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    The Children's Book Review

    Once Upon a Zombie: Book One: The Color of Fear | Dedicated Review

    Charlie KennedyBy Charlie Kennedy3 Mins Read Author Showcase Halloween Books
    Book Zombie
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    Review sponsored* by Billy Phillips
    The Children’s Book Review | October 1, 2015

    Once Upon a ZombieOnce Upon a Zombie: Book One: The Color of Fear

    By Billy Phillips and Jenny Nissenson

    Age Range: 11 and up

    Hardcover: 305 pages

    Publisher: Toon Studio Publishing (June 2015)

    ISBN: 978-1-935668-34-3 

    What to Expect: Sisters, Zombies, Halloween, and Fears

    Heights, darkness, dancing in public—you name it, fourteen-year-old Caitlin is afraid of it. To add to her list of fears, it just happens to be Halloween. In a new city. In a new country. Without her mum. Caitlin’s little sister, Natalie, however, is completely fearless, excited even, by the rumored sightings of dead people emerging from cemeteries around the world.

    Then the impossibly cute Jack invites Caitlin to meet him at the local cemetery, keen to find out more about these mysterious sightings, and Natalie thinks Caitlin would be crazy not to go.

    At the cemetery though, Caitlin thinks she’s definitely crazy when she finds that it isn’t Jack who’s waiting for her, but a beautiful zombie with long, Rapunzel-like hair. Suddenly Caitlin finds that the characters from the stories Caitlin’s mum read to her as a little girl are all alive, only they’re are all very much, well, dead. Caitlin’s needed in a fairytale world gone wrong, but can she overcome her fears to help save a land of zombies?

    Once Upon a Zombie is an intriguing and original story, and one that’s bound to appeal to fans of popular fairytale characters. There’s a lot to like here: a modern, fun, and engaging voice, witty dialogue, and Caitlin’s wisecracking, sassy and smart sister. Smart, too, is the vivid imagination of the authors, with some wonderful visual scenes including the moment when Jack, reduced to the size of a frog, windsurfs on a leaf. The wise, soul-searching caterpillar (who drinks organic mint tea, rather than smoking a hookah) shows how classic characters can be reinvented in such a fun and refreshing way.

    At times, the book feels rushed, especially at the ending, with us hurtling through one action-riddled plot point after another—and the epilogue is a tad heavy handed. However, the imagination at work is wonderful, and the dialogue between sisters entertaining and convincing. Young readers looking for reinvented, well-known characters and a light-hearted romp of a read will no doubt enjoy Once Upon a Zombie.

    Add this book to your collection: Once Upon a Zombie: Book One: The Color of Fear

    Available Here: 

    Text, logoBuy on Amazon

    Book Trailer

    About the Authors

    Billy Phillips is a writer, creative director and producer. He has ghost-written thirteen best selling non-fiction books, some of which surpassed a million copies sold. This is his debut novel. He owns a large vintage collection of fairy tale books and art and lives in sunny and all-too-dry Southern California.

    Jenny Nissenson is a writer, producer and entertainer. She has written for Nickelodeon and lives in Hollywood, California with 1009 puppets and her twenty-five year old pet tortoise.

    Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The author of “Once Upon a Zombie: Book One: The Color of Fear,” Billy Phillips, sponsored* this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …

    What to Read Next:

    1. A Very Scary Pumpkin: Nuggies: Book 3, by Jeff Minich | Dedicated Review
    2. Monsterland, by Michael Okon | Book Spotlight
    3. Misfit’s Magic: The Last Halloween | Dedicated Review
    4. Squashed: A Graphic Novel | Dedicated Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Billy Phillips Dedicated Review Fears Halloween Halloween Books Jenny Nissenson Siblings Sisters Toon Studio Publishing Zombies
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    Charlie Kennedy

    A recent graduate from the MFA in Creative Writing program at the University of San Francisco, Charlie is working on her own first children's fantasy novel. Originally from England, Charlie grew up fascinated by the works of Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, and other European children's authors. Charlie pursued a career in journalism in both England and the UAE before returning to her true love of creative writing. When she's not writing or reading, Charlie can be found with her camera in tow, capturing the sights within her neighborhood and others, in her fair city of San Francisco.

    1 Comment

    1. Hols on February 23, 2017 3:06 pm

      To be honest I’m reading this book at the moment and it’s really good but there is a few swear words in so I would recommend 12 and up or 13 and up but it’s really good , it really goes on how mature your child is , if he or she knows it’s a bad word an wouldn’t say it than I would say it’s fine but it is also a bit challenging because there is complicated words but this again goes on our child’s capability so if he or she is great at reading there shouldn’t be a problem Thx

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