Kate Walden Directs: Night of the Zombie Chickens by Julie Mata

How did I get the book? Netgalley, thank you Disney Hyperion

Genre: Contemporary

Synopsis: Night of the Zombie Chickens is supposed to be Kate Walden’s breakout film. But her supporting actresses-her mother’s prize organic hens-are high maintenance, to say the least. Thank goodness Kate’s best friend Alyssa is the star. She’s great at screaming and even better at killing zombies in creative ways.

But when Alyssa turns into a real-life soulless zombie and ditches Kate for the most popular girl in seventh grade, Kate suddenly finds herself both friendless and starless. Now, thanks to Alyssa’s new crowd, Kate is the butt of every joke at school and consigned to the loser table at lunch.

If movies have taught Kate anything, it’s that the good guy can always win-with the right script. And her fellow social outcasts may be the key to her own happy ending. Kate hatches the perfect revenge plot against her former best friend, but even though her screenplay is foolproof, Kate soon realizes that nothing-in filmmaking or in life-ever goes exactly as planned. Especially when there are diabolical hens out to get you.

200words (or less) review: It was the title that first caught my attention, Night of the Zombie Chickens – I had to know more about this book.

Kate wants to be a director and after nearly a year of working on Night of the Zombie Chickens she looses her star and best friend Alyssa to the popular girl. Following a few unfortunate events and Kate is isolated and bullied while Alyssa looks on. The main difference to this story that Kate seeks revenge.

Honestly I didn’t always like Kate, she’s goes up and down like a yo-yo in her emotions but that makes her much more realistic. Julie Mata’s book shows that girls can mean or good, they will lash out and forgiving someone is much harder than doing just that.

Of course there are plenty of funny moments and I really liked the new friends Kate makes, particularly Margaret.

I think Kate Walden Directs: Night of the Zombie Chickens is a well-directed (see what I did there 😉 )  story of the trails of friendship and growing up.

Recommend it?

Yes