Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

A strange phenomenon is happening across the entire country. Some teenagers are coming back from the dead. While some may think this is great, a second chance at life, others aren’t all that happy about it. Most of these “differently biotic” move extremely slowly and talk just as slow. They are all trying to fit back in with the world they once knew, but with a society filled with people who don’t want to accept them, it can be painstakingly hard.

Phoebe, a Goth girl, has never really fit in. She has a grand total of two friends but that’s all she needs. When Phoebe finds herself drawn to Tommy Williams, a differently biotic boy, no one can believe it, especially her friends. Her best friend Margie thinks she’s crazy, but Margie’s feelings for differently biotic people are way deeper than the stereotypical feelings most people have, they are much more complicated. And then there’s Adam - Phoebe’s childhood best friend and next-door neighbor, who doesn’t want Phoebe getting hurt and he may just have “more than friends” feelings for her.

When the opportunity for a work study with the Hunter Group presents itself to the students at Oakvale High that involves the differently biotic kids Phoebe is one of the first to raise her hand. She is able to convince both Margie and Adam to join her along with Tommy and a few other differently biotic kids to join the work study group. Here they will try and shed some light on the mystery of the differently biotic kids that still marvels scientists and also build unlikely friendships. These work study members better watch their back though as there is one kid who has such a passionate hate for differently biotic kids that he won’t stop at anything to get rid of them. With no laws protecting the differently biotic this can only end it tragedy, but will the other students at Oakvale High let it happen?

I have to say that at first I was a little hesitant about reading this book. I haven’t ever read a book that has to do with zombies or vampires or anything like that. This was a GREAT introduction into these kinds of books. It was a gripping, poignant, and extremely well written story. While the main premise is zombies and how they aren’t treated fairly in society, there are a lot of underlying messages especially about prejudice. I loved how the author was able to talk about such a controversial subject in such a creative way. The characters in this book were absolutely breathtaking, alive and dead alike. The author did such an excellent job making them into three-dimensional people that I felt were sitting beside me and telling me one heck of a bedtime story. This was just an all out great book that has become a new favorite of mine. The ending certainly lined up for a sequel, and hopefully the author will continue this fantastic story.