Cover Reveal: Memoirs Of A Neurotic Zombie

I am beyond delighted to be taking part in the cover reveal of Jeff Norton‘s latest novel, Memoirs Of A Neurotic Zombie. I was lucky enough to hear Jeff read an excerpt of his hilarious creation which not only won Adam a place in my heart, it positioned this middle grade book at the top of my wish list. As well as revealing the fantastic cover and synopsis with you today, those lovely people at Faber and Faber have provided us with an exclusive except!
‘My name is Adam Meltzer and the last thing I remember was being stung by a bee while swinging at a robot-shaped piñata on my twelfth birthday. I was dead before the candy hit the ground.’
Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie is narrated by the hilarious Adam Meltzer – pre-teen, worrywart, and now zombie. Adam’s family gets the fright of their lives when he turns up at their door desperate for a shower . . . three months after his funeral.
When most people think zombies, they think of eating people, and unintelligent monsters.
But Adam doesn’t like germs. Or dirt. Or things being disorganised. So waking up as a zombie was definitely not in his plans, and the idea of eating people is disgusting. Getting stung by a bee doesn’t normally lead to becoming a zombie, and it seems incredibly unfair that it’s happened to Adam.
Soon Adam’s back at school trying to fit in and not draw extra attention to himself, but when he sees his neighbour Ernesto transform into a chupacubra, and the beautiful Corina (Adam’s number one mega-crush) turns out to be a (vegan) vampire, undead life is never going to be the same again.
A hilarious adventure caper – if Ferris Bueller met Shaun of the Dead – all about friendship and being yourself . . . even if you’re undead.
Excerpt:
Adam reintroduces himself to his Mum and sister upon returning home.
I was traipsing grave dirt everywhere and that carpet was not going to give up a stubborn stain easily. She looked really upset so I decided to change the subject from ruined floor coverings.
‘Um, Mom, did I die?’
Mom blinked away her tears and slowly nodded her head, twirling her curly black hair like she always did when she was anxious. Amanda cowered in the corner brandishing a rolling pin.
‘Is it really my little boy?’ Mom sobbed.
‘I’m twelve,’ I reminded her. ‘I’m not a little boy!’ It really irked me that they still treated me like the baby.
I’m only 15 months younger than Amanda, and if you include death and unnatural resurrection, I’ve had waaaay more life and death experience than her. And yet she has a mobile phone and I don’t. She was her own computer and I still have to share Mom’s.
Amanda screwed up her freckled face. She was sprorting read hair now, which was odd because yesterday I’d thought she was a blonde. ‘Are you even human?’ she asked from behind the rolling pin.
‘Jeez Amanda, what are you going to do, roll me into a pastry? And since when have you been a redhead?’
‘It’s Autumn Auburn,’ she said.
‘But it’s March,’ I reminded her.
‘Oh, Adam, cried my mother. ‘It’s..June.’
June?!
Suddenly, nothing made sense. Where did the last three months for? And why would Amanda choose an autumnal hair dye for the start of summer?
The world had gone mad.
This is excerpt five of eighteen excellent extracts provided by Faber and Faber. To read them in chronological order you will need to start with the fabulous Raimy at Readaraptor (here). After checking out our extract above you should head on over to the wonderful Daphne at Winged Reviews (here) and then visit Clover at her beautiful blog, Fluttering Butterflies (here).
Ps. The amazingly organised Jesse at Books 4 Teens (here) has compiled the full list of blogs taking part with links!