Attack of the Shark Headed Zombie by Doyle, Bill [Random,2011]

by Bill Doyle

New to the Random House list is author Bill Doyle with a tale of monsters, magic, and mayhem.After Keats and Henry lose their bikes, they need money—fast. So the help-wanted ad at the supermarket seems ideal for them. All they have to do is weed Hallway House's garden, find some lightbulbs in the attic, sweep the garage . . . and battle a shark-headed zombie. But no one told them about the giant bookworms in the library, the toe-biting carpet in the halls, and the kitchen sinkhole!From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Childrens, Chapter Books, Fantasy, Humor, Juvenile

Unknown Binding

First published April 26, 2011

About the author

Author Bill Doyle was born in Michigan, and wrote his first mystery at the age of eight. He has gone on to write critically acclaimed and bestselling children's books, including stories of real-life war heroes in "Behind Enemy Lines: True Stories of Amazing Courage"; the pick-your-own-adventure "Worst Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Everest"; the historical fiction mystery series Crime Through Time; the Henry & Keats series including "Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie"; the Scream Team series about Bad News Bears-type monsters playing sports; and soon-to-be released series "The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place."

Additionally, Bill has served as editor at Sesame Workshop, TIME for Kids and SI Kids. He's written for LeapFrog, Weekly Reader, Rolling Stone, Comedy Central, National Geographic Kids, and the American Museum of Natural History. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the film school at New York University where he was taught by the likes of Arthur Miller and David Mamet.

Bill lives with two dachshund-headed canines in New York City, and you can visit him online at www.BillDoyleBooks.com.

Reviews

[Marcus Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY DID I LIKE THIS SO MUCH IT WAS FOR MY NEPHEW.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not great literature, but it is an engrossing quick read that is perfect for reluctant readers who want something really goofy to read.
The main characters are two boys who manage to lose their bikes while attempting something remarkably dangerous, and to replace them, they answer an ad from a bulletin board. All they have to do is do some weeding, clean up a garage, get some light bulbs...and defeat a shark-headed zombie. Of course, that last must be a joke, right? Well...
The reading level is fairly low compared to the ages of the characters, and I think the story would work well for its intended audience of probably grades 3-5. I don't know if younger kids picking it up because of its thin size will be as entertained. Still, it's non-stop craziness, and the illustrations are great.
It should come with a warning tag, though: "Do NOT attempt this bicycle stunt at home! No, really, we mean it!!"

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would not be one that I would have picked of my own accord nor would I have given it such a high rating if I had read it just by myself. However, I was reading it with my six year old son and to witness the pleasure it gave him was priceless. He told me that he would have given it 5 stars because it has his kind of humor and it has both a zombie and shark in it. It doesn't get any better than that, right? For me, reading this book was kind of liking watching a Mystery Science Theater 3000 TV show where the characters sit in front of a movie screen watching an old black and white corny movie. This book had so many outrageous scenes. Zombie sharks, feet biting floor, huge book worms in the library, chickens being used to defeat zombies. I could go on and on. It's the type of book that makes you laugh because it's just so silly. Perfect for elementary aged boys.

[Michael Lent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite series but our son Holden enjoys it, especially the rabbit & the tortoise dynamic between the cousins. One is self-confident and leaps before he looks while the other is cautious but admires the daring-do of his cousin/best friend.

[Tippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! I loved it. Would give it 4.5 stars if I could. It's hard to find good books at this reading level. Don't miss out!

[Britanee Cosens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Library Club - had great cliff hangers for ending week to week but not overall a hit.
Ages 7-10

[Margaret Chind]

Rascal read it in an afternoon.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one with my fourth-grader, and since it's a chapter book, I'm counting it toward my Goodreads goal! This was a fun, little suspense book appropriate for upper elementary kids.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have *loved* this book when I was in grade school.

“Oh man. Not another one of your good World’s Greatest Plans! Remember when you said we should be snake dentists?“

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry (the bold) and Keats (the unbold) are cousins who need to raise money to buy new bikes after theirs are crashed and sunk in a nearby lake following one of Henry's good ideas. They answer an ad on a community bulletin board for someone to help with odd jobs for big $$$. Readers notice that the ad is "Looking for someone who can work real magic!" and realize that this is no ordinary job. But our heroes do not, or there would be no book. This is a humorous romp, fairly easy to read (mid-third grade), and has lots of action and excitement. Given the interesting title and cover art, this book should be an easy sell to elementary students!

[Stephen]

The first book that I read with Sam through VT's Everybody Wins program. A 21st century of the Hardy Boys. Sam enjoyed it. My perspective, it is good if it makes a 3rd-grader want to read. Several things needed to be accomplished by the two cousins if the problem was to be solved and they accomplished it all, mostly spurred on by the continuous threat of an attack of the shark=headed zombie! Now we are into "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary and it has come full circle. I read Beverly Cleary books as a kid.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually pretty cute and magical. Boys had to go through a lot to earn some cash. What I do is why its a shark-headed zombie. It was just a shark zombie or zombie shark, whatever way u want to say it. The title makes it sound like its a zombie aka human with a shark head. It looked like a shark, swam like a shark, flopped like a shark, so it was a shark turned zombie. So weird. It could swim through ground too.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was my absolute favorite book when i was younger. i bought it from the school book fair when i was in third grade. such a great story, so interesting and funny, and this book is why i think i fell in love with reading. first book i ever bought, and i’m pretty sure i finished it within 2 days. hoping to buy a copy of this book to read again now as a junior i’m high school just to relive the experience and remember why i love reading in the first place!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Perfect for those 6-8 year old boys who fight reading. Keats and Henry lose their bikes during a hare-brained idea of Henry's. To get new bikes they decide to get a job. Once again, Henry finds them the job at a creepy house. The boys then have to figure out how to complete the job and get out alive when a shark-headed zombie is after them.

[Judy E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted easy chapter book about two boy cousins who try to earn money for new bikes by doing chores at a magic house possessed by a shark-headed zombie. Clever magical elements throughout the story keep the reader interested.

[Jen]

"Doyle’s reader-friendly and engaging story packs in a remarkable amount of action and fun."--Booklist

[Sara Ansted · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly high literature, but cute and amusing.

[Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because there was tons of action and magic.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a stepping Stones book, this was pretty good. The story had only a couple of places where there could have been more smoothly made transitions.
Not at the top of my selection list.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for Riley

[Jill CD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hilarious! I will certainly buy more in the series as I can see my early reader boys lovin it!!!

[Lisa Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was super cute. Of course I finished in a day since it is a kids book.