The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever by Jeff Strand
Sourcebooks Fire (March 2016)
272 pages; $7.42 paperback; $7.02 e-book
Reviewed by Frank Michaels Errington
When reading a new work from Jeff Strand, I’m frequently reminded of the popular line from Forrest Gump: “My momma always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.'” Will I get something in the horror genre, something delightfully demented, strange, or even charmingly romantic like his Kumquat novel from a couple of years back? Or will I just get chocolate all over the pages of the book?
What we have with Strand’s newest novel is a YA story of some high school buddies who set out to make the greatest zombie movie ever. It’s a herculean task fraught with challenges like money, casting, money, equipment breaking down, money, romantic entanglements…oh, and did I mention money?
They are so desperate for funds they wind up going to Justin Hollow’s grandmother, who turns out to be a bit of a loan shark.
The greatest zombie movie ever is a lot of sarcastic fun and is a book that is genuinely suitable for all ages.
In some ways the book was similar to the familiar trope of “Let’s put on a show,” made popular by Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland back in the ’30s. It’s a thing, Google it.
I actually had a zombie dream while reading this book. Well, not while actually reading the book, although if I could find a way to read while sleeping, I’d be all in favor of that.
The greatest zombie movie ever is available now from Sourcebooks Fire in both paperback and e-book formats and recommended for grades 6-12.
