the dead was also science based and made sense, even if I don't think it would work in real life. Obviously, the whole body farm setting is not for all middle graders. Know the tween or teen you hand this to and make sure they can handle people studying death and the decay process and realistically describing reanimated corpses and how they'd fall apart if trying to walk or jump or such.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Some zombies come after Frani and Benji and others but they pretty easily get away. Most of the dead at the body farm died of disease or natural causes and donated their bodies to science. One person died of a rattle snake bite off page. Tranquilizer darts and injections are used to capture and un-animate zombies. In some tumbles and other incidents Santiago loses more and more parts, he has a finger and ear in his pocket by the end and one arm got stitched back on.
Ethnic diversity: Frani's family appears to be Hispanic American and so is Santiago. From their last name, I'm guessing the Tanakas are Japanese American. Others among the dead and living are white and Black American.
LGBTQ+ content: It is mentioned Essie has a girlfriend; she is never on page.
Other: The natural decay process after death is talked about a lot. A body farm is realistically described. Someone did the zombie experiment on purpose without thinking of ethical concerns. Essie is not very understanding of Frani's challenges with ADHD most of the book and is quite harsh.
I really appreciate how Frani's narration of this story will help build empathy and understanding among readers for those with ADHD, and also allow readers with ADHD like Frani's to feel seen. The adventure allows Frani to process how she feels about her brain (she doesn't like it much of the time) and eventually come to a place of more acceptance and appreciation by the end, but also feeling ok to reach out for help when she needs it. Mateo (who they find out is really named Santiago) has a rather tragic story and his part of this tale is bittersweet. Frani keeps waiting for new boy Benji to dump her as a new friend for being too weird, but he's a great guy and handles all the weird and gross stuff he gets thrown into with a great attitude. He's a good friend when Frani needs it. Frani's older sister Essie is pretty awful to her the few scenes when she is on page, constantly telling Frani she's going to mess things up and she isn't trustworthy, but there is a bit of a breakthrough by the end of the book. Profe (Frani's dad), Dr. Tanaka, and the police chief get 5 stars for being pretty cool adults in a middle grade book and sharing the load in the whole solving the zombie problems thing. I found that a breath of fresh air. How often are adults treated like the tweens teammates in problem solving in middle grade adventures? I love forensics stories, strong science-based fantasy/scifi, and have read books about real body farms. I was pleasantly surprised that the body farm aspects of the book felt on point, true to life, and scientifically sound to me, and it was a fantastic setting for a middle grade horror story. The method used to reanimate the dead was also science based and made sense, even if I don't think it would work in real life. Obviously, the whole body farm setting is not for all middle graders. Know the tween or teen you hand this to and make sure they can handle people studying death and the decay process and realistically describing reanimated corpses and how they'd fall apart if trying to walk or jump or such.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Some zombies come after Frani and Benji and others but they pretty easily get away. Most of the dead at the body farm died of disease or natural causes and donated their bodies to science. One person died of a rattle snake bite off page. Tranquilizer darts and injections are used to capture and un-animate zombies. In some tumbles and other incidents Santiago loses more and more parts, he has a finger and ear in his pocket by the end and one arm got stitched back on.
Ethnic diversity: Frani's family appears to be Hispanic American and so is Santiago. From their last name, I'm guessing the Tanakas are Japanese American. Others among the dead and living are white and Black American.
LGBTQ+ content: It is mentioned Essie has a girlfriend; she is never on page.
Other: The natural decay process after death is talked about a lot. A body farm is realistically described. Someone did the zombie experiment on purpose without thinking of ethical concerns. Essie is not very understanding of Frani's challenges with ADHD most of the book and is quite harsh.
May 7, 2024
What worked:
The grossness factor of the story will appeal to many middle-grade readers although it’s not for the general population. You can expect flaky flesh falling off bodies with fingers, arms, and teeth dropping at every turn. Frani’s father studies the decomposition of dead bodies so there are over two hundred corpses buried in the backyard of their home at the university. One of his assistants is studying the effect different clothing materials have on decomposition while another is studying the bugs that feed on the dead flesh. Many young readers like to read creepy stories so this book is up their alley, minus the fear factor.
A medical term is not presented to describe the “spider” inside Frani’s head but her mind tends to quickly get distracted by a chain of thoughts. It makes it difficult for her to stay focused and complete tasks and it’s sometimes challenging to answer questions. She’ll utter random words that seem to make no sense to others but her brain follows a path of connected ideas to come up with them. Frani is well aware of the “spider” and the problems it creates and her older sister doesn’t spare negative, hurtful comments. The combination of Frani’s anger and frustration at her brain and her sister’s cruel words results in Frani’s low self-esteem. Middle-graders often fear looking stupid in front of their peers so they’ll be able to make connections to Frani’s character.
The first living corpse Frani discovers becomes a supporting character she calls Mateo. She enlists the help of a new friend named Benji and he calls reanimated bodies DUDs, Definitely Undead Dudes. Frani and Benji’s first order of business is to figure out Mateo’s real identity since the DUD doesn’t have any specific memories of being alive. He comes across as a helpless victim as decomposition leads to bits of his body falling off. Mateo displays kindness toward his new friends and helps them with trying to locate and recapture the other DUDs. Readers will feel empathy toward Mateo and the others as Frani’s father tries to figure out a humane way to allow the DUDs to rest in peace.
What didn’t work as well:
Frani’s wandering thoughts make the first few chapters challenging to read. They set the stage for her major internal struggles but it’s hard to follow her thinking. However, the author is able to describe it less as the plot moves on so it’s easier to focus on the story itself.
The final verdict:
While this is a book about zombies, Mateo has the most emotional story that will capture reader’s minds and hearts. The author blends humor, nastiness, action, and mystery to create a very entertaining tale. Overall, the book won’t interest everyone but I recommend you give it a shot.
The grossness factor of the story will appeal to many middle-grade readers although it’s not for the general population. You can expect flaky flesh falling off bodies with fingers, arms, and teeth dropping at every turn. Frani’s father studies the decomposition of dead bodies so there are over two hundred corpses buried in the backyard of their home at the university. One of his assistants is studying the effect different clothing materials have on decomposition while another is studying the bugs that feed on the dead flesh. Many young readers like to read creepy stories so this book is up their alley, minus the fear factor.
A medical term is not presented to describe the “spider” inside Frani’s head but her mind tends to quickly get distracted by a chain of thoughts. It makes it difficult for her to stay focused and complete tasks and it’s sometimes challenging to answer questions. She’ll utter random words that seem to make no sense to others but her brain follows a path of connected ideas to come up with them. Frani is well aware of the “spider” and the problems it creates and her older sister doesn’t spare negative, hurtful comments. The combination of Frani’s anger and frustration at her brain and her sister’s cruel words results in Frani’s low self-esteem. Middle-graders often fear looking stupid in front of their peers so they’ll be able to make connections to Frani’s character.
The first living corpse Frani discovers becomes a supporting character she calls Mateo. She enlists the help of a new friend named Benji and he calls reanimated bodies DUDs, Definitely Undead Dudes. Frani and Benji’s first order of business is to figure out Mateo’s real identity since the DUD doesn’t have any specific memories of being alive. He comes across as a helpless victim as decomposition leads to bits of his body falling off. Mateo displays kindness toward his new friends and helps them with trying to locate and recapture the other DUDs. Readers will feel empathy toward Mateo and the others as Frani’s father tries to figure out a humane way to allow the DUDs to rest in peace.
What didn’t work as well:
Frani’s wandering thoughts make the first few chapters challenging to read. They set the stage for her major internal struggles but it’s hard to follow her thinking. However, the author is able to describe it less as the plot moves on so it’s easier to focus on the story itself.
The final verdict:
While this is a book about zombies, Mateo has the most emotional story that will capture reader’s minds and hearts. The author blends humor, nastiness, action, and mystery to create a very entertaining tale. Overall, the book won’t interest everyone but I recommend you give it a shot.
August 6, 2024
Adrianna Cuevas delivers a refreshingly unique and captivating tale in The No-Brainer's Guide to Decomposition. Frani Gonzalez, the fearless protagonist, lives an extraordinary life at the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, where her father works. Her nonchalant attitude towards guts, bugs, and buried bodies sets the stage for an intriguing and unconventional story that keeps readers hooked.
Cuevas masterfully brings Frani's imaginative mind to life through the character of Arañita, the imaginary spider living in her brain. This clever personification of her distracted thoughts adds depth to Frani's character, making her both relatable and endearing. The moment a hand reaches out from the ground and grabs her ankle is a thrilling and pivotal scene that catapults Frani into a mysterious adventure involving teenage zombies.
The narrative seamlessly blends humor, horror, and heart, creating a story as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Frani's journey of self-discovery and the development of new friendships are beautifully woven into the supernatural elements of the plot, adding richness to the story. Cuevas's writing is engaging, with vivid descriptions that bring the body farm and its eerie inhabitants to life.
The novel excels in portraying Frani's growth as she navigates the complexities of her mind and the challenges the undead poses. The unexpected emergence of zombies and the ensuing mystery are handled with creativity and originality, keeping readers on their toes. Frani's bravery, determination, and quirky charm make her a memorable and inspiring character.
The No-Brainer's Guide to Decomposition is a delightful, original read that stands out in middle-grade fiction. Adrianna Cuevas has crafted a compelling story that skillfully balances the macabre with moments of genuine warmth and humor. This tale of zombies, friendship, and self-discovery will captivate readers and leave a lasting impression.
Cuevas masterfully brings Frani's imaginative mind to life through the character of Arañita, the imaginary spider living in her brain. This clever personification of her distracted thoughts adds depth to Frani's character, making her both relatable and endearing. The moment a hand reaches out from the ground and grabs her ankle is a thrilling and pivotal scene that catapults Frani into a mysterious adventure involving teenage zombies.
The narrative seamlessly blends humor, horror, and heart, creating a story as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. Frani's journey of self-discovery and the development of new friendships are beautifully woven into the supernatural elements of the plot, adding richness to the story. Cuevas's writing is engaging, with vivid descriptions that bring the body farm and its eerie inhabitants to life.
The novel excels in portraying Frani's growth as she navigates the complexities of her mind and the challenges the undead poses. The unexpected emergence of zombies and the ensuing mystery are handled with creativity and originality, keeping readers on their toes. Frani's bravery, determination, and quirky charm make her a memorable and inspiring character.
The No-Brainer's Guide to Decomposition is a delightful, original read that stands out in middle-grade fiction. Adrianna Cuevas has crafted a compelling story that skillfully balances the macabre with moments of genuine warmth and humor. This tale of zombies, friendship, and self-discovery will captivate readers and leave a lasting impression.
June 8, 2024
Frani struggles to focus at home and school due to Aranita", an imaginary spider in her brain, which also isolates her socially. She finds solace working with her dad, a professor at a Texas University, who researches cadaver decomposition at a body farm. Here, Frani stays focused and engaged.
The story begins when a new researcher and his son, Benji, join the team. Benji quickly befriends Frani, and together they discover a reanimated teen body named Santiago. They set out to investigate why other dead bodies are coming back to life.
The book’s gross-out factor, with scenes of decomposing bodies and falling limbs, will appeal to middle-grade readers who enjoy creepy stories without the fear element. Frani’s father has over two hundred corpses buried at their home for research,studying decomposition in various clothing and the insects that feed on the flesh.
Frani's mental distraction, due to the "spider" in her head, makes focusing and completing tasks difficult. Her older sister’s hurtful comments further lower Frani’s self-esteem, a struggle relatable to many middle-graders.
The first reanimated corpse, Mateo aka Santiago, becomes a key character. Frani and Benji call these reanimated bodies DUDs (Definitely Undead Dudes). They aim to uncover Santiago's true identity, as he has no memories of his past life. Despite his decomposition, Santiago shows kindness and helps locate and recapture other DUDs. Readers will empathize with Santiago and the DUDs as Frani’s father seeks a humane solution to let them rest in peace.
I loved how the story shows readers that no matter what disability you may have, there's nothing stopping you from doing what you want, especially with the help from friends and family.
The story begins when a new researcher and his son, Benji, join the team. Benji quickly befriends Frani, and together they discover a reanimated teen body named Santiago. They set out to investigate why other dead bodies are coming back to life.
The book’s gross-out factor, with scenes of decomposing bodies and falling limbs, will appeal to middle-grade readers who enjoy creepy stories without the fear element. Frani’s father has over two hundred corpses buried at their home for research,studying decomposition in various clothing and the insects that feed on the flesh.
Frani's mental distraction, due to the "spider" in her head, makes focusing and completing tasks difficult. Her older sister’s hurtful comments further lower Frani’s self-esteem, a struggle relatable to many middle-graders.
The first reanimated corpse, Mateo aka Santiago, becomes a key character. Frani and Benji call these reanimated bodies DUDs (Definitely Undead Dudes). They aim to uncover Santiago's true identity, as he has no memories of his past life. Despite his decomposition, Santiago shows kindness and helps locate and recapture other DUDs. Readers will empathize with Santiago and the DUDs as Frani’s father seeks a humane solution to let them rest in peace.
I loved how the story shows readers that no matter what disability you may have, there's nothing stopping you from doing what you want, especially with the help from friends and family.
September 17, 2025
I feel bad for giving this a low rating, because parts of it were great. But there were other parts that made no sense to me and the conclusion was resolved so easily that all the previous conflict seemed over-exaggerated.
I'm going to start with Fani's ADHD. It was really hard for me to understand what was going on with that, because the narrative made it sound like she'd been diagnosed but nobody was trying to help her. She wasn't on any medication or being taught skills to manage her condition. Especially with her dad being a professor. She had a really negative view of herself, thinking she'd be rejected and abandoned because of Aranita, and I just have to wonder how she learned to see herself that way. If this took place decades ago it would make more sense, but this is a modern setting and people are much more educated about neurodivergence. And then at the end she's suddenly getting the help she needs. If it really was that easy, why wasn't she getting this treatment from the start? There's no explanation for it!
On a related note, Fani's sister Essie was so nasty to her sister for no reason. She was constantly antagonizing Fani, calling her worthless or dismissing her because she "doesn't make sense" and again, there's no explanation. I got she was jealous of Fani and their dad working together, but why was she so nasty about Fani's condition and why didn't the dad step in more? Once again, at the end Essie is suddenly nicer to her. I don't think she even apologized to Frani for being so nasty earlier.
A lot of this book was really good. I liked all the detail on the body farm. The zombie hunting was good, too. The slow reveal of Santiago's story was so heartbreaking
I'm going to start with Fani's ADHD. It was really hard for me to understand what was going on with that, because the narrative made it sound like she'd been diagnosed but nobody was trying to help her. She wasn't on any medication or being taught skills to manage her condition. Especially with her dad being a professor. She had a really negative view of herself, thinking she'd be rejected and abandoned because of Aranita, and I just have to wonder how she learned to see herself that way. If this took place decades ago it would make more sense, but this is a modern setting and people are much more educated about neurodivergence. And then at the end she's suddenly getting the help she needs. If it really was that easy, why wasn't she getting this treatment from the start? There's no explanation for it!
On a related note, Fani's sister Essie was so nasty to her sister for no reason. She was constantly antagonizing Fani, calling her worthless or dismissing her because she "doesn't make sense" and again, there's no explanation. I got she was jealous of Fani and their dad working together, but why was she so nasty about Fani's condition and why didn't the dad step in more? Once again, at the end Essie is suddenly nicer to her. I don't think she even apologized to Frani for being so nasty earlier.
A lot of this book was really good. I liked all the detail on the body farm. The zombie hunting was good, too. The slow reveal of Santiago's story was so heartbreaking
March 15, 2024
A MG paranormal book about zombies, brains & lots of heart.
🧟♂️
Frani struggles to pay attention in school, mainly because she isn’t interested in much of what’s being taught. However, her dad is a professor at a Texas university and works at the campus’s body farm doing scientific work. It’s this research that Frani is all about, so much so that her brain (Aranita) is able to stay focused when Frani is working with her dad. This summer a colleague’s son, Benji, is joining their research group and while Frani was worried Aranita would keep her from making friends with him, the two hit it off after one of the bodies on the farm is reanimated. Once Benji and Frani realize many bodies are popping up, they work together to try and figure out why and how this is happening.
🧠
This novel is going to be right up middle grade readers’ alley! Decomposing corpses, maggots, body parts falling off—kids that love Goosebumps and other age appropriate #horror titles will devour this one like a zombie devours brains! Ultimately, though, this title brings up several important topics such as ADHD and mental health awareness, girls in STEM, social awkwardness, friends becoming family and how so many BIPOC teens go missing without much, if any, news coverage while white teens get candlelit vigils, front page news and all the attention. I cried at the end—yes! A paranormal horror book made me sob! There’s so much to discuss & to love in this book that I can’t wait for it to be out in the world 9/24. Also: never eating Rice Crispies again IYKYK 😂 5⭐️
CW: adhd/mental health awareness, death, body horror, gore, violence (all age appropriate), missing persons
🧟♂️
Frani struggles to pay attention in school, mainly because she isn’t interested in much of what’s being taught. However, her dad is a professor at a Texas university and works at the campus’s body farm doing scientific work. It’s this research that Frani is all about, so much so that her brain (Aranita) is able to stay focused when Frani is working with her dad. This summer a colleague’s son, Benji, is joining their research group and while Frani was worried Aranita would keep her from making friends with him, the two hit it off after one of the bodies on the farm is reanimated. Once Benji and Frani realize many bodies are popping up, they work together to try and figure out why and how this is happening.
🧠
This novel is going to be right up middle grade readers’ alley! Decomposing corpses, maggots, body parts falling off—kids that love Goosebumps and other age appropriate #horror titles will devour this one like a zombie devours brains! Ultimately, though, this title brings up several important topics such as ADHD and mental health awareness, girls in STEM, social awkwardness, friends becoming family and how so many BIPOC teens go missing without much, if any, news coverage while white teens get candlelit vigils, front page news and all the attention. I cried at the end—yes! A paranormal horror book made me sob! There’s so much to discuss & to love in this book that I can’t wait for it to be out in the world 9/24. Also: never eating Rice Crispies again IYKYK 😂 5⭐️
CW: adhd/mental health awareness, death, body horror, gore, violence (all age appropriate), missing persons
August 25, 2024
This is not the "normal" zombie story. If you are looking for a zombie apocalypse where Z's are stumbling around and eating everyone in sight, this is not that book.
Set on a body farm located on a college campus, No-Brainer's Guide is from the POV of Frani, a tween who's father is the professor in charge of the body farm. Frani is fascinated by the goings on at the farm and the bodies that reside there. She has ADHD (though its never actually labeled that) and her mind is a constant whirlwind that is constantly jumping from one train of thought to another - a process that she blames on "Aranita," the being she has decided lives in her mind and is the cause of all of her mishaps. When Frani and her new friend discover a dead body that is up-right and walking around, they know that something is amiss. When that body begins talking to them, they decide they need to help him. And when they realize he's not the only body who is not where it should be, they know they've got a mystery to solve.
I think there will be a lot of readers who relate strongly with Frani and how she thinks and acts. The way her mind jumps around can sometimes be jarring and hard to follow at first, but Cuevas always explains how Frani gets to where ever it is she got, which helps with that disjointed feeling that can happen when she goes on a tangent. There is a lot of science talk throughout the story and a LOT of descriptions of decomposing bodies.
#NetGalley #NoBrainersGuidetoDecompostion
Set on a body farm located on a college campus, No-Brainer's Guide is from the POV of Frani, a tween who's father is the professor in charge of the body farm. Frani is fascinated by the goings on at the farm and the bodies that reside there. She has ADHD (though its never actually labeled that) and her mind is a constant whirlwind that is constantly jumping from one train of thought to another - a process that she blames on "Aranita," the being she has decided lives in her mind and is the cause of all of her mishaps. When Frani and her new friend discover a dead body that is up-right and walking around, they know that something is amiss. When that body begins talking to them, they decide they need to help him. And when they realize he's not the only body who is not where it should be, they know they've got a mystery to solve.
I think there will be a lot of readers who relate strongly with Frani and how she thinks and acts. The way her mind jumps around can sometimes be jarring and hard to follow at first, but Cuevas always explains how Frani gets to where ever it is she got, which helps with that disjointed feeling that can happen when she goes on a tangent. There is a lot of science talk throughout the story and a LOT of descriptions of decomposing bodies.
#NetGalley #NoBrainersGuidetoDecompostion
September 8, 2025
5 stars. Frani has a little spider in her brain that distracts her, been labeled at school with four letters. In middle school likes to skip and go with her Dad, profe, to his lecture on how bodies decompose. Her sister Esperanza, Essie, works at Whataburger. lol Frani told her to leave for work because those Dr Pepper shakes aren’t going to make themselves!
The book hook: there are 237 bodies buried in my backyard
Central Texas University forensic anthropology research facility is where their house is to be more secure for the research
Welcome to the dirt nap Motel the lab assistant Pilar says when the new cadaver comes in. they still have zero stars on TripAdvisor
Bone farm in middle of university ag school & ranch
Walking home after placing her intake specimen on way to show Benji the ranch cows a hand comes out of the ground and tries to hold her ankle
Rice crispy effect is the noise of maggots feeding on the skin
Pud, potentially undead, dude
MG readers will love all the gory decomposition details
Axolotls
Essie is a bad sister
Pilar in jail gives Frani a chance to realize her brain is OK the way it is and to not use aranita as an excuse.
There’s no goodbye for the people we love, not really, our bodies may go back to the dirt but there’s no goodbye for our hearts
Author note: the bone farm is based on an actual research facility at San Marcos University, Texas
narrator Elena Ray great on audio.
The book hook: there are 237 bodies buried in my backyard
Central Texas University forensic anthropology research facility is where their house is to be more secure for the research
Welcome to the dirt nap Motel the lab assistant Pilar says when the new cadaver comes in. they still have zero stars on TripAdvisor
Bone farm in middle of university ag school & ranch
Walking home after placing her intake specimen on way to show Benji the ranch cows a hand comes out of the ground and tries to hold her ankle
Rice crispy effect is the noise of maggots feeding on the skin
Pud, potentially undead, dude
MG readers will love all the gory decomposition details
Axolotls
Essie is a bad sister
Pilar in jail gives Frani a chance to realize her brain is OK the way it is and to not use aranita as an excuse.
There’s no goodbye for the people we love, not really, our bodies may go back to the dirt but there’s no goodbye for our hearts
Author note: the bone farm is based on an actual research facility at San Marcos University, Texas
narrator Elena Ray great on audio.
October 3, 2024
Loved the location of The No-Brainer's Guide to Decomposition! This middle-grade novel is set at the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility which is really fascinating place. The story is about Frani, a kid who has ADHD (she names it "arañita") which is a double-edged sword for her and as much as it gets her into trouble it aids in her dilemma.
So what's her dilemma? Well, bodies aren't staying dead anymore and there's a new kid in town too. Future friend or future foe?
Opinion: I really enjoyed this book, but felt at times that the plotlines stretched a bit thin in places due to the sheer number of characters and so few pages left to wrap it up. I loved the throughline about arañita as metaphor for ADHD and zombies in general. I enjoyed the pseudo-science and Frankenstein's monster x Mummy approach to reanimating corpses, but the antagonist was not as well developed as I'd like. The MC's arc was great and I think young readers would find it fun to read. But the antagonist's arc was not as satisfying as I had hoped at the start (I'm also an adult reader, so ?? take this with a grain of salt?). I'd love to read another zombie book by Adrianna Cuevas and have it be as zany as this but with fewer outside forces (outside to the MC like police and other grown-ups) spreading the book's plotline too thin.
So what's her dilemma? Well, bodies aren't staying dead anymore and there's a new kid in town too. Future friend or future foe?
Opinion: I really enjoyed this book, but felt at times that the plotlines stretched a bit thin in places due to the sheer number of characters and so few pages left to wrap it up. I loved the throughline about arañita as metaphor for ADHD and zombies in general. I enjoyed the pseudo-science and Frankenstein's monster x Mummy approach to reanimating corpses, but the antagonist was not as well developed as I'd like. The MC's arc was great and I think young readers would find it fun to read. But the antagonist's arc was not as satisfying as I had hoped at the start (I'm also an adult reader, so ?? take this with a grain of salt?). I'd love to read another zombie book by Adrianna Cuevas and have it be as zany as this but with fewer outside forces (outside to the MC like police and other grown-ups) spreading the book's plotline too thin.
June 10, 2025
I have been looking forward to reading this book and it did not disappoint! Frani lives with her father & sister in central Texas. She struggles with focus at home and school thanks to Aranita, the name she gives the “spider” living in her brain as it travels across the many webs in her brain and making connections to random bits of information.
Frani’s dad, a professor at Texas State University studies cadavers and how various factors affect the decomposition process. It’s during one of Frani’s many visits to the lab that she and her new friend, Benji, meet Mateo, a reanimated corpse. With Mateo in tow, Frani & Benji go on the hunt to discover who Mateo really is and how he ended up dead. Before long though, Mateo isn’t the only reanimated corpse, and the trio find themselves helping Frani & Benji’s dads look for a host of DUDs (Definitely Undead Dudes).
The No Brainer’s Guide to Decomposition is a hilarious middle grade novel that provides the perfect balance of oozing maggots, falling limbs, and eeriness without truly scaring the reader!
Now, if I can just get my mother to read it so that she understands how my brain works!
Frani’s dad, a professor at Texas State University studies cadavers and how various factors affect the decomposition process. It’s during one of Frani’s many visits to the lab that she and her new friend, Benji, meet Mateo, a reanimated corpse. With Mateo in tow, Frani & Benji go on the hunt to discover who Mateo really is and how he ended up dead. Before long though, Mateo isn’t the only reanimated corpse, and the trio find themselves helping Frani & Benji’s dads look for a host of DUDs (Definitely Undead Dudes).
The No Brainer’s Guide to Decomposition is a hilarious middle grade novel that provides the perfect balance of oozing maggots, falling limbs, and eeriness without truly scaring the reader!
Now, if I can just get my mother to read it so that she understands how my brain works!
April 29, 2024
Frani, our main character has a lot of trouble focusing both at home and at school, and blames this on Aranita, a imaginary spider in her brain. Because of this, Frani doesn't have very many friends at school, but fortunately, she loves working with her dad, who is a professor at a Texas University. He works at the university body farm where he does research on decomposition of cadavers, and Frani works well with him without getting distracted.
Our story starts when another researcher begins working with them, and he has a son, Benji, and the two become fast friends, especially, after they discover a teen body has become reanimated, and this starts happening to other dead bodies. Frani and Benji, along with the reanimated teen (Santiago) work together to figure out how this is happening.
While I was completely grossed out by body parts falling off of Santiago, and maggots sounds being compared to a certain breakfast cereal, students will not, and will enjoy the adventure.
Other topics covered: ADHD, STEM, and missing BIPOC and the lack of coverage.
Our story starts when another researcher begins working with them, and he has a son, Benji, and the two become fast friends, especially, after they discover a teen body has become reanimated, and this starts happening to other dead bodies. Frani and Benji, along with the reanimated teen (Santiago) work together to figure out how this is happening.
While I was completely grossed out by body parts falling off of Santiago, and maggots sounds being compared to a certain breakfast cereal, students will not, and will enjoy the adventure.
Other topics covered: ADHD, STEM, and missing BIPOC and the lack of coverage.
October 16, 2024
The setting is awesome — the kids dad works at a bod decomposition farm studying all that BONES stuff and the kid is allowed to help out in a middle school way. The zombie science is a little fuzzy, but it gives the kid and her friend an excuse to run around with an amnesiac zombie figuring out what is up with all these duds (definitely undead dudes).
A lot of time is spent with the kid’s probably ADHD in a way I found more didactic than natural, and the mean older sister was there to demonstrate all the ways people can be hurtful towards ADHD siblings. On the other hand, the way the kid exhibited symptoms did seem very real, as did the way she made excuses for herself. At the end she makes an inspiring and rather unrealistic jump to owning her issues and deciding to embrace all of herself.
So, great at representation and I’m glad we have it, but I looked forward to the future where the lessons can take a back seat to the zombie stuff.
A lot of time is spent with the kid’s probably ADHD in a way I found more didactic than natural, and the mean older sister was there to demonstrate all the ways people can be hurtful towards ADHD siblings. On the other hand, the way the kid exhibited symptoms did seem very real, as did the way she made excuses for herself. At the end she makes an inspiring and rather unrealistic jump to owning her issues and deciding to embrace all of herself.
So, great at representation and I’m glad we have it, but I looked forward to the future where the lessons can take a back seat to the zombie stuff.
October 20, 2024
Adrianna Cuevas is an automatic-buy author for me, and she certainly doesn’t disappoint with her latest book—which will go more into decomposition than you’d ever think you’d want to know 😂
An incredibly fun and fast-paced story about struggling through self-doubt, and learning that the things that make us different are the things that make us who we are (and that our differences aren’t as big as we thought, in the end).
I loved how she depicted neurodivergence in this book, especially by describing how it affects people and relationships. I also especially enjoyed how she portrayed sibling dynamics and the way neurodivergent people struggle with their identity and self-concept. A beautiful book perfect for any reader, be sure to give this a read. It’s really a no-brainer. (I had too lol 😂)
An incredibly fun and fast-paced story about struggling through self-doubt, and learning that the things that make us different are the things that make us who we are (and that our differences aren’t as big as we thought, in the end).
I loved how she depicted neurodivergence in this book, especially by describing how it affects people and relationships. I also especially enjoyed how she portrayed sibling dynamics and the way neurodivergent people struggle with their identity and self-concept. A beautiful book perfect for any reader, be sure to give this a read. It’s really a no-brainer. (I had too lol 😂)
November 27, 2024
THE NO-BRAINER’S GUIDE TO DECOMPOSITION isn’t your regular zombie story! Frani has a hard time focusing due to the constant distractions from Arañita, the pesky spider who lives in her brain and weaves complicated webs of thought. This doesn’t keep her from helping her father with his work at the university’s body farm. After a cadaver that’s come back to life grabs her ankle, she joins forces with her friend Benji and the first DUD (definitely undead dude) to figure out the cause.
Frani is a fantastic protagonist. The spider analogy works beautifully to explain how her mind works and helps draw readers into how she experiences the world with ADHD. The book is an adventure filled mystery with a dose of gross and lots of heart—even with all the undead bodies wandering around!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.
Frani is a fantastic protagonist. The spider analogy works beautifully to explain how her mind works and helps draw readers into how she experiences the world with ADHD. The book is an adventure filled mystery with a dose of gross and lots of heart—even with all the undead bodies wandering around!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.
November 28, 2024
Definitely my least favorite of this author's books.
This would have worked better as a young adult book instead of middle grade. I do not believe that the university would be ok with a professor bringing his eight-year-old child to work at a forensic facility, especially when she's got such extremely bad untreated ADHD.
The "villain" was extremely obvious.
Arañita was mentioned way too often.
It took way too long for Frani's dad to get her any help. It's frustrating that he knows how severe her troubles are and all he says is that her brain is great just how it is, instead of acknowledging that it's something that could be improved upon.
Authors need to stop making characters wink all the time. Real people do not do that.
This would have worked better as a young adult book instead of middle grade. I do not believe that the university would be ok with a professor bringing his eight-year-old child to work at a forensic facility, especially when she's got such extremely bad untreated ADHD.
The "villain" was extremely obvious.
Arañita was mentioned way too often.
It took way too long for Frani's dad to get her any help. It's frustrating that he knows how severe her troubles are and all he says is that her brain is great just how it is, instead of acknowledging that it's something that could be improved upon.
Authors need to stop making characters wink all the time. Real people do not do that.
February 3, 2025
Twelve-year-old Frani is constantly distracted by Aranita, whom she describes as a spider jumping web to web in her brain. Aranita keeps her distracted as she helps out at her father’s lab at Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, where dead bodies are analyzed. One day, Frani is walking and a hand grabs her ankle. The hand is attached to a teenage zombie. Frani, her friend Benji, and the zombie have to find out information about what happened to the zombie before death & how to put the zombie to be dead.
Interspersed are details about how bodies’ decomposition process that will make zombie and horror fans eager to finish the tale.
This is recommended for grades 5 and up.
S.T.
School Librarian
Interspersed are details about how bodies’ decomposition process that will make zombie and horror fans eager to finish the tale.
This is recommended for grades 5 and up.
S.T.
School Librarian
April 19, 2025
Between living on a university research facility where her father studies decomposition on cadavers, and her struggles with ADHD (aka Arañita - the spider who controls her thoughts), Frani Gonzalez’s life is already pretty unusual. But when a secret experiment goes wrong, Frani must make peace with Arañita long enough to figure out what is causing reanimated corpses to overrun the university and find a (compassionate) way to stop them.
This story hit all the right notes for me. Fun, gross horror elements that weren’t over the top. Self-discovery. STEM girls rock! I even got teary at the end (no spoilers). As a central Texan with a flair for the macabre, I can’t believe I never knew about the real-life body farm this is based on.
This story hit all the right notes for me. Fun, gross horror elements that weren’t over the top. Self-discovery. STEM girls rock! I even got teary at the end (no spoilers). As a central Texan with a flair for the macabre, I can’t believe I never knew about the real-life body farm this is based on.
October 21, 2024
Not going to lie, I thought this book was a bit gross and to descriptive at times for middle graders. I am sure though there will be some who think it's cool. It's not for those who can't handle gross talk of what happens to bodies as they decay! Other than that I really enjoyed this book as I thought it was an interesting take on reanimating a person. It was interesting to have locoalized zombies that just came from the body farm so it wasn't like a desease or apocolypse type thing. I will say that the MC having ADHD and the way it was written was annoying at times but I am sure depicts what might go on inside someones mind it was just annoying. Overall thought I thought it was a fun book.
July 19, 2025
Don't read this if you are squeamish: this is full of bodies in various states of decomposition. Of course, this being a somewhat silly and scientific zombie story, some of those decomposing bodies are in motion. The heroine of the story (Franny) struggles with ADHD, where she has problems staying on task and in order, but is very creative and focused on things she is interested in (like helping her dad with the bodies). The mysterious talking teen zombie adds dry humorous heart to the situation. Can they find out how the bodies are becoming animated? Can they respectfully put them to rest? Can Franny come to terms with her ADHD, or is she doomed to a life of friendless failure?
October 7, 2024
This is not your typical zombie story. It combines the creepiness that many middle grader readers adore with an insecure neurodivergent protagonist and a zombie that you could just love to pieces- literally. Frani's father runs a body farm, a scientific facility designed to study decomposition. She has a brilliant scientific mind but her thoughts skip threads much like a spider on its web. Since this causes problems dealing with others, she would rather spend time helping out at the facility. Lots of middle graders have medical or social differences that make them feel insecure and Frannie is an empathetic relatable character. When Fran is giving the son of a new employee a tour, they discovery that one of the bodies is no longer in the ground. Benni refers to thim as a Definitely Undead Dude, but this story is no DUD. The kids end up befriending the zombie. He can't remember who he is, so they name him Mateo and hide him while they try to find his identity. This character is falling to pieces but still maintains such a positive attitude. His acceptance of his condition teaches Frannie to accept herself. Both Benni and Mateo have a great sense of humor and this goofy grisley story provides quite a romp. This story provides the gross factor without the usual zombie scariness. I received an advanced electronic copy of this book from the publisher, but I can honestly recommend this book for any kid who likes science, or creepy stories. Getting this book is a no-brainer.
November 4, 2024
I've really come to love Adrianna Cuevas' books! Her narrative voice is strong, and she writes lovable characters and intriguing plots. This was also the perfect read for October with its paranormal elements. It's worth noting that I did *not* find it scary. The main "zombie" character was so lovable and my favorite part of the whole book. (Note: Some of the descriptions of cadavers and undead beings were a little graphic, so students who dislike any mentions of blood or gore may want to steer clear.)
November 13, 2024
This is delightful. And gross. And very much body-horror/zombie in appeal. I love that it has a smart, capable, socially isolated ADHD Latinx girl at the heart of it. I love that this is a story about finding your tribe and that one of those friends is just a little dead. I love that people get called out for being unkind and that they do better. I love that there is a whole bunch of science and respectful handling of the dead as the context. And I love that out of the box thinking saves the day.
August 24, 2024
The book is so perfectly weird. I don’t know what Adrianna Cueves sought out to accomplish first. To write a humorous story about zombies or to write a story about dealing with ADHD, but they mix so beautifully. I love hearing what it is like for Frani to try to master her ever changing web of thoughts and distractions and trying to figure out friendships. I love how true she is to what she enjoys. And I love this very unique zombie story.
October 3, 2024
As a reader with ADHD I felt this book so deep down in my core. I’ve never felt more seen in a book. It was funny and yet so heartfelt at the same time. Love the spider metaphor for Frani’s brain. I use squirrels at a rave to describe mine. I also never thought I’d cry during a zombie novel but I did find myself tearing up a little bit. Loved this book to death (pun intended) and if I could give it more stars I would.
February 24, 2025
I liked the concept of this. Kind of a zombie-lite for tweens. There was a lot of repetition around the description of the MC's struggle with ADD or maybe ADHD? Maybe because I was listening to the book instead of reading (skimming is kind of eliminated), it just got a little old for me. But maybe this simulates the experience of what it is like for someone struggling with concentration and focus?
Anyway- I think lots of kids will relate and really like this story.
Anyway- I think lots of kids will relate and really like this story.
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