Warm Bodies

Zombies are flesh eating monsters that have taken over the earth.  There are only a few lucky humans that have survived the apocalypse and are trying their best to escape this epidemic.  Then there’s R.  He’s not human; he’s a zombie, but not quite.  R has feelings, he dreams, and actually thinks for himself.  But while on a hunt for humans, he meets Julie.  You could say she’s the girl of his dreams.  He doesn’t kill her or eat her; he just takes her back to the airplane where he lives.  Despite her feelings toward zombies Julie begins to trust R, and thus beginning their journey to change the world.  A book from a zombie’s perspective, we learn what it really means to be dead and how to live again.  And if you liked the book Warm Bodies a lot, then go check out the movie starring Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer!  Which one did you like best? The movie, the book, or both?  Comment below and voice your opinions!   :D

Not enough zombie action? Check out these other YA zombie novels:

• Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
• Zombie Blondes by Brian James
• You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
• Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
• Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by E. Van Lowe
• Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

AMC recently showed the Season Three finale of The Walking Dead to an audience of approximately 12.42 million viewers.  The popular zombie apocalypse television series is based on the graphic novel series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard.  I am normally not a fan of horror and gore, but the excellent writing and acting drew me in and now I can’t wait to see what happens next each week.  If you haven’t seen Season One and Season Two, then I recommend that you come to the nearest San José Public Library to check them out.  Season One is currently available and Season Two should be on the shelves very soon.

You may also want to check out the source material, although the storyline of the television series and the graphic novel series do differ.  SJPL has the first seventeen volumes as seen below.

On Friday, August 3rd, teens attended the Teen Lock-In event and rocked the night at several San José Libraries! They had a fun and memorable time hanging out with friends, dancing, playing games, making cool crafts and enjoyed the food as shown in the photos below. 

Check out the Teen Events Calendar to learn more about upcoming events for teens!

Get ready to own the night! Teens ages 12-17 are invited to spend a fun-filled Zombie themed evening at participating San Jose Public Library branches on Friday, August 3rd from 8pm to 11pm*. Participate in fun and memorable activities such as scavenger hunts, video/board games, craft, movie and more! Refreshments and food will be provided!

IMPORTANT: The Teen Lock-In event takes place at the libraries listed below. To register, you and your parent or guardian must come to the library that you prefer to participate in this event and fill-out the registration form. Please submit the form by Friday, July 27th. Space is limited and all teens must be pre-registered and have reviewed two books for the Teen Summer Reading Celebration to participate.

(*Teen Lock-In will be from 7pm to 10pm at Berryessa branch library, Evergreen branch library and Santa Teresa branch library.)

Almaden Branch Library

6445 Camden Ave.
San José, CA 95120
(408) 808-3040
ab.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

Berryessa Branch Library (Note: From 7pm to 10pm at this location)

3355 Noble Avenue
San José, CA 95132
(408) 808-3050
bb.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

Biblioteca Branch Library

921 South First St.
San José, CA 95110
(408) 294-1237
bla.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

Evergreen Branch Library (Note: From 7pm to 10pm at this location)

2635 Aborn Rd.
San José, CA 95121
(408) 808-3060
ev.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

Hillview Branch Library

1600 Hopkins Dr.
San José, CA 95122
(408) 808-3033
hb.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

Joyce Ellington Branch Library

491 E. Empire St.
San José, CA 95112
(408) 808-3043
je.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

Santa Teresa Branch Library (Note: From 7pm to 10pm at this location)

290 International Circle
San José, CA 95119
(408) 808-3068
sa.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

West Valley Branch Library

1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd.
San José, CA 95117
(408) 244-4747
wv.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

... No, that obvious title isn't part of this collection, but that's the only bone I have to pick. 

Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime: A Book of Zombie Love Songs is a marvelous laugh-out-loud anthology that brings new life, or rather, undeadness, to old favorites. Besides the title hit, we have such heart-stopping makeovers as You've Lost That Livin' Feeling, I Bit You Babe, My Undead Love, I Can't Stop Chewing You, Do You Think I'm Tasty?, Killing Him Swiftly and You Blight Up My Life.  As the author says in the preface, "Now, when you are forced to kill the one you're with, you can share one last memory of "your" song before you send that slobbering, drooling, gray-matter-munching, shuffling pile of human tissue straight to ..... ".  

I highly recommended that we add this book to our UnDead Storytime Box. But you needn't wait for that to relish this fine tome. Reanimate! Put down that brain you're chomping, it won't get cold. Place a hold on Every Zombie Eats Somebody Sometime chop chop! 

With all the footage of Japan coming across the media, parents of children are going to be asked some very serious questions about the earthquake, tsunami and the aftermath. It seems the younger your children are, the more you want to protect them from devastating news like this. 

Here are some resources that might help:

FEMA has a website about disaster readiness for kids that walks you through the steps of how to make a disaster plan for your family.

FEMA also has a webpage devoted to helping parents and teachers help their children cope with disasters. It is comprised of a quick overview of how different aged children cope, what their needs are and how to help them.

Terrorists, Tornados, and Tsunamis: How to Prepare for Life's Danger Zones by Lt. Colonel John C. Orndorff and Suzanne Harper. This book takes all sorts of dangerous situations and explains what they are and how to be better prepared to handle them if they should occur. A really good book for middle schoolers.

Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat.  This novel describes one child's experience during and after the earthquake in Haiti.

DVD - How and When to Dial 911 - situations when a child should dial 911 and what to do in case of an emergency.

More books on earthquakes for children

More books on tsunamis for children