Gr 3-6 Readers met 13-year-old abandoned foster kid-turned-monster slayer Jack Sullivan and his adolescent makeshift army in The Last Kids on Earth . In this excellent sequel, the zombies are mysteriously disappearing. As the zombies walk in droves toward a shrieking sound, their brains are being sucked out of their skulls. While no fan of the undead, Jack and his squad set out to solve the mystery. New alliances are formed and trusts are broken, culminating in an all-out monster brawl to save their world. The continuation of this hybrid series capitalizes on gross-out fun. The realistic writing style keeps the narrative moving at a fast pace, while the frenzied pencil artwork supports its humorous tone. But what distinguishes this adventure is the character development. The members work through their fears of loss, abandonment, and loneliness to unite as a family. The language is sophisticated, geared toward readers who enjoy rousing adventures. The open ended conclusion allows for the possibility of more exciting exploits. A gallery highlighting various nefarious creatures is an added treat. VERDICT For fans of the first book, this sequel does not disappoint. This series is a must-have for middle grade collections. Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

Jack, June, Quint, Dirk, and Rover are back for another post monster apocalypse adventure. With Blarg out of the way, it's time for the gang to tackle another task, and this time, Quint suggests they compile a bestiary of all the creatures now swarming earth. While in pursuit of a gigantic worm, they meet another hunter, a monster named Thrull, who rescues them and gives them an old book for their bestiary, suggesting that they should include some of each creature's essence in its entry. In the process of tracking down beasts of all kinds to fill out their book, the gang of kid adventurers learn about a powerful, evil enchanter, Rezzoch, who just might be behind a suddenly missing horde of the undead. With light, snappy narration and dialogue and plenty of comics interludes to mix things up, this fast-paced story trundles along, and the likable cast, lots of adventure, and gooey, oozy monster slime galore keep the pages turning. Fans of the series opener won't want to miss this follow-up.