ALA Booklist

In the first of a 12-book series, Shan introduces B, an 11-year-old antihero living in Britain. B's gang of hooligans are going about their routine rsing, stealing, fighting, drinking, and haranguing the weak en news reports filter in about a zombie outbreak in Ireland. Despite grainy video clips, no one is sure if these are hoaxes or the real deal. Those expecting wall-to-wall, Jonathan Maberry style zombie action will be surprised to discover a raw and deeply observant tale of a morally questionable kid trying, and usually failing, to move beyond the ingrained racism instilled by B's father. It is a brave move by Shan to posit such a bigoted hooligan as our protagonist. There is light symbolism suggesting fear of "the other" can be represented by zombies, but this interesting idea is all-too-quickly overwhelmed by a third-act zombie invasion, which feels somewhat rote after the fascinating morality play that came before. Two huge surprises, though, await the reader who gets to the bloody, gruesome end, and these alone will set tongues wagging.

Horn Book

Caught between loyalty to friends and allegiance to his abusive, racist father through an escalating zombie apocalypse, tough guy B is either paralyzed with inaction or motivated to please whomever he's with. This bloody and disjointed romp bounces between family drama and orchestrated zombie attacks, but Shan offers a complex examination of the ways racism can be transferred from parent to child.

Kirkus Reviews

Shan's baaa-aaaack. For B Smith, school is a bore and home is a battlefield, with a racist and abusive father around whom to navigate. The years of hate have taken their toll, with B provoking fights against nonwhite students to earn parental approval and hiding friendships that would incur parental wrath. When zombies begin massacring B's fellow students, it turns into a survival challenge, and B must cooperate with a diverse set of survivors to flee the barricaded school. Shan brings back his tried-and-true shock and gore narratives, with gruesome brain scooping and death-defying action sequences. Troubled by divided loyalty between father and friends, B's character is well-drawn though occasionally naïve; B often elects not to make any choice in difficult situations, and Shan doesn't fully explore the consequences of those moments of inaction. The English slang may cause momentary trouble, but tension over immigration crosses the pond easily enough. Shan packs in the bites, and he rips out enough entrails for even the most jaded zombie fan; the cliffhanger ending, now expected by his fans, closes on just the right note to leave the audience gnawing for more. A series opener to sink your teeth into. (Horror. 12-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Shan, author of the Cirque du Freak and Demonata series, enters the zombie genre in a thoroughly bloody fashion with this slow-burning horror piece, which opens a planned 12-book series. This slim volume starts off quietly, introducing readers to narrator B Smith, an English teen who seems headed for a bad end, a born troublemaker following the example of a physically abusive, racist, and thuggish father. Struggling with violent impulses, a desire for paternal approval, and a lowbrow group of friends, B makes one wrong choice after another, leading up to the moment of truth, when a devastating zombie outbreak turns everyday existence into a life-or-death struggle. With the body count rising rapidly and everybody fending for themselves, B-s true colors finally show-at least one of the late revelations should catch readers off guard-setting the stage for the next entry. Character development is impressive for a relatively short book, and Shan executes the transition from normalcy to wholesale terror masterfully. It-s a strong start, but there-s a lot of story left to go. Ages 12-up. Agent: Christopher Little, Christopher Little Literary Agency. (Oct.)

School Library Journal

Gr 7-9 B Smith (gender not revealed until the end) is a punk, a bully, and a thug, easily falling into the trap of racism because of an overbearing father. B silently questions that ignorance but ultimately finds it easier, and safer, to conform to Dad's ideals rather than take a stand, as well as another beating. When the zombies attack, B is able to channel this aggression and anger and help lead fellow students trying to find a safe haven and escape. Finally, B's father comes to the rescue and, for a brief moment, all is well. An unfortunate choice, however, causes B's fragile faith to crumble and even worse tragedy ensues. B's self-loathing and doubt make this more than just your average zombie tale, and the subject will strike a chord with many teens, especially those who may find themselves at odds with the beliefs of their parents. Once the zombies attack, however, the soul-searching is put to rest and the action comes fast, furious, and relatively gory. This is the first book in a 12-volume series (with other titles being released at a projected rate of four a year), and it leaves plenty of questions unresolved. This is a promising beginning, and it's sure to have teens eagerly anticipating the next installment. Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX