Rise of the Corpses

The Undertakers #1

by Ty Drago

Engaging from the very first page, Ty Drago's thrilling children's debut has heart, it has humor, and it has straight up, gross-out horror.

"On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, I found out my grouchy next door neighbor was the walking dead. When you turn around expecting to see something familiar, and instead see something else altogether, it takes a little while for your brain to catch up with your eyes. I call it the 'Holy Crap Factor.'"

Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers—a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters who've banded together to battle the Corpses.

Praise for Ty

"...The author hardly sets a foot or a word wrong."—Publishers Weekly

"More, if you please, Mr. Drago."—Booklist

Genres: Zombies, Fantasy, Horror, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Adventure, Fiction

478 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2011

About the author

Ty Drago is the author of 13 published novels, including the 5 book Undertakers series (MG horror), which is being adapted for the movies. More recently, his horror novel ST. DAMNED was released by Castle Ridge Media in January of 2025 and BLIND DOVATION, his installment novella in the System Paradoxa/Cryptic Crate series launched in February.

He's currently working on...well...a lot.

To find out more, you can try www.tydrago.com. He occasionally blogs.

Reviews

[Missy (Missy's Reads & Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, another zombie book. And yes, it's another zombie book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I know what you're thinking: "Missy, you say you hate zombies.. but every time you review a book about them, you sing their praises. What gives?" Well, I'll tell you what gives. I don't exactly hate zombies. I was a huge fan of the Romero movies when I was younger. I've just never really liked zombie books because I need more than just those zombies that run around and eat brains. I found it in Daniel Waters' Generation Dead series, then again with Isaac Marion's Warm Bodies... and now The Undertakers.

Taking it one step further, The Undertakers has something that the others doesn't.. the IT-factor that made my husband read it. It was literally like a wish come true. Nick told me he's never seen a zombie book where zombies were smart and calculating. A few days later, the offer to read this one came in. After I read it, I gave it to Nick. He just finished, which is why I'm posting now... I wanted his opinion, too. Fortunately for me, I married someone who is literally my other half - so, our feelings are pretty mutual when it comes to this book. It's everything we wanted in a zombie book and, unexpectedly, then some. But then I guess I should say that you don't call them "zombies" really.. they're "Corpses" - smarter and stronger than your average zombie. This was part of that IT-factor I told you about.

This book is more geared toward Middle Grade than Young Adult, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The main character, Will, was indeed middle grade and acted like it - though every once in a while there would be a slip up where he acted more mature. Or was it a slip up? Maybe Will was just maturing, considering his special circumstances of the world that he lives in and the fact that he has to give up everything to fight the Corpses with the other Undertakers. There was lots of adventure and many moments where I was on the edge of my seat. And like I said before, this story took a cliche and made it engagingly original, which is the most refreshing part of all.

Overall, The Undertakers was a fast-paced thrill-ride that will spark the interest of the most reluctant readers - just like my husband. I'd recommend this book to everyone, from adults to middle graders and everything in between. It's just that good.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young, William Karl Ritter was getting ready for school like any other day. Only this day was different. There is something odd about Old Man Pratt, Will’s next door neighbor. His skin seems to be whiter and drier than usual. Though this is not what is different. He is grumpy but that is nothing new. The “dead” giveaway that something is up with Old Man Pratt is the beetles and the rotten flesh smell. Old Man Pratt is a Corpse. Things get weirder when Will arrives at school. The teachers are Corpses as well. Will escapes with the help of another student. Will is brought to a hideout location. This is where Will learns that he has the gift of “sight”. He can see the Corpses. Will is recruited as the newest member of the Undertakers. They are mainly formed by a group of children and they are the only defense against the Corpses.

You could tell that this book was written and geared towards younger readers like middle school age. The way Will talked and acted. I like that the children were the main heroes and not the adults. While there were a few adults they were not the main focus. It was the Undertakers and the Corpse. Don’t call them Zombies. There is a difference. The Corpses are stronger and smart. The pace of this book is fast. There is lots of action, The characters are relatable, which is a good thing. You always want characters that you can cheer for. Will is a leader. If you want to get into this series, now is the time as this book is book one. Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses is a refreshing, yummy read.

[Galleane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Si quelques détails m'ont un peu chagriné, ils ne sont pas non plus très importants et ne gâchent pas la lecture. J'ai aimé ce premier tome, il est fluide, les pages défilent facilement et rapidement. Le rythme est là, l'action également. Tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour former un tout qui fonctionne. J'ai en plus beaucoup aimé la revisite du mythe du zombie fait par l'auteur et sa manière de ne pas prendre de gants dans son histoire ni même avec ses personnages. À découvrir.

Ma chronique complète : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.fr/2015/...

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it's elitist and bad of me, but I tend to be suspect of books published first in paperback. Also, this cover reads very "J" to me, and I keep having to be reminded that it's shelved in the YA section at my library.
But I'm really glad I read it.

Distinctly rooted in the geography of Philly, this is a great new take on zombies. In this case, not everyone can see that zombies are zombies. They're not actually supposed to be called zombies, but they look like zombies to the people who can see them. The first chapter opens with the first time our narrator sees someone who is secretly a zombie, and how shocking that is for him when he knew the guy before. It's pretty hilarious and gross at the same time.

I know, I know, it's confusing. But it's not as complicated as it sounds. We get to know a band of zombie-seeing children who are the only people able to see (and thus, defend against) the alien zombie horde trying to take over their city. It's not a perfect work, as some of the characters are a little rough and/or stereotyped. None of the angsty content really lands, but most of the laugh lines/situations do. I don't really feel invested in Will as a character, but the framework around him is enough to pull me through that. It's a whole lot of fun. Easy booktalk for my middle school crew next week.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow... This was one of the most fast-paced middle-grade books I've read since Percy Jackson! It is also pretty gruesome for a middle-grade series. This first book was sort of "info-dumpy" in places but I was actually really interested to learn how the Undertakers as a group worked. I think this book would get any young kids reading again.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this story and while it is slightly gruesome and dark, I think most older elementary age kids that like Goosebumps will eat this up. I am excited for book 2

[Josh Newhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Not a typical zombie or bodysnatcher book but a hybrid... A winner so far!

[Lucas Hamasaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I didn't LOVE it, but it was a good read. It's a somewhat original idea, so that's nice. I found the kids a bit TOO young, though. But overall, I enjoyed it.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My name is Will, and this morning I discovered my neighbor is dead... and my teacher... and the assistant principal. I might have been dead too if the new girl at school hadn't saved me. We ended up at an abandoned warehouse in downtown Philadelphia where I met the Undertakers. They're a bunch of kids who can See the Corpses, hidden behind their Mask illusions. Adults can't See the Corpses, intelligent and organized creatures that have taken over the bodies of dead humans. Their Masks conceal their true identities from the public, so they can hold positions as policemen, politicians, and even that popular newscaster on television. The Undertakers say they've been waiting for me to become a Seer, but I can't believe the other things they're telling me about my father.

I don't read many books about zombies, oops I mean Corpses, so this was a change for me. The first half of the book described Will's orientation into the Undertakers and shared information about the Corpses. It bugged me a little that the Undertakers didn't know where the creatures came from; I assume the question will be answered at some point in the series. Will was the main character, and the story described his emotional roller coaster. He didn't readily join the Undertakers, as he felt fear, anger, and confusion. He missed his family and was shocked by the information about his father. It was nice to see a character reluctant to accept the change in reality, although I grew tired of him constantly disobeying rules. You can't keep regretting decisions and then turn around and do it again. Will unexpectedly became good friends with the bully character, and he had a complicated relationship with the girl who saved him. The plot included some mystery, as the possibility of a mole was presented. It gave the brain something else to consider. The plot contained adventure and action, and there were periods of fighting with the Corpses. People died, although there didn't seem to be a way to kill the Corpses. Overall, I enjoyed the book and plan to read the sequel, Queen of the Dead.

[Kamentag · Rating 5 out of 5]

MES PREMIÈRES 5 ÉTOILES DE L'ANNÉE !!
C'est vrai que j'ai pris beaucoup de temps pour le finir mais ce retard était expret , pour l'unique raison c'est pour profiter de chaque instant et que je ne le finisse pas tot . Faut dire que c'est l'une de mes rares lectures où je me suis senti super triste après que j'ai lu les dernières lignes du premier volume , et j'ai même pas la séries complète! T____T *sigh*
Bon je passe à mon commentaire : au début j'avais quelques souçis sur l'histoire et si elle sera captivante ou pas surtout le fait que les héros sont des jeunes enfants , j'avais peur que ça sera un peu *childish* mais Drago ne m'a pas du touuuut déçus ; l'histoire était au contraire tout ce que j'ai toujours voulu faut savoir que c'est la première fois où je lis ce genre apocaliptique d'intrigue , c'est un mélange très intéressant d'actions , d'émotions ,d'esprit stratégique et autre . Le héro principal qui est Will Ritter s'est montré dans tous ses états ; brave , angoissé, imprudent, inflexible , amoureux , rebelle .... Un personnage qui m'a fait rêvé et qui, de mon point de vue présente la complexité de la personne par excellence parce qu'il faut pas nier que la perfection n'existe pas donc transmettre cette conception dans une histoire m'a trop mouvementé .

[Za'Miya Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMZING BOOK. I've never had a book I liked and wanted to reread it as much as this one. OMG, it's actually amazing. Sharyn is my favorite character by far, and honestly relate to her if I'm being honest. I loved how Will killed Booth and thought the foreshadowing was AMAZING. I also loved how selfless Will is and how well written he is. One of my favorite parts were when Will and Tom were spparing. Tom's words were sooooo cool, and his anger (in my opinion) was well placed. If I could give this book and every other Undertakers book a ♾️/10 I would, because this series is AMAZING, and even inspired me to start writing my own book.

[Lire-une-passion · Rating 4 out of 5]

"En résumé, je ne sais pas si je vous ai convaincus de commencer cette série, mais sachez que pour moi, ce premier tome a été une véritable surprise. Et une bonne ! Cette idée de rendre les zombies (pardon, les Macchabs) intelligents était très novatrice et surtout inédite. Ça offre de nouvelles perspectives ! En espérant que la suite voit le jour en France, je pense que, pour ma part, je ne vais pas tarder à me me prendre le tome 2 !"

http://lire-une-passion.weebly.com/sc...

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, one kid is angry at another and sucker punches that kid in the stomach. The kid being punched has no fighting skills and has had a seriously traumatic day. The kid doing the punching is a trained fighter - in fact, “the best” around. I see this trained fighter as a bully and what they did NOT okay. But the author seems to think it’s ok because the kid doing the punching is a girl and the kid getting punched is a boy. My question to the author would be - would this situation still be ok if the genders were reversed? My guess would be a resounding ‘No’.

[ladymurmur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your standard zombie adventure, nor angsty YA. Fun, fast read - will definitely continue the series!

I do wonder if only adolescent kids can See the Corpses (except for Will's dad, of course), will they retain their ability to See as they age, or will they lose it as they become adults?

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how they started the book. The whole thing was so interesting. I loved it. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Mira de la curiosithèque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voilà un excellent roman jeunesse, plein de suspense et d’action. Les pages se sont tournées toutes seules !

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought me thrills and kept on edge as a teenager.

[TheBookSmugglers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally Reviewed on The Book Smugglers

Will Ritter seems like your average twelve-year-old - he has a loving mother and younger sister, and even though his father has recently passed away, things seem to be heading back to normal for Will. That is, everything seems normal, until one day he notices that his crotchety next door neighbor is a zombie.

Well, not a zombie - because that implies a slow, mindless, reanimated body driven by a singular hunger for human flesh. Will's neighbor is actually a Corpse; an intelligent, alien entity possessing a dead human body, and hell-bent on domination of the human race. And Will's neighbor isn't alone. Will discovers that Corpses have infiltrated schools, the police force, the local news, and even local politics. The good news is, Will isn't alone either - he's one of the few children who develop the Sight (the ability to see the Corpses for what they are, instead of the human masks they project to the rest of the world), and is rescued from certain death by Helene, an undercover student at his middle school. One of a covert group called the Undertakers, Helene takes Will to join this secret contingent of twelve to seventeen year olds, all of whom possess the Sight and have banded together to fight the Corpses.

Will also learns that his late father was the actual founder of the Undertakers, and his death was caused by the Corpses. Taking up the mission started by his dad, Will quickly rises through the ranks of the Undertakers and vows to make sure that the Corpses are stopped, once and for all.

The first thing that came to mind when I started reading Rise of the Corpses was John Carpenter's film, They Live (you know, OBEY CONSUME THIS IS YOUR GOD and a sweet pair of glasses). The Undertakers is built on a very similar premise, but involving a much younger crowd of protagonists. This isn't so much a zombie book per se (even though it technically does involve the reanimated dead), but more along the lines of Invasion of the Body Snatchers or They Live - there is an invasion happening, from creatures beyond the realm of the Earth, and though they wear human skin, their intentions are anything but benevolent. It's a familiar premise, but one that is unique and gripping enough, because of the added twist of the need for the invaders to wear cadaver flesh (gleefully disgusting), and because of the youth of its protagonists.

In fact, this latter point is really what is so effective about the book. As children, we place trust in adults and authority figures, but as we grow up, that unquestioned trust is tarnished. In Rise of the Corpses, this principle is taken to the extreme as these children absolutely cannot trust the adults who will think they are crazy, or worse, who will try to kill them. These children - especially Will - are forced to grow up, or die. And that is all kinds of scary.

From a characterization perspective, this distrust pervades Will's actions and choices - he's forced to accept the unbelievable, and on top of that must deal with his father's secret legacy; a reality that Will grapples with when he learns that his dad not only formed the Undertakers, but shared this part of his life with two other children whom Will never even knew existed. Will is angry, and I can understand that completely. As our hero, Will comes across as the genuine article and is a believable twelve-year-old boy whose world has just been turned upside down. That said, he's perhaps a little too special and too adept at his new life (and everyone is happy to tell Will how adept and special he is), which is frustrating. Still, he's not infallible, and there are plenty of other characters that feel more layered and genuine to bridge the gap. Helene, the girl that saves Will, is a fantastic female counterpart, as is Burgermeister (I LOVE Dave Burger!). And, of course, there's the fearless leader Tom and his sister Sharyn - both of whom are the eldest of the Undertakers at seventeen, and add a nice layer of plausibility to the groups organization and effectiveness at fighting the Corpses.

Bottom line: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and immediately upon finishing it was eager to dive into Queen of the Dead. Totally recommended, for older middle grade readers, young adult readers, and heck, adults like myself.

[Shinyfox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ahhh this book. Ok where to start? It's... alright. It has a good premise, it is a good idea. But I have so many questions. Because of that, it turned out to be a rather frustrating read.

The first being, what happens when these kids turn 18 and can't see corpses anymore? This is not mentioned anywhere in the book (that I saw, granted I skipped a few pages due to the overwhelming amount of filler description text). Do the children lose their memories of the corpses? This seems highly unlikely... They've been fighting for 3 years, you would expect that at least one kid has crossed that barrier. When they lose the sight do they just toddle back home (sometimes up to 10 years later?) after police and family have been searching, possible amber alerts and so on? What do they say to the family? How does that even make a lick of sense?

At First Stop. They know they are looking for moles. They are training new recruits and all that good stuff. Even with high tech security in place, why on earth would it make sense to only keep 1 person on guard duty? Hmmm...

How is it that his father, the only adult to see these things, did not at least try to teach Will some form of self defense? And don't tell me that will was too young (I know children personally who started karate at 3 years of age). Why wouldn't he take steps to protect his child, knowing that 'Seeing' tends to run in family lines? Hmmm... again.

I have more questions but I have forgotten most of them, I'm sure I'll update this as I remember, if I remember.


The next part that really got me was the main character, Will, being a bit of a Gary Stu in my opinion. For some when "Mary" or "Gary" Sue/Stu pops up they think "The projection of the author". I am NOT USING this term in this way.

Gary Stu: "to describe an original character that is often overly idealized" and "is often either a perfect or almost perfect character". It's not that Will is /perfect/ but everything about him is special and overly so.

Will:
- His father was the only ADULT to ever see these things.
- Instead of going to First Stop, Will heads right to the heart of Haven
- Everybody is in awe since he is Karl's son.
- He is automatically entrusted with secrets that not many people are entrusted with.
- He's a natural born fighter (pretty darn good too).
- He is a natural born leader (slides into the role darn well).
- He is a quick learner.
- People respect him quickly and there is hardly any conflict when he is in a leader role.
- Later in the book he get's a super special pocket knife.
- This knife has some serious juice to it, it's a rather powerful object (much more powerful than Tom's knife. Tom is the leader of Haven fyi).
- People rush to save him, even when it is a suicidal attempt and could get many more kids killed.
- He found a way to possibly destroy the corpses (which is actually kind of cool!).
- He's wanted by the Corpses, badly. To them, not much else matters as soon as Will comes on the scene.

This list was just a bunch of things that jumped out at me. Things that layered almost too well for the character. If there was some sort of personality flaw it would even things out, but Will is pretty likeable character. And people like him in the book, you can tell the character is being well groomed to take over Haven soon-ish.


I am probably not explaining my thoughts and feelings well. I guess it all boils down to the main character, Will and my reading experience.

I could not get into Will. I didn't like his character that much and often times wished that the focus of the book (main character) was a side character. I loved the side characters and bonded with them much more than I did with Will.

[Lesangdeslivres · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://lesangdeslivres.blogspot.fr/20...


La couverture est simple mais jolie. Nous avons l’impression de voir la pierre d’une tombe ce qui retrace plutôt bien le contenu du roman.


Quand nous voyions l’épaisseur de ce roman, nous avons un peu peur car il est vraiment très épais mais ce n’est qu’un leurre car il se lit très vite.

Au début de cette histoire, nous nous rendons compte que c’est une histoire jeunesse car notre personnage principal à douze ans et que ce n’est pas un texte compliqué à lire. Nous sommes tout de suite entraînés dans une histoire glauque et macabre. Nous sommes amusés de voir des macchabs partout que nous considérons comme des zombies au début. Très vite, nous sommes pris dans une course infernale à nous en faire perdre haleine. Nous sommes angoissés, stressés et horrifiés pour notre personnage et nous ne comprenons pas très bien pourquoi il est le seul à les voir. L’arrivée d’un autre personnage de son âge dans sa vie nous fait plaisir et à nouveau, nous les suivons dans une course effrénée. Nous ne comprenons pas tout au début et nous en sommes un peu tristes mais cela ajoute encore plus de suspense à cette histoire et la rend encore plus effrayante.
Nous retrouvons plusieurs enfants comme Will, notre personnage principal et nous sommes heureux de voir une telle coalition entre eux. En nous retrouvant dans un endroit sûr, nous avons l’impression de nous retrouver dans un genre de dystopie. Par la suite, nous apprenons qui est réellement Will, et pourquoi il est cette personne tant convoitée par les macchabs ainsi que ses compagnons d’infortune. Nous voyions une infiltration très secrète ainsi que des préparations au combat. Certains personnages ont un tempérament assez développé et pimentent encore plus le roman. Nous nous apercevons que nous nous étions trompés sur un personnage en particulier et nous sommes très troublés de voir que nous nous sommes fait bernés exactement comme tous les autres personnages que comporte ce roman.
Nous apprenons qui sont les macchabs au fur et à mesure et nous avons aussi l’impression de nous retrouver un peu dans un roman de science-fiction.
Les nombreuses attaques sont angoissantes et Will, avec ses nombreuses idées saugrenues nous énerve un peu par moments.
Nous sommes inquiets pour lui vers la fin car nous nous étions pas attendus à ce retournement de situation. Nous comprenons encore plus qui sont ces macchabs et pourquoi ils sont là, ça en est terrifiant.
À la fin, nous sommes stupéfaits de voir à nouveau un retournement de situation que nous n’avions pas vu venir. Ce sont des moments intenses et sans répit. Nous voulons toujours en savoir plus jusqu’au point final.
À la toute fin, nous sommes ravis de voir comment à très vite évoluer Will et nous comprenons que l’histoire n’est pas finie et ne fait que commencer dans cette terrible guerre.


Est-ce que j’ai aimé ce livre ?


C’est un très bon livre, très intense qui ne m’a pas laissé une seconde de répit. J’ai été transporté du début à la fin. L’histoire va à cent à l’heure, les actions sont omniprésentes, les personnages très attachants et j’ai beaucoup apprécié de les voir grandir à cause de ces moments terrifiants.
J’ai vraiment hâte de lire la suite et je ne peux que vous conseiller cette saga !

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day everything was normal for Will Ritter, then he went outside to meet the bus for school and noticed that his neighbor looked like a zombie. He had just received what the others call the sight. He runs off from his neighbor, but soon finds out he can run from the walking dead.

Will is then helped by another girl with the sight and is taken to a place called Haven. It's at Haven were he meets the leader of The Undertakers. They are a group of kids who can see what nobody else can see, that people all over the city are dead, they call them corpses. Zombies are slow and dumb, corpses are aliens who have taken over a dead body.

As far as they know there has been only one adult who could see them and that was Will's father. As will learns more about the secrets his father kept from him, he learns to be a soldier in the Undertakers. A group of kids who are doing their best to stay alive and try and find away to kill the corpses.

Will Ritter is a great main character. He is twelve years old and acts it. When he is dragged away from his mom and little sister he whines about it. He is head strong and tough, but he often thinks about his mom.When he doesn't think the Undertakers are doing anything to get rid of the corpses he tries to do something about it, often not using rationalized thoughts. Because he is a twelve year old kid trying to be a soldier and save people from something that most of them can not see, and in doing so he screws up some. He think irrationally because he is angry and young. He is stubborn, strong and flawed, which to me makes him a great hero.

The other characters in the book are great too, each of them has a purpose and I am sure we will learn more about the secondary characters as the series continues. Tom Jefferson is the Chief of the Undertakers and to Will's frustrations he has only lead them on a defensive strategy. Sharyn Jefferson is Tom's sister and she is in charge of the group called Angels, she is one tough girl. Though she doesn't always agree with her brother she is fiercely loyal to him. Helene, is in the group called Schoolers, they infiltrate the school and look for other kids who can see the corpses. This is how Will and Helene meet, she was going to his school waiting for the day he got the sight. Helene is not really Will's love interest since he is only twelve, but his crush. There are a lot more I could name but these are some of the main ones.

I could really tell that Ty Drago enlisted the help of his child to make it feel more real. The characters definitely had a preteen to teen feel about them. They were doing grown up things but deep down they were still children. They had many flaws and they acted like kids. It is one of the things that made this book so great.

This is the first in the series so I can't wait for the next one to come out and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes zombie type books.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 2 out of 5]

One day Will is going to school when he starts to notice that some people he knows resemble corpses-his grumpy neighbour, his teacher...and he thinks he is going mad until the 'zombies' attack him and he is saved by a school friend Helene. She is part of an army of kids called The Undertakers who can see the corpses and rescue other kids like themselves to fight against this enemy.

This book was a little frustrating for me. I really liked some parts of it yet other parts bugged me. It made it more difficult to rate.

Lets start with the good. I liked the idea that some alien force uses dead bodies to move around, and use a glamour to make them look normal. Adults and most kids only see the glamour but a small group of kids like Will can see through this disguise. When the copses learn that a kid is a Seer, they kill them. I liked the idea of The Undertakers and how they try to rescue these kids and train them to survive, with everyone contributing to the community. The start of the book where Will is under attack is good and the scenes featuring corpse attacks are well written and enjoyable. I loved the ending as well, which was very satisfying. The storytelling was nicely done and the kids do behave like kids so thought has been put into how they behave and interact in a big community ie eating junk and immature behaviour. It gave a book a sense of realism.

The characters are pretty diverse. My favourite had to be Dave because he is fat and funny! His stupid remarks and enthusiasm for everything make him a likeable character. I liked most of the characters except the asshat who hates Will as soon as he arrives. YA novels seem obsessed with the MC being instantly hated by someone, which gets boring very fast. Will himself was quite annoying at times. He's only been there five minutes and he's breaking the rules, disobeying Tom and basically being a royal pain in the butt. He's a kid from a loving family but thinks he knows better about survival than Tom who grew up on the streets. I got annoyed with Will talking back to Tom, Will sneaking out and getting into trouble, Will ruining carefully laid plans because he knew better. That got a bit frustrating.

There are a few bits that I found a bit slow. There is a big info dump when Will arrives at Haven and is shown around, with a lot of detail about everything he sees. From there until the end of his time at First Stop was pretty slow. After that it did pick up thankfully. I got a bit fed up with the repitition about Will's dad being the only adult ever to see through the glamour. I felt we got hit over the head with a stick a few times on that subject!

There was enough good stuff in this book for me to finish it and go on to read the short story that follows-Night of the Monsters. Part of me wants to know what happens to the gang but I haven't yet made a decision on continuing with the series. I would however recommend it to those who like YA paranormal books.

3.5 stars.

[Sensitivemuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Possible spoilers. You’ve been warned***

This book stood out for me. Unlike most zombie books I’ve read, where zombies have run amok and the world breaks down, here in this book, the zombies are quite different. They’re portrayed as what seems like a race from another dimension, and infiltrating Earth for their own purposes. It’s still unclear on where they came from, but I really did like this part of the book. It’s different, and it’s what sets itself apart from the usual zombie plot. It’s an interesting combination of zombies and The Body Snatchers which makes it all the more different and fun to read.

The action starts off with a bang in this book, and it’s continuous, with several pauses in between for a breather (and to read up on more information). The Undertakers, are really just a bunch of children who help other children who are called “Seers” because they can see through the façade in which the corpses are hiding behind. Again, this is a different idea that I have not read before, and could be compared to the Lost Boys from Peter Pan. They’re all split into different groups, each child sent to do important tasks for The Undertakers to thrive and survive. It’s well organized, and yet they’re still just kids, so obviously there’s a childish aspect to their organization as well. The plot is fast paced, and the pauses in between don’t drag or carry on for long.

I had a love and a hate for Will. I liked him because he had attitude and courage, yet at the same time, it’s that same attitude which annoyed me. There were just times when I wished he would shut up but Helene helped out with that (she got him good too). Yet I did like his ingenuity and his quick thinking helped a lot during the course of the book. The one character I did not care for, and thankfully, she did not make much of an appearance was Maria. Oh my, she was useless. All she did was cry, whine, or scream. Argh. I am just glad she wasn’t featured much in the book. The other characters are good and well written but are rather two dimensional since Will is really the center of the book.

The ending was great! and naturally there’s still a few unanswered questions in the book. I’m guessing this is going to be a series judging by the ending, so I am hoping it’ll come out soon, as I’m really looking forward to it.

This book audience inteded for this book does lean towards boys, younger girls might like this because of strong female characters like Helene and Sharyn but I think it’s a perfect read for all ages. It’s an interesting and different take on zombies and body snatchers. I say pick this up for a great action packed read!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will wakes up one Wednesday, and it's just like every other day until he sees his neighbor, then his principal, then his teachers have all become a part of the living dead. Is it a new thing? Yes, and no. Will's one of the special few who can see these zombies among the living, making him an Undertaker with a special destiny. Suddenly, in addition to his twelve-year-old angst, pre-teen life, and all the glory that comes with it, Will is sent along a path with others like him because his gift dictates it. He might be a part of humanity's last line of resistance between the living and the dead, but that also means that his life will never be the same again.

Remember when vampires became popular? Then werewolves, angels and witches followed. Well, zombies have been on the train lately with shows like The Walking Dead and Zombieland popularizing the lore. The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses, however, does what few books and films say they will do - it takes the original idea, turns it on its tail and makes it into something entirely new. Author Ty Drago clearly had some clever mojo going when he wrote this one because he combined two seemingly polar opposite tales into a single, fully-functioning novel that's suspenseful, age-appropriate and seriously witty.

The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses truly is one of the freshest MG reads that I've got my hands on in a while. Will is a great protagonist. He's charming and smart, but he acts his age. Yes, there were a few moments where he slipped and I wondered why he suddenly sounded more mature, but overall, he felt entirely real. Will's friend, Tom, also consistently evolved throughout the book, and I felt their progression and character changes, although mostly subtle, were in sync with the plot. Speaking of the plot...wow. Talk about a fresh idea! I'm not going to spoil it for anyone, but let's just say that the zombies in The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses are nothing like what you read before. In fact, they might not be from this planet. Ponder that one.

All in all, The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses was a fun, fast-paced and action packed read. It sounds like a long book, but it reads well, and I finished it quickly, all the while wanting a sequel. I give it a firm 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend this to both YA and MG audiences. I also think reluctant readers would enjoy this quick plot and fun premise.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

[Michelle Greathouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses is the first book in the Undertakers series by Ty Drago and a YA novel from SourceBooks Jabberwocky.

Book Blurb:

Do You See The Living Dead?

It’s bad enough that Will Ritter discovers his next-door neighbor has become a walking, talking corpse. But when his assistant principal and math teacher also look like something from a horror flick, he begins to seriously question his sanity - until the Corpses attack.

Don’t call them zombies. Zombies are slow and stupid. These things aren’t. To make matters worse, only a few people, like Will, can actually see them. Forced to join a ragtag army of teenager resistance fighters called the Undertakers, Will finds himself in the middle of a war against an invasion of the living dead. And in this war, the Undertakers aren’t just the first line of defense - they’re the only line of defense.

My thoughts:

Will Ritter is a twelve year old boy who lost his father a couple of years ago. He lives with his Mom and younger sister and attends middle school like every other boy or girl his age.

But Will is not like every other boy or girl - he is a Seer. This means that he can ‘see’ the Corpses for what they really are.

Corpses are beings that have possessed a dead body and use that body to walk among humans. They project a ‘mask’ that allows them to be seen as a normal, healthy human.

But there are a few, like Will, who see beyond the ‘mask’ to the Corpse below - and the Corpses do not like that. As a matter of fact, they are on the look out for such children - and when they find them - they make them disappear - permanently.

The Undertakers are a group of teens who have banded together to fight these Corpses. The only problem is that the Undertakers have learned to disable the Corpses for a time - but they have no idea how to vanquish them.

And time is running out...

The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses has a fresh take on the zombie lore and I enjoyed it very much.
I give The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses 4 out of 5 stars.

M


Product Details

* Reading level: Young Adult
* Paperback: 480 pages
* Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (4-1-11)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1402247850
* ISBN-13: 978-1402247859

[J.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical zombie story. In fact, they aren’t zombies at all. They are re-animated corpses, taken over by. . . well, you’ll have to find out for yourself. I insist.

Just when you think you’ve seen every angle to a theme or plot, you learn you haven’t. The author succeeds in finding a unique one.

Thanks to the contribution of the author’s son (made note of in a very touching dedication by his father), the voice of Will Ritter and the rest of the Undertakers remain true to their age and experience. It never felt too juvenile, nor too mature.

I can’t imagine adults facing what these kids do, yet it is made believable and very much a page turner.

Perhaps for the first time, I think I truly understood the evil that had come into my life. Until then the Corpses – while terrifying – had been almost like childhood monsters, like the imagined “things” that once lived under my bed. Only children could see them. Run or they might grab you!
Well, Tara had been grabbed.
And my childhood was over.

Perhaps more detail could be provided in some instances, but it would take away from the story’s momentum and the character building. Plus this is youth fiction and it’s the kind of storytelling that helps keep kids reading – and wanting more.

I was surprised to learn this is Ty Drago’s first foray into youth fiction. And a heck of a trip it is. Not only that, it’s the first in a projected series. Seeing as I read this in nearly one sitting, it’s a no-brainer that I will be waiting eagerly for the next release.

Its uniqueness will not only attract the kids, but their parents too. It sure worked for me.

This book gets a high rating and a strong recommendation. It is a horror story, but none of the violence is gratuitous or too gory. Characters do die, and they do kill. Bear this in mind when considering this for your child. Also, I feel The Undertakers is appropriate for any gender even though the protagonist is male. Both boys and girls should love this book.

[Mike Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absorbing quick read despite its almost 500 page size. Another interesting twist to the current zombie fad, though also something of a trick as they are not really zombies.

Young 12 year old boy, Will, heads out the door to go to school only to be stopped by his next door neighbor complaining about the trash cans. Oh, and this neighbor, the boy turns and finds out, happens to be a walking talking corpse. The boy flees, running to the bud stop, making great time. Another boy makes some comment, looks down the hill, and apparently sees a living old guy looking pissed. Will gets on the bus, rides to school, and begins to wonder if the pop-tart he had for breakfast is making him see things.

Once at school, Will spots more walking corpses and more 'normal' humans who either do not see anything odd about the corpses wandering around, or do not notice that the math teacher has been dead for a while. The corpses notices that Will seems to see them, and come for him. Will freaks, and a girl shoots the zombie like critters with a water pistol. They flee.

The rest of the book follows as Will join the Undertakers, who are fighting the corpses. The Undertakers and Corpses from the title. The young adult novel is quick paced and quickly read. There is an indication, based on how the book ended, that there will be more books in this universe. On the other hand, this is the third book I've read by this author and the first two books also directly or indirectly implied that they were starts to new series. No second book in those almost series ever appeared.

Strong characterization. Quick paced. Third book by the author that I read and liked but I still do not know if I can recommend this book.

[Amy Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you first get a glimpse of this book, you can tell by the cover that it is geared for the younger male teens. When you read the summary, you still think it is for the younger male teens. Even with that in my head, I still decided to read this book and give it a fair shot at review. I may not be a young teen, or from the male genre, but there is something about zombie books that draw me into the plot.


Will joins a special team of people called The Undertakers after seeing his neighbor, principle and some of his teachers turned into zombies. Not everyone can see the zombies, but Will happens to be one of the special ones that can. The Undertakers are kids, yet they must leave everything behind to fight the zombies.


I found this book to be adventurous and fun to read. As an adult, there were some things that didn't jive for me in it. If you have a younger male teen who has been reluctant to read, I think this would be a great book to start off with though. As an adult reader, I had to keep trying to remember that it is a book geared for younger teens and some adults might not like the writing because of that. While I was able to adjust to it and somewhat enjoy it, if you have a problem with reading books like that, then you might want to consider borrowing the book instead of purchasing it.


Again, I think the author did a wonderful job though in creating a world for younger boys to dive into. A fun read to spark the interest of reluctant readers and hopefully give them the push they need to start reading!

[Plano Bibliovores]

Excerpt: ”I watched Helplessly as Booth placed one slimy, maggot-riddled hand on her shoulder. Clutching the syringe in the other fist, he jabbed its needle into the base of Helene’s neck with cruel force. She screamed. “Leave her alone!” I cried, pulling uselessly at my bonds. The corpse ignored me, drawing the now-empty syringe out of the girl. Then he turned her towards me. Helene’s face contorted with pain. Her whole body shuddered. I felt awful watching her, but there was nothing I could do.” -page 415

Summary: Will Ritter had a normal life until he turned twelve. That’s when he started seeing them. The corpses: Nasty otherworldly creatures that reanimate the dead and use them for their own purposes, he doubted his sanity. But, when he meets a group of rebel teens that used to be lead by his dead father, Karl Ritter, he knows they’re real and planning on invading the earth. As an undertaker is it his job to fight for humanity and keep his family and the planet safe from walking dead? Does he have the skills and strength to the corpses? Will he survive? How can you kill something that’s already dead?

Why I picked it up: I picked this book because this it is filled with action, adventure, horror, and mystery. The plot and setting give just the right touch to make it an intriguing book of wonders.

Why I finished it: I finished this book because every chapter had me hooked. It’s descriptive and keeps the reader wanting more.


I’d give it to: Any reader who loves a good zombie thriller that leaves you begging for more.

-Reviewed by: Cesar
Plano, TX teen

[Dawn Vanniman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I really really really love when an author takes a subject that has become popular and makes it his/her own. Yep, as you can see by the cover, this is a novel about zombies. But not like any zombies you've read about before or any situation you've read about before. Mr. Drago has taken a new road for these zombies.


Will Ritter, the main character, is 12 years old. One day he gets up and as he heads for school finds that suddenly his neighbor, his principal and even some of his teachers are zombies! Apparently this isn't a new scenario, but not everyone can see the zombies. Will is special and is about to join a special team - The Undertakers. This means leaving everything and everyone behind. Oh yeah, the Undertakers are all kids.


This is going to be an excellent book for reluctant readers, the chapters are short enough to keep your attention, the story moves along very quickly and the character's 'lingo' rings true. Ty Drago does credit his son with helping him with keeping the kids' sound right. Kudo's to him and his son - the lingo is excellent and the characters sounded like they were described. I really love this one and think it will go over huge with boys as well as girls. I'm hoping that we'll see much much more of Ty Drago in the coming years.