Title: The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses
Author: Ty Drago
Publisher: Jabberwocky
Published: April 1, 2011
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 480
Source: Publisher

"On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, I found out my grouchy next door neighbor was the walking dead. When you turn around expecting to see something familiar, and instead see something else altogether, it takes a little while for your brain to catch up with your eyes. I call it the 'Holy Crap Factor.'"

Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers-a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters who've banded together to battle the Corpses.

Will wakes up one Wednesday, and it's just like every other day until he sees his neighbor, then his principal, then his teachers have all become a part of the living dead. Is it a new thing? Yes, and no. Will's one of the special few who can see these zombies among the living, making him an Undertaker with a special destiny. Suddenly, in addition to his twelve-year-old angst, pre-teen life, and all the glory that comes with it, Will is sent along a path with others like him because his gift dictates it. He might be a part of humanity's last line of resistance between the living and the dead, but that also means that his life will never be the same again.

Remember when vampires became popular? Then werewolves, angels and witches followed. Well, zombies have been on the train lately with shows like The Walking Dead and Zombieland popularizing the lore. The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses, however, does what few books and films say they will do - it takes the original idea, turns it on its tail and makes it into something entirely new. Author Ty Drago clearly had some clever mojo going when he wrote this one because he combined two seemingly polar opposite tales into a single, fully-functioning novel that's suspenseful, age-appropriate and seriously witty.

The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses truly is one of the freshest MG reads that I've got my hands on in a while. Will is a great protagonist. He's charming and smart, but he acts his age. Yes, there were a few moments where he slipped and I wondered why he suddenly sounded more mature, but overall, he felt entirely real. Will's friend, Tom, also consistently evolved throughout the book, and I felt their progression and character changes, although mostly subtle, were in sync with the plot. Speaking of the plot...wow. Talk about a fresh idea! I'm not going to spoil it for anyone, but let's just say that the zombies in The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses are nothing like what you read before. In fact, they might not be from this planet. Ponder that one.

All in all, The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses was a fun, fast-paced and action packed read. It sounds like a long book, but it reads well, and I finished it quickly, all the while wanting a sequel. I give it a firm 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend this to both YA and MG audiences. I also think reluctant readers would enjoy this quick plot and fun premise.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Publisher: Delacorte
Published: March 10, 2009
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 308
Source: Personal Copy

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her.

She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Mary lives in a world that's sheltered and hidden, governed by the laws of the Sisterhood for her own protection. The Forest of Hands and Teeth lies beyond the walls of her village, and it's for her own safety that she lives in the world in which she lives. But when her Mother is lost to the Forest, Mary finds the desire to learn what is beyond the walls and in the depths of the Forest. Her life takes an unexpected turn, leading her to the ultimate decision of with whom she stands in the end.

I'm late to the party reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but I hate reading books when the hype is high and everyone seems to love them. I'm almost always disappointed. That said, I was sold on the fact that it's a zombie book, and I loved the fact that it stayed true to that. Rather than romanticizing the concept of zombies, author Carrie Ryan spun a haunting tale that drew from the sadistic nature of zombies and fueled the heartfelt tale of Mary's life. The prose was powerful and real, lending an element of truth to an otherwise paranormal tale.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth has this rich sort of darkness coursing through it, and the environment in which Mary lives is extremely tangible. I loved how deep and haunting the portrayal of the Unconsecrated was because it put me in Mary's shoes and let me feel the extent of her fear. All that aside though, I will say that (at times) Mary annoyed me. I felt that her voice was grating, and while I felt her story and shared in her pain, joy and turmoil, her emotions were almost too overdone for my taste at times. However, that one gripe was tempered by the overall power of The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

When all is said and done, I'm a big fan of The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Rich and powerful, creepy but exhilarating, it was a page-turner until the very end. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to all fans of the YA genre, especially those who enjoy paranormal and fantasy tales, as well as those who enjoy zombies.