I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It

December 21, 2009
Selzer (Andrew North Blows Up the World
) takes a delightfully wicked but thoughtful poke at teenage infatuations, vampire groupies, and pretentious goths. It's been years since “post-human” vampires, werewolves, and other undead creatures came “out of the coffin” to protest Megamart's exploitation of zombies as stockroom workers. But 18-year-old Alley Rhodes can't help rolling her eyes at her classmates' continuing obsession (“teenage vampires are a pain in the ass—they never actually mature... but dating one has become the ultimate status symbol”). Then moody singer Doug catches her heart, and she's soon reconsidering her plan to flee Iowa for college in Seattle. She loves his authentic goth look (pale skin, unkempt hair, “moth-eaten suit”), but she's forgotten the first rule of modern dating—Google him. Doug died four years ago, and he's still wearing the suit he was buried in. Now all of her preconceptions are out the window and she has critical decisions to make. With snappy dialogue and a light, funny touch, Selzer creates a readable examination of love, self-sacrifice, and where to draw the line before you lose yourself. Ages 12–up.

January 1, 2010
Gr 7 Up-For 18-year-old Algonquin "Alley" Rhodes, living in an era in which vampires, werewolves, and zombies are the norm is not what it's cracked up to be. Unlike most human girls at her high school, dating, especially the undead variety, is the last thing on her mind. Alley just wants to leave Cornersville Trace, go to college, and make something of herself. But then, while critiquing a local band for the school newspaper, Alley the Ice Queen falls head over heels for the guest singer. Like Alley, Doug truly loves music, and she feels as if he is singing just for her. They begin dating, and Alley overlooks what is obvious to everyone else. Doug isn't just a Gothhe isn't even humanhe's a zombie. As Alley's world is turned upside down, she must make decisions with major ramifications for her future. The story is original, funny, unpredictable, romantic, and tragic. Selzer explores some basic teen issues like love, friendship, acceptance, commitment, and loss in a way that is realistic and that will make readers question their own values. An excellent addition to libraries with an occult following."Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2010
Grades 9-12 Algonquin RhodesAlley the Ice Queen to many and Gonk to her friendsis 18, of legal age to convert to vampire if she wants. But she doesnt: Alleys fallen in love with Doug, a zombie teen musician who died four years earlier in a car crash. Selzer brings both the living and the not-full-time-dead to vivid and crackling life in this witty and riposte-filled teen romance. Zingers about racism (vampires dont think much of zombies) and high-school politics involving the nasty guidance counselor, the popular kids, and Alleys own (living) friends ring both true and hilarious. This is one smart goth caper, with plenty of appeal to those who normally wouldnt touch a tale of the dead as well as those who wouldnt be caught crumbling while reading a romance. Selzer writes girls as well as straight, gay, and dead boys with evenhanded credibility and plenty of sass. Gonk and Doug could have been the perfect couple, in another life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2010
Alley is underwhelmed by the dating prospects in her unusual hometown until she becomes hopelessly infatuated with Doug. But when she accepts that Doug's strange (and to her, strangely lovable) behavior is due to his being a zombie, Alley asks herself what she will sacrifice to be with him. This campy love story mocks the fantasy romance genre while examining unrealistic expectations of romantic relationships.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)