Dawn of Zombie Haiku

by Ryan Mecum

Some race. Some lurch. Others come crawling, limping, staggering--dragging themselves toward anyone who might still have a pulse. Zombies invade the island of Manhattan, and they are hungry.

The story of the zombie apocalypse is told through the eyes of Dawn, a ten-year-old girl who has been well-schooled in the undead because of her father's love of zombie movies. As the zombies approach, Dawn and her dad realize the time has come to implement their Zombie Escape Plan, so they gather friends and escape to the Statue of Liberty.

Only the plan doesn't go quite as expected. Dawn documents their downfall in her haiku journal, where the limb-snapping, eye-popping, bone-crunching zombies eventually make her one of their own. In gory detail, and sometimes channeling her favorite poets, she describes the gruesome scenes before her--and her own frightening impulses.

Ryan Mecum, the wicked mind behind the original Zombie Haiku , brings you another volume of disturbing poetry from the perspective of the walking dead sure to get your heart racing and your gag reflex working, but hopefully not your mouth salivating.

Genres: Poetry, Zombies, Humor, Horror, Fiction, Novel In Verse, Paranormal

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2011

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zombie haiku
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee?
Since all my fingers fell off
I can't count the ways.

hahahaha so fucking weird.

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so awesome. Such a smart package. In this volume, Mecum ups the stakes by making his eventual zombie a child. A child obsessed with poetry (hence the haiku). She has a long-dead mom, a crush, and lives with her dad, who loves watching horror films and drives a ferry between the islands which make up NYC. So when the zombie apocalypse hits, they make their way to the Statue of Liberty. Famous poems, remade in haiku and zombified, are scattered through the pages.

Seriously, it's a page turner. You want to know what will happen to the crush, the dad, if the escape plan will work, if she'll be faced with her zombified mom. It's kinda sweet, really. And of course, Mecum's zombie haiku are almost always great when taken alone.

The packaging, as always, is brilliant, with stock photos and blood spatters and drawings dotting the pages.

But honestly, the story is so riveting and touching that I thought about booktalking it. Read it in one sitting. Too gruesome, though. LEAD YOUR TEENS WHO LOVE ZOMBIES TO THIS BOOK! It is hidden in Adult Nonfiction at my library.

[Nefeli]

At first, I wondered
if this book is for children.
It turns out that: no.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brains! Brains! Brains are so good!

I bought this one at Boekenfestijn (which I visited yesterday). I am normally not that into books with poetry/haiku/verse, and I am also kind of trying to read less zombie books (too many nightmares), but I still couldn't resist this book. A book about a girl in the midst of zombie apocalypse? Turning into a zombie herself (ha, no spoiler, the blurb spoils it all already, thanks btw).

The book starts off with our girl telling us why she started writing haikus, and then the zombies start pouring in. Luckily, our girl and her dad are zombie aficionados. So they form a plan, and off they go. We meet our MC's boyfriend (as I would call him that), we see them all go to the Statue of Liberty (something to do with it being an island).

At first things go right, but well, since we know that she ends up as a zombie, you can just guess it is going spectacularly wrong.

Sadly, the gore parts were just too disgusting and horrible for me to like. I had such a hard time getting through them. Instead I decided on speedreading though it, as really, my stomach just tried getting rid of all the food that was in there. And thinking back to it my stomach wants to evict some more food now as well.

I do have questions. Did she telepathically post those haikus in her diary? As I can't imagine her being able to write and run and scream and run. And then later as a zombie, even when she didn't have fingers, she wrote. So, magic? Or should we just not think about it all.

There are also photographs (which made me wonder how those were added, again, maybe we shouldn't think about it), bloodsplatters (eventually even turning green), and more. I did quite like that those were added, it made things more exciting.

Oh, and our MC doesn't just post her own haikus, but also rewrites older ones.

The ending was just terribly sad. Poor thing.

All in all though, I still had fun reading it, but this is definitely not for those of us with a weak stomach. So be warned.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The zombie apocalypse is told in haiku format by 10-year-old Dawn in her poetry journal, a gift from her zombie-movie-loving dad. They put in motion their Zombie Escape Plan A, which is to get to Liberty Island. Unfortunately, the plan doesn't work out so well. The entire gruesome story is told via haiku, which is awesome in itself, and sprinkled with gory drawings, postcards, and scattered remains of bloody bits and pieces. A true scrapbook for a little zombie girl.

The ending was very sad for me, as I have my own 10-year-old girl at home. Thanks, Ryan! And kudos on a great read!

[Schnaucl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book.

My two favorite spoiler-free haikus are:

I feel less alone
reading the words of poets
who speak to my soul

and from the author's bio:

This one's for my kids:
When I go, if I come back,
aim for Daddy's head.

I thought the book was much more interesting before Dawn became a zombie. The emotional narrative worked well throughout, but after she became a zombie there were a lot more lame brain jokes, which, as I recall, was something that irritated me in Zombie Haiku: Good Poetry for Your...Brains.

I also enjoyed the rewriting of poems of famous authors in haiku/zombie form.

My favorite:

Zombie haiku by Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle
into that zombie-plagued night.
And take the shotgun.

Mecum also gets props for referencing World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War and The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection From The Living Dead.

[Francine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I preferred the first half of the book, in which the protagonist is still alive (it's not a spoiler if the back of the book gives the plot away). Human Dawn has a clear objective - getting to Liberty Island and surviving the zombie apocalypse with her dad and Andrew, the boy she likes - while the objective of Zombie Dawn is a lot less clear.

The haiku rhythm lost its novelty pretty soon, but I found the story engaging enough to not let the endless repetition bother me.

I liked the drawings and the pictures of a decaying New York, because they give a sense of realness to the "haiku diary" premise, but the zombie photos were too corny for my tastes. (Why would Dawn take photos of zombies to put in her haiku diary instead of, I dunno, running away? Also, why does Zombie Dawn still write down her life story, and when does she have time to do so?)

All in all, I liked the story, but the style (haiku) and presentation (photos) became boring fast. Good thing the book takes only thirty minutes to finish.

[Samrat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, funny, touching haiku-based account of a spunky ten-year-old girl who faces down the zombie apocalypse in New York City. A few of my favorite passages:

Zombie Haiku by Allen Ginsberg
I saw the best minds
in their degeneration.
Tasty, flavorful. (97)

As night approaches,
Andrew tries holding my hand
but snaps off his thumb.

Bloody cheeks glisten,
and his hair whispies glow white
under the moonlight.

He stares in my eyes
as I pull his head to mine
while gently moaning.

It looks like kissing
as we search each other's mouths
for unswallowed brain. (124-125)

[Stefani · Rating 4 out of 5]

 A girl and her father escape the zombie apocalypse by taking the Staten Island ferry (he's the driver) to Liberty Island. I thought it was a good plan. But those who plan for the zombie apocalypse know that something always goes wrong.

A fun read for those who like zombies. The whole thing is in haiku, which makes it a quick story. The pictures can be very graphic for those with weak stomachs.

My biggest complaint is that it's supposed to be this girl's journal. And sometimes it is but then it's like she's writing it when she's not. It's a usual gripe of mine when things are written in journal format. Still, nothing serious enough to deter zombie fans!

[Casey Raehtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though it was relatively short, I was impressed by the writer's ability to tell a cohesive story in the form of haiku. I know this sounds kind of lame, but Mecum used the poetry form only as a structure for the story, not in the way that most of us are used to: "deep" teenage poems that don't make any sense.

[bethanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved the first book, i bought this one, read it in one sitting and i love this one. get both!

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very rarely say this, but what on earth did I just read? I bought the book because a friend of mine likes zombies so knew she would like to read it. So she read it, she kept saying "What did I just read?" so I read it. I want to know the answer to the same question.

It is a book on zombie haikus written from the point of view of a little girl who is turned into a zombie. Just... this is incredible.

I don't even know man, I just don't even know.

[H.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first three books, but super creepy because it's from the perspective of a child.

[Mirasol Quisto · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first time reading a zombie story in haiku and this was pretty cool. Hope to get the first book soon 'cause I heard it was so much better.

[Brittany Delawder · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Andrea Trenary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing little read.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it funny. :)

[Kent Ellgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read it you enjoy a book of Haiku's and Zombies

[Shed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always on the lookout for books that I get to read in-between chunky novels since I always have this irrational fear of hitting a reading slump. Mecum's Zombie Haiku has been on my reading list eversince it came out and I guess devouring this before going to bed was probably one of the best decisions I've made this week.

[Elusive · Rating 3 out of 5]

In ‘Dawn of Zombie Haiku’, ten-year-old Dawn and her father execute their escape plan when zombies begin invading Manhattan. Throughout the turbulence, she pens haiku which describe her terrifying experiences.

As the format solely focused on a series of haiku, this book was an incredibly quick and easy read. The downside of it though was the lack of details. However, after taking Dawn’s age into consideration I could overlook this. Anyhow, the brief descriptions of the zombies and how she and her father were fighting for their survival were pretty decent. I especially liked the design which incorporated blood spatter and monochrome photography as I felt that they really made the book appear to be Dawn’s journal.

The ending was quite fitting and not completely predictable. Overall, ‘Dawn of Zombie Haiku’ was a fun read though it’s certainly not for the fainthearted due to some descriptions and photos towards the later part of the book.

[William R. Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book reminded me in a way of A Tale of Two Cities, in that it was challenging to read (in the case of Two Cities the challenge was the difficulty of the old english style of writing, while Zombies was simply gruesome, and of course, written in Haiku.) However, in both cases the ending transformed the book completely into a love story. In A Tale of Two Cities love was represented by totally unrequitted sacrifice, and in Zombies it was represented by a willingness, nay, a gladness, to pay the ultimate price for just one more embrace of a loved one.

It goes to show you that finishing a book is really important.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally enjoyed this book more than the other Haiku books simply because it not only provided a good read, but it captured my emotions. The end almost made me cry as we can almost all relate to that feeling of lonliness we have when someone we love has been out of our life for so long. I also enjoyed the little poetic tidbits scattered around the book highlighting famous texts in zombified verses. Overall, a great read that I would highly recommend for anyone in the mood for a good zombie book.

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2017
I was really into Zombie fiction when I bought this. And it certainly made me laugh, but it wasn't exactly what I had thought it would be so I was a little disappointed. Not that it was a terrible read. I think anyone who likes a little humor, a lot of weird, and zombie fiction should check it out. Just don't place too many high expectations on it. That was definitely my downfall. At worst, you'll just be out 30 minutes of your day. It is an exceptionally short, but fun read.

[David Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following 2008's Zombie Haiku, this companion piece revisits the world of zombie poetry. Although the conceit is not quite as fresh this time around, much of the poetry is still laugh-out-loud funny. The book's design and aesthetic is clever and adds to the fun. All fans of zombies or poetry should check this out.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the haikus made me laugh and some made me sad.

I loved that they referenced Max Brooks.

This one is my favorite that made me laugh...

I always liked pork
but it tastes nothing like Dad-
the other white meat

This one made me sad the most..

A few more gunshots
give me a happy ending
in my mother's arms.


Maybe its because I'm a mother myself that it effected me the most.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

While normally I'm not a huge poetry reader, these were really great Haikus. I loved that they were able to fully tell the story while maintaining the Haiku stance. It's definitely a great book to keep around if you don't have a ton of time to devote to reading, yet still want to get in a zombie fix!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not amazing in terms of storyline, but overall it delivers what it promises: an interesting blending of haiku and zombies. I may read the rest of the series as this was a derivation of the "Zombie Haiku" title.

[Mati · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offered slightly disturbing view of young girl on zombie apocalypse. Brain eating with style was accompanied with sharp short poems, which were graphically arranged to bring depravity and gore to the humble reader.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one isn't as good as Zombie Haiku: Good Poetry for Your...Brains but I still enjoyed it. It's just a fun read.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this series is pretty cool. I was fairly entertained. It has a story arc and is funny. It's a super fast read.

I liked this one enough that I went and bought Vampire Haiku (cause my library doesn't have it).