Book Summary:
This informational picture book examines the existence of real zombie makers. These are devided into five groups discussed in five chapters. These zombie parasites are fungus, worms, wasps, viruses and more worms. The one thing all of the parasites have in common is the ability to infect or affect the brain so the host acts in away to help the parasitic entity reproduce. Each chapter begins with a narrative story describing a possible story of how a host is infected and zombified and then discusses the science behind the actions of the parasite and the reaction of the host.
APA Citation:
Johnson, R. (2013). Zombie makers true stories of nature's undead. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press.
Impressions:
This book is the right level of gross and fascinating for the tween age group. Each chapter has both a real life narrative followed by the scientific reasoning for both the action of the parasite and the host. The text is written in an appropriate level for the audience. This book is not dry information, but fascinating. This book also gives the real life implications for each of these parasites, making the text more real because these zombie makers still exist and cause trouble for creatures and humans alike. A well constructed informational, educational, gross and fun read.
Professional Review:
KIRKUS REVIEW
Solid (sometimes writhing) proof that the scariest zombie flicks have nothing on Nature.
To demonstrate that there are indeed real zombies—“closer than you think”—Johnson (Journey into the Deep, 2010; iPad app, 2011) introduces a select set of fungi, worms, viruses and wasps that invade the bodies and take over the brains of their victims. Enhanced by large and often deliciously disturbing color photos, her descriptions of each parasite’s life cycle is both specific and astonishing; not only does the fungus O. unilateralis force a carpenter ant to clamp itself to a leaf (before sending a long reproductive stalk out of its head) for instance, it even somehow strengthens the ant’s mouth muscles. The author tracks similarly focused physical and behavioral changes not just in insects, but in other creatures too, including rabies-infected mammals. Lest human readers feel left out of the picture, she mentions the protozoan T. gondii, which causes rats to engage in reckless behavior and also has infected up to a quarter of all the adults and teens in this country. In each chapter, Johnson reports back on conversations with scientists engaged in relevant research, and she closes with a quick look at telling signs in the fossil record.
Science writing at its grossest and best, though as the title (not to mention the blood-spattered pages) warns, not for the squeamish. (author's note, glossary, notes, bibliography, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)
ZOMBIE MAKERS by Rebecca L. Johnson | Kirkus Reviews. (2012). Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rebecca-l-johnson/zombie-makers/
Library Uses:
I would use this book as the basis for a tween Halloween program entitled Zombies the Truth. In this program we would read through the book and examine each of the creatures and viruses. I would included video clips. This program would also include zombie themed snacks.
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