A young zombie enthusiast tries to bring about the apocalypse and uncovers a murder plot instead in Wyatt's middle-grade debut. Harriet the Spy meets Coraline in this horror romp starring almost-13-year-old Ernestine Montgomery. Intent on jump-starting the apocalypse and with a zombie survival guide already written, Ernestine, with the help of her white stepbrother Charleston, tries to raise the undead from a nearby cemetery. Plans are derailed a bit, however, with the attempted murder of their landlady, and the eccentric, "retired artists, both performing and otherwise" who share their apartment building are thrown under suspicion. Wyatt has created a bright, determined, and emotionally complex protagonist to join the illustrious roster of young mystery-solvers and monster-slayers: Ernestine barely blinks when tracking down a would-be homicidal maniac is added to her apocalyptic to-do list. Past trauma, a delicate mother-daughter relationship, and premeditated violence bring a balance of gravitas to the delightfully macabre narrative without slowing it down. Wyatt makes some awkward missteps in representation, overemphasizing the hair textures—and misbehavior—and skin tones of biracial Ernestine and her mother in comparison to brief eye- and hair-color descriptions for white characters such as Charleston. Despite this, the narrative will have readers asking for the sure-to-come sequel.A heroine to warm the heart and a mystery to chill the blood. (Mystery. 9-12)

A 12-year-old obsessed with surviving a zombie apocalypse might not strike one as that unusual; however, Ernestine Montgomery also has her sights set on bringing said apocalypse about. Having enlisted her 10-year-old stepbrother Charleston's help, Ernestine's graveyard ritual to raise the dead takes a turn when their test subject escapes (maybe). Concurrently, tensions mount in the zany building they call home (MacGillicuddie House for Elderly and Retired Artists, Both Performing and Otherwise), as somebody some zombie splays murderous designs on Mrs. MacGillicuddie's life. Colorful characters ranging from a former horror-movie villain to twin acrobats to greedy MacGillicuddie heirs move constantly in and out of scenes, while Ernestine investigates who could possibly want the retirement home's free-spirited figurehead dead and why. Wyatt's first novel reads like a middle-grade version of the movie Clue, with its light horror elements giving way to humor. Ernestine's close relationship with Charleston is one of the book's strongest points, while a secondary plotline offers some insight into Ernestine's zombie preoccupation. Readers who go for oddball pageantry will enjoy shambling through this murder mystery.

Gr 4-6 Ernestine is determined to bring on the zombie apocalypse. She visits a neighboring graveyard with her younger stepbrother and partner in crime, Charleston, in an attempt to raise the dead. After a possible zombie sighting, Ernestine rushes back to her home where she lives with her artist/caretaker parents in the MacGillicuddie House for Retired Artists, Both Performing and Otherwise where a wild party is underway. The converted apartment house is filled with eccentric and colorful residents, presided over by the glamorous, kooky, art-loving, and incredibly wealthy Mrs. MacGillicuddie. The party reaches a raucous climax when a giant chandelier crashes down from the ceiling, practically squashing Mrs. M. More incidents prove that foul play is certainly involved. Are there really zombies afoot, and what is it about them that has the precocious, capable, and imaginative Ernestine so intrigued? All of these answers are eventually revealed, although one dangling loose end will draw readers into a potential sequel. Debut author Wyatt offers a plot-driven, humorous mystery that will keep kids turning pages. The diverse and intriguing cast of characters allows for multiple suspects, red herrings, and a surprise twist ending. Themes include the importance of community and family, the value of the older generation, the narcissistic nature of social media, and overcoming hurt from the past. VERDICT A traditional mystery filled with creepy zombie bits and laugh-out-loud funny moments make for a winning combination. A strong choice for most collections. Kate Nafz, Fair Lawn Public Library

Twelve-year-old zombie aficionado Ernestine and her stepbrother, Charleston, are trying to start the zombie apocalypse but instead become embroiled in a murder-mystery at a retirement home filled with eccentric residents. The hilarious characters stand out in this madcap horror-lite romp, but there's also a layer of poignancy in Ernestine's eventual coming-to-terms with a tragic event in her past.