cover image The Zero Degree Zombie Zone

The Zero Degree Zombie Zone

Patrik Henry Bass, illus. by Jerry Craft. Scholastic Press, $16.99 (144p) ISBN 978-0-545-13210-7

Fourth-grader Bakari Johnson thinks the greatest challenge of his day happens when his best friend Wardell nominates him to be hall monitor, running against his perfect classmate Tariq, who is backed by Bakari's outspoken nemesis, Keisha. But the day turns surreal when Bakari is whisked through a portal into the "Zero Degree Zombie Zone" and ordered to return a missing ring belonging to its ruler, Zenon, who Craft pictures as a spiky ice demon of sorts in his b&w cartoon spot illustrations. Back at school, Bakari discovers that the person with the ring is the last one willing to give it up: Keisha. When ice zombies raid the cafeteria and Bakari, Wardell, Keisha, and Tariq are transported to the Zone once more, Keisha sees the threat that exists, and all four kids must figure out how to collaborate to save the world. Bakari's self-deprecating yet amusing voice carries this action-packed, fast-moving story, Bass's first book for children, which finds its resolution before the last bell. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. Author's agent: Marie Brown, Marie Brown Associates. (Aug.)