Description
From School Library Journal Gr 6 Up—Picking up shortly after Dead City (S & S, 2012) ends, Molly Bigelow and her Omega Team face new challenges while combating the undead in New York City. Now part of the elite Baker's Dozen, the group is charged with uncovering the present identities and tracking the whereabouts of the original 13 zombies. They must discover which zombie will replace Marek as leader, why certain creatures are turning up permanently dead, and what clues are hidden in subway stations and various landmarks. Stakes are high as the genius teen detectives race against time to piece together leads. Ponti weaves a complex plot full of suspense and intrigue. Through the super sleuthing of the talented agents, the history of Manhattan's undead is revealed. Especially intriguing are the flashbacks from the man responsible for an 1896 mining explosion, Milton Blackwell. Likable characters and a witty narrative, coupled with the themes of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal, make this page-turning adventure a must-have. A satisfying and engaging read that will leave fans wanting more.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY From Booklist Finding, fighting, and even protecting zombies is serious extracurricular work for Molly Bigelow and her three Omega team pals from Dead City (2012). In this butt-kicking sequel, they join the Baker’s Dozen project. Their assignment? Monitor the Unlucky 13, the Blackwell family men killed in an 1896 subway tunnel digging explosion. The Blackwells roam freely as undead with constantly changing names. Forced to rely on old-school deductive reasoning and methods, Molly and her friends unearth plans for the biggest undead event ever, scheduled for New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Manhattan landmarks (the Flatiron Building, Grand Central Station, museums) roll history, science, and geography into the story. While this doesn’t fully recap the first book, readers will catch up easily. Molly is an engaging narrator, and Ponti’s writing is full of humor and action. Give this to fans of Suzanne Collins’ Gregor the Overlander (2003) or J. Scott Savage’s Case File 13 series. Grades 4-7. --Jeanne Fredriksen Jamesxa0Pontixa0is the New York Times bestselling author of three middle grade book series: the all-newxa0City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winningxa0Framed!xa0series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and thexa0Dead Cityxa0trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. Jamesxa0is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more atxa0JamesPonti.com. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Blue Moon Read more
Features & Highlights
- Molly is ready for more nonstop, undead action in this follow-up to
- Dead City
- , which
- Kirkus Reviews
- described as “a fast-paced read for those who like their zombies with just a little fright.”
- When Molly Bigelow discovered that zombies shared New York with humans, she didn’t think life could get more shocking. Then she learned that her mother was once one of the greatest zombie killers ever—and she discovered that her dead mother is not technically dead at all (although she isn’t alive, either). Molly’s efforts to keep these secrets and to help her Omega team track down the identity of the original thirteen zombies will take her from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade to New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Her loyalties to friends and family will be put to the test. And her life will be changed in ways she never could have imagined.
