Generation Dead
by Daniel Waters
by Daniel Waters
GENERATION DEAD by Daniel Waters
Category: Paranormal
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 5/6/08
Publisher: Hyperion
Reviewed by: The Story Siren
Rating: 5 Stars
You’ve heard of Generation "X" and Generation "Y." Get ready for Generation Dead -- Generation Dead being known for
its, well, undead. Science can’t explain it, and no one really knows why it happens, but American teenagers are coming
back to life. Known to the living as differently biotic or the living impaired, these zombie teenagers try to "live" their undead
lives, but as with any group of people that vary from the norm, there are always prejudices.
Phoebe, a Goth girl, finds herself unexpectedly drawn to one of these so-called living impaired students, Tommy Williams.
Her best friend, Margi, thinks she is crazy, but Margi’s feeling for the undead are more complicated than a general dislike.
Then there is Phoebe’s neighbor and childhood friend, Adam. Adam has finally realized his true feelings for Phoebe, but he
still can’t find the courage to tell her. Of course, it doesn’t make the situation any easier when he discovers Phoebe is
crushing on the dead kid.
Phoebe talks Margi and Adam into joining a work study at the Hunter Foundation, which is centered around the undead
phenomenon. Unfortunately, not everyone tries to be as open-minded. There aren’t any laws protecting these teens, and
they are being singled out and sometimes killed again. When a student makes a personal vendetta to take out the living
impaired and anyone associated with them, the situation can only end in tragedy.
GENERATION DEAD went above and beyond what I was expecting. Sure, it is about the dead, but there are so many
underlying messages in this book. Prejudice is something that is very apparent, and is something that we deal with in reality
on a daily basis. There is a part in the book where they have a guest speaker in their undead studies program. Basically,
they are discussing how they can acclimate the undead into society. I have to say that the dialogue of the speaker totally
blew me away. I think I read it maybe three or four times, and I just kept thinking, if only acceptance and change were and
could be that easy, the world would be a better place.
As for the rest of the story, the characters were beyond three-dimensional. I felt like I knew these kids, and they continued
to develop throughout the entire story, I mean literally up until the last page. I loved it! The plot was totally original and
kept me turning pages until the late hours of the night. I love Mr. Waters' writing style, as it’s engrossing yet simple. The
story was full of wit and humor, and I was totally captured!
Obviously, I really liked/loved this book!
Category: Paranormal
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 5/6/08
Publisher: Hyperion
Reviewed by: The Story Siren
Rating: 5 Stars
You’ve heard of Generation "X" and Generation "Y." Get ready for Generation Dead -- Generation Dead being known for
its, well, undead. Science can’t explain it, and no one really knows why it happens, but American teenagers are coming
back to life. Known to the living as differently biotic or the living impaired, these zombie teenagers try to "live" their undead
lives, but as with any group of people that vary from the norm, there are always prejudices.
Phoebe, a Goth girl, finds herself unexpectedly drawn to one of these so-called living impaired students, Tommy Williams.
Her best friend, Margi, thinks she is crazy, but Margi’s feeling for the undead are more complicated than a general dislike.
Then there is Phoebe’s neighbor and childhood friend, Adam. Adam has finally realized his true feelings for Phoebe, but he
still can’t find the courage to tell her. Of course, it doesn’t make the situation any easier when he discovers Phoebe is
crushing on the dead kid.
Phoebe talks Margi and Adam into joining a work study at the Hunter Foundation, which is centered around the undead
phenomenon. Unfortunately, not everyone tries to be as open-minded. There aren’t any laws protecting these teens, and
they are being singled out and sometimes killed again. When a student makes a personal vendetta to take out the living
impaired and anyone associated with them, the situation can only end in tragedy.
GENERATION DEAD went above and beyond what I was expecting. Sure, it is about the dead, but there are so many
underlying messages in this book. Prejudice is something that is very apparent, and is something that we deal with in reality
on a daily basis. There is a part in the book where they have a guest speaker in their undead studies program. Basically,
they are discussing how they can acclimate the undead into society. I have to say that the dialogue of the speaker totally
blew me away. I think I read it maybe three or four times, and I just kept thinking, if only acceptance and change were and
could be that easy, the world would be a better place.
As for the rest of the story, the characters were beyond three-dimensional. I felt like I knew these kids, and they continued
to develop throughout the entire story, I mean literally up until the last page. I loved it! The plot was totally original and
kept me turning pages until the late hours of the night. I love Mr. Waters' writing style, as it’s engrossing yet simple. The
story was full of wit and humor, and I was totally captured!
Obviously, I really liked/loved this book!