Review: Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Aug 31, 2010 by shanyn

Title: Generation Dead
Hardcover, 392 pages
Author: Daniel Waters
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: May 6, 2008
Source: Purchased

Book Summary:
Phoebe Kendall is just your typical Goth girl with a crush. He’s strong and silent…and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is occurring. Some teenagers who die aren’t staying dead. But when they come back to life, they are no longer the same. Feared and misunderstood, they are doing their best to blend into a society that doesn’t want them.

The administration at Oakvale High attempts to be more welcoming of the “differently biotic.” But the students don’t want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn’t breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the “living impaired” from the people who want them to disappear–for good.

When Phoebe falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids, no one can believe it; not her best friend, Margi, and especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has feelings for Phoebe that run much deeper than just friendship; he would do anything for her. But what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

Review:
I eyed Generation Dead a few times at my local bookstore (aka Walmart) before finally picking it up during a clearance Barnes and Noble sale. I had seen this book (and the other two in the series) around quite a bit, but hadn’t heard much about them.

Generation Dead actually ended up being more of a deep read than I was expecting. The cover led me to believe it would be one of those light books about school, some zombies, some jocks, some nerds. What it actually is a look at discrimination – in the book’s case, zombies vs those still alive, but a battle for rights nonetheless.

The middle of the book drug on a little for me – not a ton of action, more talking about the zombies lack of rights. I soldiered on, because I truly wanted to know what was going to happen – I just had to take a few breaks because the text was slow.

The ending picked up again with action, and when it ended I knew that I wanted to read book two, regardless of the not so peppy middle. Many questions are left to be answered, and many new issues had begun.

Luckily, Steve offered to let me pick out a book in celebration of our anniversary, so I was able to grab the second installment for my shelves!

3 Comments

Liviania

August 31, 2010

I really love this series. Like you said, it's deeper than expected. I have PASSING STRANGE but haven't read it yet.

Irene

August 31, 2010

I've not seen this, but I'll keep watch.

Pam

September 1, 2010

I am surprised you finished this rot LOL. I made it through 3 chapters MAYBE.