Review: Dead is a Battlefield by Marlene Perez

Dead is a Battlefield by Marlene Perez. A Dead Is Book.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: March 2012
List Price: $7.99
ISBN-13: 9780547607344

Review: Zombies might not be the way you think they are. They might not have organs slipping out from inside them. Their body-parts might not fall all the time. Maybe they're not the bloody mess everyone thinks them to be, and they're not as easily recognized as those zombies you would find in old horror films. And when you think about it, witches might not be how you'd imagine either. They might not be green-skinned, and might not have ginormous warts growing on their noses. They might not wear black and make it obvious of what they truly are! That also brings us to the topic of vampires. Let's say they don't have fangs. Or that they can go into the sunlight, and they're immune to garlic. Maybe they don't wear cloaks, and aren't extremely pale. But then again, maybe they are. Marlene Perez filled the pages of Dead is a Battlefield with the complicated life of Jessica Walsh, and the other side of those night creatures you imagined under your bed at night. Dead is a Battlefield is the sixth book in the Dead Is series, however, it's also a new beginning. The first five books were centered around a girl named Daisy rather than Jessica. Dead is a Battlefield begins with Jessica Walsh and tells her story.

Life goes well for Jessica Walsh. She has the greatest best friend anyone can have, she's popular, and many guys have a thing for Jessica. Her crush, Dominic Gray, the new lead singer for the band Side Affects May Vary, even seems to like her back. She's also made friends with Raven Gray, who happens to be Dominic's younger sister. However, she's also a virago, a woman warrior who fights when her city is in trouble. In fact, both of them are, and neither of them like it too much. Also, Dominic (Dom) at times seems to be in love with another girl, Selena. Jessica is starting her freshman year at Nightshade High, and trying to forget the tragic accidents from the day of her older brother's Grad Night. And to top it all off, Jessica's best friend is lovesick over a guy who runs a perfume shop! You'd think that's normal, but the Look of Love perfume shop isn't just any perfume shop. There's trouble lingering all around it. Also, it seems like zombies are popping up everywhere in Nightshade! Will the virus spread before they discover how to stop the infection? Will they be able to save the citizens of Nightshade? Can Jessica's life get more complicated?

I really loved Dead is a Battlefield ; it's written beautifully! Basically, it centers around zombies and perfume, quite interesting if you ask me. It's so wonderful because Marlene Perez managed to combine the two, and they have almost no connection whatsoever. What an amazing plot! Zombies, witches, viragos, vampires, seers, and so many more! I'm so relieved that this is a series! There's not much that could make me happier. Therefore, I rate Dead is a Battlefield 10 out of 5 stars! Yes, it's that good of a book; probably even better. This is, after all, a book about zombies and a little special something that-I'm-not-going-to-include-in-here-and-ruin-your-adventure. Just saying. Overall, I really recommend Dead is a Battlefield to all kids and young adults. I had so much fun reading this book that I reread it again and again two times! (I'm almost done rereading it the third time) I'd like to share Dead is a Battlefield with all those eager readers looking for something new to read. I can't wait for the next book, Dead is a Killer Tune to come out, and I want to be the first to read it.

Review written by Tam (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Dead is a Battlefield for this review.

Have you read Dead is a Battlefield? How would you rate it?