Pugs of the Frozen North by Reeve and McIntyre

Winter came in the night, like a white sheet laid over the world. It came so cold and so fast that the waves of the ocean froze as they rolled. The good ship Lucky Star froze with them, trapped tight in the suddenly solid sea.

Published by Oxford University Press in September 2015

Pages - 211

Summary

The Race to the Top of the World! It comes around once in a lifetime, and the prize? Your heart's desire. Shen and Sika can't resist the chance to win, but competition is fierce. The path to victory is littered with snow trolls, sea monsters, and a gang of particularly hungry yetis. But Shen and Sika have something the other contestants don't have. Actually, they have 66 other things; pugs to be exact. That's a 264 paw-powered sled. Let the race begin! 

*****

This book is delightfully bizarre! I'm completely convinced that sixty-four pugs could pull a sled in a race to meet the Snowfather. In fact, I would argue with anyone that doubted it.

From the moment the sea freezes over, I was wrapped up in this story. All the characters are quirky and unique. How could you not love Mitzi Von Primm with her newly grown Yeti fur or Helga Hammerfest and her beard?

The story is mind blowingly original. The Yeti Noodle Bar was the zaniest part of the book and yet so utterly believable. 

Sensitive situations were made extremely child friendly and I imagine children getting comfort from the way the story climaxes. 

I honestly don't know what I loved best - the illustrations or the words. They both work so beautifully together. I think someone should capture the imagination of Reeve and McIntyre and bottle it. It would sell for a thousands on Ebay. When I'm plotting in the future, I shall ponder over the question - what would Reeve and McIntyre do in this situation?  

I can see why these books are such a hit with the kids. They take situations further than extreme and make them down right hilarious. I would say it would suit the more confident reader but it would also be a brilliant book for parents and children to share together. 

What a super talented team.

Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie

My name is Adam Meltzer. The last thing I remember was being stung by a bee while swinging at at robot-shaped piñata on my twelfth birthday. I as dead before the candy hit the ground.

Published by Faber and Faber in August 2014

Pages - 243

Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie is narrated by the hilarious Adam Meltzer - pre-teen, worrywart, and now zombie. Adam's family gets the fright of their lives when he turns up at their door . . . three months after his funeral.
Soon Adam's back at school trying to fit in and not draw extra attention to himself, but when he sees his neighbour Ernesto transform into a chupacubra, and the beautiful Corina (Adam's number one mega-crush) turns out to be a (vegan) vampire, undead life is never going to be the same again.

****

From the moment I heard Jeff Norton reading aloud from this book, I knew I wanted to read it. I loved Adam instantly, which is a huge revelation for me to make as I’m usually the most anti-zombie blogger around. Seriously, normally, I would rather gargle bleach, than read a zombie book. Yet this one got me and I loved every word of it.

Adam is hilarious. Who would ever imagine a zombie that is a hygiene freak? He is a brilliant, funny and wonderful character and I loved getting to know him. Not to mention, his two rather quirky and unique sidekicks - Corina, a vegan vampire and Ernesto, a reluctant chupacubra. Every character’s trait contradicts who they really are.

This book is funny from the first word to the last and I was thoroughly entertained all the way through it. The way Adam’s character fit easily back into school, even though nearly everyone had been to his funeral, reminded me so much of Teen Wolf and how easily he was accepted.

If like myself, you’ve avoided zombies because you couldn’t see the point in them, then I highly recommend this book. I’m not saying I will be diving straight into another but if Jeff Norton writes a sequel, I will definitely read it.