{"product_id":"9781250179050","title":"Better Off Undead","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eBetter Off Undead\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): James Preller\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAfter becoming undead, a boy tries to survive middle school in this quirky, smart adventure for middle grade readers from James Preller.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdrian Lazarus has met with a curious fate. He’s returned from the dead (after a bad bike accident, no helmet), yet not a lot has changed. He’s always been an outcast. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut it’s not just being a zombie that makes Adrian feel different. He notices the world has changed, too: bees are vanishing, forest fires are burning, super-flus are spreading. The holographic advertisements in the night sky assure people that all is well. Adrian and his friends—a beekeeping boy, a mysterious new girl, and a seventh-grade sleuth—aren’t so sure.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen they discover a birdlike drone has been spying on Adrian, the clues lead two powerful corporate moguls. What do they really want? Find out in \u003ci\u003eBetter Off Undead, \u003c\/i\u003ea smart and funny middle-grade novel that brings together environmental concerns, sci-fi elements, and the supernatural. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis title has Common Core connections.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eBetter Off Undead\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This uproarious middle grade call to action has considerable kid appeal and a timely message.” —\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Against a near-future backdrop, Preller thoughtfully chronicles the anxieties of middle school, using a blend of comedy and horror to send a message of empowerment and self-acceptance.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Adrian may be undead, but this is much more than a zombie tale, as it touches upon cultural issues, media control, family bonds, and environmental issues. Fans of Carl Hiassen’s \u003ci\u003eHoot\u003c\/i\u003e will be as satisfied by this as will fans of monster books or those who appreciate stories of outcasts and coming-of-age stories. Highly recommended.” —\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore fast-paced adventure from James Preller:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Courage Test\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Fall \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Scary Tales series:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHome Sweet Horror\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eI Scream, You Scream!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eGood Night, Zombie\u003cbr\u003eNightmareland\u003cbr\u003eOne-Eyed Doll\u003cbr\u003eSwamp Monster\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Jigsaw Jones Mysteries:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Case of the Smelly Sneaker \u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Mummy Mystery\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Glow in the Dark Ghost\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Bicycle Bandit\u003cbr\u003eThe Case from Outer Space \u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Best Pet Ever\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Buried Treasure\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Million-Dollar Mystery\u003cbr\u003eThe Case of the Disappearing Dinosaur\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eBetter Off Undead\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This uproarious middle grade call to action has considerable kid appeal and a timely message.” —\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Against a near-future backdrop, Preller thoughtfully chronicles the anxieties of middle school, using a blend of comedy and horror to send a message of empowerment and self-acceptance.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Adrian may be undead, but this is much more than a zombie tale, as it touches upon cultural issues, media control, family bonds, and environmental issues. Fans of Carl Hiassen’s \u003ci\u003eHoot\u003c\/i\u003e will be as satisfied by this as will fans of monster books or those who appreciate stories of outcasts and coming-of-age stories. Highly recommended.” —\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Courage Test\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Preller stirs doses of American history into a first-rate road trip that does traditional double-duty as plot device and coming-of-age metaphor. . . . Despite the many plot threads, the story never seems overstuffed or weighed down by agendas. . . . Additionally, not only does the author slip cogent historical facts and insights into his simply told narrative without disturbing its flow, he offers more detail, plus sources of information, in an afterword.\" —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250179050\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Square Fish","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40652368609486,"sku":"9781250179050","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_5005ec37-641e-4f47-83ef-30a1f26afedb.jpg?v=1639277996","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250179050","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}