Zombie Queen of Newbury High
In a welcome break from the current trend in vampire romances, Ashby here offers a lighthearted skewering of the genre. High-school senior Mia inadvertently casts a spell that turns her entire senior class into flesh-eating zombies who believe that she is their especially tasty queen. Fortunately, the new kid at school, Chase, is actually an agent from the Department of Paranormal Containment, and it’s his job to make sure such things never come to pass. It takes four days for the spell to fully evolve, so Mia; her best friend, Candice; and Chase spend that time romping through truly funny predicaments while desperately seeking to reverse the spell. Ashby’s clever dialogue and familiarity with all things Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) combine to create a light and addictive tongue-in-cheek homage to both standard romance novels and all things Goth. Characterization is minimal, but that’s not what will keep readers turning pages; Ashby’s deft, light tone and appreciation for the confining rigidity of high-school class structure drive this predictable yet highly entertaining tale. Grades 8-12. --Debbie Carton