Review: Generation Dead / Daniel Waters

Title/Author: Generation Dead / Daniel Waters
Format / Pages: Hardback / 392 pages
Publisher: Hyperion
ISBN: 978-142310921-1
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Library

From the book jacket: All over the country, a strange phenomenon is occurring. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. They are coming back to life, but they are no longer the same. Termed "living impaired" or "differently biotic", they are doing their best to blend into society again.

But the kids at Oakvale High don't want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn't breathing. And there are no laws to protect the differently biotic from the people who want them to disappear - for good.

With her pale skin and goth wardrobe, Phoebe Kendall has never run with the popular crowd. But no one can believe it when she falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids: not her best friend, Margi, and especially not her neighbor Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has realized that his feelings for Phoebe run much deeper than just friendship. He would do anything for her - but what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

First line: Phoebe and her friends held their breath as the dead girl in the plaid skirt walked past their table in the lunchroom.

My thoughts: Let me first say, they did not make books like this when I was growing up! While there were some very good young adult books when I was a teenager (back in the 90s!) the quality of young adult books has grown so much in the past few years - and this book is no exception.

Waters' first book is smart and funny, thought-provoking, and relevant to the problems teenagers face - although, admittedly, I don't think zombie-ism is running rampant right now. This fabulous book really held my attention. I couldn't put it down and when I turned the last page, the next thing I did was go right to my local library's website and put the next book in the series on hold. I can't wait to find out what happens next.