My only extremely minor quibble was that sometimes the point of view seemed a little too adult for seventh grade.

Kate's revenge plot was so perfect I applauded her for pulling it off, even though I knew she'd eventually have to find some way to it. It's hilarious, and touching (one of my favourite bits was Kate's refusal to abandon her new unpopular-girl-table friends even when she's fought her way back up the social scale), and an easy, smooth, enjoyable read. I'm making this book sound heavy and serious, and it's neither of those things. Which is one of the great strengths of novels: they help us find ways to describe our own experiences, including the painful parts of growing up. Kate's insights into herself were a little too mature, maybe, but just because real seventh graders might not have spelled out those truths quite as clearly doesn't mean they don't *learn* just takes slightly longer to process in real life. But Kate is a director, so she scripts her own revenge against her traitorous best friend-only to learn, once her revenge has played out, that she's as much a 'bad guy' herself. Kate Walden finds herself abandoned by her best friend and then (briefly) experiences life at the bottom of the middle-school pecking order. Somehow it's harder to review a book I loved than one with a lot of flaws, but I'll try anyway. Especially when there are diabolical hens out to get you. 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. And her fellow social outcasts may be the key to her own happy ending. If movies have taught Kate anything, it's that the good guy can always win-with the right script. Now, thanks to Alyssa's new crowd, Kate is the butt of every joke at school and consigned to the loser table at lunch.

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

Kate Walden Directs by Julie Mata