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All Together Now
Alternate/new cover edition for ISBN# 9781493596317.
A zombie story
Yea though we perish, yea though we die, we'll all be together in the sweet by and by...
Fifteen-year-old Ricky Genero is writing a journal of the zombie apocalypse. His high school has burned to the ground, his friends are all either dead or shambling corpses roaming the earth in search of human flesh, and his best friend died saving his six-year-old brother Chuck from a zombie horde. When Chuck is bitten and infected with the zombie virus, Ricky must travel among the walking dead in search of a cure.
WARNING This YOUNG ADULT novel is mean and nasty and intended for a mature audience. It is absolutely not appropriate for younger readers. All Together Now: A Zombie Story is a gruesome, repugnant tale featuring horrific acts of violence sure to warp young minds.
A zombie story
Yea though we perish, yea though we die, we'll all be together in the sweet by and by...
Fifteen-year-old Ricky Genero is writing a journal of the zombie apocalypse. His high school has burned to the ground, his friends are all either dead or shambling corpses roaming the earth in search of human flesh, and his best friend died saving his six-year-old brother Chuck from a zombie horde. When Chuck is bitten and infected with the zombie virus, Ricky must travel among the walking dead in search of a cure.
WARNING This YOUNG ADULT novel is mean and nasty and intended for a mature audience. It is absolutely not appropriate for younger readers. All Together Now: A Zombie Story is a gruesome, repugnant tale featuring horrific acts of violence sure to warp young minds.
- GenresZombiesYoung Adult
356 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
22 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kent
10 books36 followersRobert Kent is the author of the horror novels THE BOOK OF DAVID and ALL TOGETHER NOW: A ZOMBIE STORY, and the novellas PIZZA DELIVERY and ALL RIGHT NOW: A SHORT ZOMBIE STORY.
Under the name Rob Kent, he writes middle grade novels such as BANNEKER BONES AND THE GIANT ROBOT BEES and BANNEKER BONES AND THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE.
He runs the popular blog for writers, MIDDLE GRADE NINJA, which features interviews and guest posts from authors, literary agents, and other publishing professionals, and was the recipient of Middle Shelf Magazine's Best Blog award. He also hosts the Middle Grade Ninja podcast. Robert Kent holds degrees in Literature and Creative Writing from Indiana University and owns over 900 Batman action figures. He lives with his family in Indianapolis where he teaches courses at the Indiana Writers Center and is hard at work on his next book.
MiddleGradeNinja.com
Under the name Rob Kent, he writes middle grade novels such as BANNEKER BONES AND THE GIANT ROBOT BEES and BANNEKER BONES AND THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE.
He runs the popular blog for writers, MIDDLE GRADE NINJA, which features interviews and guest posts from authors, literary agents, and other publishing professionals, and was the recipient of Middle Shelf Magazine's Best Blog award. He also hosts the Middle Grade Ninja podcast. Robert Kent holds degrees in Literature and Creative Writing from Indiana University and owns over 900 Batman action figures. He lives with his family in Indianapolis where he teaches courses at the Indiana Writers Center and is hard at work on his next book.
MiddleGradeNinja.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 4, 2014
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the book.
"If you've never done anything dumb, screw you because you're a liar."
This book comes with a disclaimer of what readers should expect. It promises "a gruesome, repugnant tale featuring horrific acts of violence sure to warp young minds". Considering I'm far from young and my mind is already warped, I buckled my seat belt and got ready for the ride.
Fifteen year-old Ricky and his soon to be stepsister, Michelle, traverse Harrington, Indiana with Ricky's six year old brother, Chuck, in tow. Unfortunately for Chuck, he's not so much traveling with the group as much as following a meal...because Chuck is dead. The duo embark on a mission to get to the Kirkman Soda Plant owned by Michelle's father, and ultimately find a cure for the infection waiting for them.
From the day Chuck was born, Ricky looked out for him, kept him safe, and provided a role model for Chuck to look up to. He is tormented by his inability to keep his brother safe and refuses to let go of the hope of finding the cure, assuming one even exists. Ricky's father worked in the Soda plant owned by the Kirkmans. Michelle's mother, having died three years ago from Cancer, left her father alone. Ricky's mother was lonely, and the handsome, wealthy businessman provided her with someone to talk to while her husband worked long hours. That friendship developed into more, and eventually Ricky's parents split. During one of Ricky's visits to the plant, he met Michelle. The two were oil and vinegar and it took no time for Ricky to label her a snob.
The manner in which the author introduces the infection is interesting; no radioactive spills, meteors or tainted flu shots. Instead, a new sports drink created by Michelle's father leaves consumers with the unexpected side effect of zombie-ism. Not only does conversion occur in those that partake in abundant quantities of the drink, but those who drink it and die of natural causes also reanimate.
The group is taken in by a family looting Wal-Mart and accompany them back to the New Life Christian Church. The intensity of the residents' devotion sounds warning bells for both Ricky and Michelle, but relieved to be safe, they don't listen to their inner voices until it's too late. The subtext of The Reverend's intent shines through his words like a beacon to readers, the Kool-Aid cometh. The word predictable flashed in my mind. But like any good writer, Kent put thought into how to surprise his readers. It's almost as if he intentionally leads the reader to anticipate a specific outcome, but goes beyond. All Together Now surprised me with interesting twists and an unexpected bit of pizazz.
The plot was intriguing, which kept me entertained enough to keep reading. The story is told using first person narration in the form of Ricky's journal. The narrator's use of a journal to jump between the past and present transitioned abruptly, making it sometimes difficult to identify there had been a shift in time.
A common issue I find with first person narration is that readers are limited to the accounts of a single person. Sometimes a single point of view is enough, and sometimes a good story can become a great one by showing the forest beyond the trees. All Together Now had some great story arcs, and if we weren't limited to only Ricky's perspective, it would have packed more oomph.
All Together Now struggled with characterization in both depth and development. Where I did find moments of intrigue was the resentment Ricky felt for his mother and Michelle's father. His reactions and inner dialogue added a level of humanization to the character.
While the characters and timeline could have been fleshed out a bit more, I enjoyed reading All Together Now and felt satisfied upon closing the book. At the end of the last chapter the author gives readers a choice to stop with everything wrapped up in a shiny bow or to continue on for the "whole truth". There was no way I wasn't pressing on and I must say, it was completely unexpected. I still can't decide if I should have stopped or kept going. Sometimes I like shiny bows. You'll need to make that choice should you decide to purchase and read for yourself.
All Together Now resulted in a light and easy read. It kept up a consistent pace, and while not bursting at the seems with non-stop action, I didn't find myself zoning out or becoming disinterested. Intended for a young adult audience; there was no vulgar language or sexual content. Gore and graphic scenes are minimal, but enough that consideration should be given to younger readers, which is also included in the author's disclaimer.
"If you've never done anything dumb, screw you because you're a liar."
This book comes with a disclaimer of what readers should expect. It promises "a gruesome, repugnant tale featuring horrific acts of violence sure to warp young minds". Considering I'm far from young and my mind is already warped, I buckled my seat belt and got ready for the ride.
Fifteen year-old Ricky and his soon to be stepsister, Michelle, traverse Harrington, Indiana with Ricky's six year old brother, Chuck, in tow. Unfortunately for Chuck, he's not so much traveling with the group as much as following a meal...because Chuck is dead. The duo embark on a mission to get to the Kirkman Soda Plant owned by Michelle's father, and ultimately find a cure for the infection waiting for them.
From the day Chuck was born, Ricky looked out for him, kept him safe, and provided a role model for Chuck to look up to. He is tormented by his inability to keep his brother safe and refuses to let go of the hope of finding the cure, assuming one even exists. Ricky's father worked in the Soda plant owned by the Kirkmans. Michelle's mother, having died three years ago from Cancer, left her father alone. Ricky's mother was lonely, and the handsome, wealthy businessman provided her with someone to talk to while her husband worked long hours. That friendship developed into more, and eventually Ricky's parents split. During one of Ricky's visits to the plant, he met Michelle. The two were oil and vinegar and it took no time for Ricky to label her a snob.
The manner in which the author introduces the infection is interesting; no radioactive spills, meteors or tainted flu shots. Instead, a new sports drink created by Michelle's father leaves consumers with the unexpected side effect of zombie-ism. Not only does conversion occur in those that partake in abundant quantities of the drink, but those who drink it and die of natural causes also reanimate.
The group is taken in by a family looting Wal-Mart and accompany them back to the New Life Christian Church. The intensity of the residents' devotion sounds warning bells for both Ricky and Michelle, but relieved to be safe, they don't listen to their inner voices until it's too late. The subtext of The Reverend's intent shines through his words like a beacon to readers, the Kool-Aid cometh. The word predictable flashed in my mind. But like any good writer, Kent put thought into how to surprise his readers. It's almost as if he intentionally leads the reader to anticipate a specific outcome, but goes beyond. All Together Now surprised me with interesting twists and an unexpected bit of pizazz.
The plot was intriguing, which kept me entertained enough to keep reading. The story is told using first person narration in the form of Ricky's journal. The narrator's use of a journal to jump between the past and present transitioned abruptly, making it sometimes difficult to identify there had been a shift in time.
A common issue I find with first person narration is that readers are limited to the accounts of a single person. Sometimes a single point of view is enough, and sometimes a good story can become a great one by showing the forest beyond the trees. All Together Now had some great story arcs, and if we weren't limited to only Ricky's perspective, it would have packed more oomph.
All Together Now struggled with characterization in both depth and development. Where I did find moments of intrigue was the resentment Ricky felt for his mother and Michelle's father. His reactions and inner dialogue added a level of humanization to the character.
While the characters and timeline could have been fleshed out a bit more, I enjoyed reading All Together Now and felt satisfied upon closing the book. At the end of the last chapter the author gives readers a choice to stop with everything wrapped up in a shiny bow or to continue on for the "whole truth". There was no way I wasn't pressing on and I must say, it was completely unexpected. I still can't decide if I should have stopped or kept going. Sometimes I like shiny bows. You'll need to make that choice should you decide to purchase and read for yourself.
All Together Now resulted in a light and easy read. It kept up a consistent pace, and while not bursting at the seems with non-stop action, I didn't find myself zoning out or becoming disinterested. Intended for a young adult audience; there was no vulgar language or sexual content. Gore and graphic scenes are minimal, but enough that consideration should be given to younger readers, which is also included in the author's disclaimer.
November 24, 2013
I think I need to stay away from zombie books for a little while. This one really got to me.
"All Together Now" is the story of teenaged Ricky, told through a series of journal entries that recount his life and the zombie outbreak. Ricky's story, and his life, is not a fun one; rather, it's disturbing, graphic, even heartbreaking. Even before the zombie outbreak, Ricky's life - the divorce of his parents, the neglect of his mother, his new life - is painful and sad. Add the element of his being at ground zero for a zombie outbreak - caused by his new step-dad, the soda-pop king, and Ricky's batting 1000.
I found the book to be very well written, with short, action-filled chapters that kept my eyes glued to the screen while my brain was horrified by the events described. The Funucation Day Care scenes will probably stay with me, as they did with Ricky, for a long time. I felt a real emotional response to Ricky and his relationship with his 6-year old brother Chuck. I think it was this element of family, of togetherness, that really made this book so intense for me.
The ending was wicked but great, and not to be revealed here. This is a great read, and highly recommended.
"All Together Now" is the story of teenaged Ricky, told through a series of journal entries that recount his life and the zombie outbreak. Ricky's story, and his life, is not a fun one; rather, it's disturbing, graphic, even heartbreaking. Even before the zombie outbreak, Ricky's life - the divorce of his parents, the neglect of his mother, his new life - is painful and sad. Add the element of his being at ground zero for a zombie outbreak - caused by his new step-dad, the soda-pop king, and Ricky's batting 1000.
I found the book to be very well written, with short, action-filled chapters that kept my eyes glued to the screen while my brain was horrified by the events described. The Funucation Day Care scenes will probably stay with me, as they did with Ricky, for a long time. I felt a real emotional response to Ricky and his relationship with his 6-year old brother Chuck. I think it was this element of family, of togetherness, that really made this book so intense for me.
The ending was wicked but great, and not to be revealed here. This is a great read, and highly recommended.
November 21, 2013
Review
All Together Now starts at the beginning of a Zombie Apocalypse and through a series of journal entries tells how the main character survives through it all. All Together Now is a book that is fast paced, well written and thought provoking while still filling its pages with plenty of action, suspense and of course Zombie carnage.
One of the things I really liked about the story was the creative way the Zombie Apocalypse started. With all the chemicals in Energy Drinks it isn't so unbelievable that the wrong combination of ingredients could essentially turn everyone into mindless, shambling, corpses. Energy Drinks are addicting and the mass consumption of them by so many was a great way to get the virus into a lot of people in such a short amount of time.
Another thing I really liked was the way Ricky let us know about Chuck's demise. It's obvious he's bitten but we don't learn how until near the end. Believe me when I say I never saw it coming and it is quite heartbreaking because the character didn't either. It was a very chilling scene to say the least. However, knowing that I still don't believe Chuck should've stuck around. I get it, I do. He's your little brother and you love him but they had no way of knowing if a cure really existed and so much suffering could've been avoided if he just accepted that his brother was dead. I guess it just bugged me that he couldn't let go and it's frustrating seeing so many other characters fall by the wayside because of it.
Lastly, I liked the fact that the characters seemed real. They were selfish, annoying, ate way to much food, didn't deal with confrontations well and left me wondering how any of them would survive to not only the next chapter but the next page as well. In short they behaved exactly how I'd expect teenagers with very little real world experience to react in that sort of situation.
Now even though I really liked All Together Now it did have a few small faults that kept me from rating it a bit higher.
First, I hated Zombie Chuck. If I was with Ricky I'd have put the poor kid out of his misery while Ricky slept. It was selfish and foolhardy to keep him around. If he really wanted to keep Chuck safe until a cure was found he'd have left him locked up somewhere not led him around on a collar like some lost puppy. As mentioned above so much stuff happens because Ricky is so focused on keeping his Zombified brother safe. It was both frustrating and annoying to read about.
Second, I really wish we had seen a bit more carnage. I don't care if a mythical cure will exist 2 days or even 2 months down the road. The fact they left so many Zombies alive just in hopes of a cure made me angry. Again, so much stuff could've been avoided if they just put a bullet in the brains of those they came across. I think it speaks volumes to the mentality of Ricky though. He still saw them as people whereas his partner saw them as the corpses they were.
Lastly, I hated the second ending. I knew when Ricky gave the option to stop reading that nothing good would be coming round the bend and I was right. I won't spoil it but it was so depressing and almost ruined the entire story for me. I much prefer the first ending as it leaves things on a much more positive note.
Final Thoughts
All Together Now is a Zombie story with guts and is a book that I'm glad to have had the chance to read. If you like Zombie Action combined with dark humor and a twinge of romance than All Together Now is definitely for you. With that being said, I will be rating All Together Now by Robert Kent ★★★★.
Reviewed Originally@Blood,Sweat and Books
*Copy reviewed provided by Author. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in an which way for providing them.
December 8, 2013
Those that know me know how much I love my zombie apocalyptic reads and Ive read alot of those this year. So I was expecting a similar plot to the many Ive already read. Not that Im getting bored but it must be hard to come up with something original now.
WRONG I was so wrong, what a fantastic read, I couldn't put this down till I'd got to the last digital page. This book is written for the Young Adult genre but Im in my 40's and still found it as exciting and addictive as any of the adult horror genre zombie-esk reads Ive read this year. In many cases this book was better than those Ive already read.
Robert has come up with a brilliantly creative and original plot line to how it started, no germ warfare or alien technology here but a believable mixup with a popular everyday product.
I loved how this book is essentially the diary/journal of a 15 year old boy and I found the main characters engaging and completely realistic. Robert has captured the real 15 year old within Ricky and its reflected in everything he says and does.
Ricky had a tough life and your drawn to him right from the very first page as he is continually looking out for his little 6 year old brother Chuck. The flashbacks explaining the start of everything is beautifully written and so well planned. I loved the way we gradually found out about Chuck's cruel demise; and how deeply it affected Ricky who kept his fathers promise to look out for him, which he did even after death. In many books flashbacks can be distracting; not with Robert, he uses perfectly timed flashbacks to enhance the storyline to pull the reader in until you simply cannot put the book down.
I was absolutely glued to my kindle till the early hours.
The short chapters make it easy to read for those that just want to pickit up and put it down; but I bet you cant stop once you start.
Every chapter is action-packed, fast paced and full of suspense but still maintaining believability even from a 15 year olds perspective. The action is heart pounding, gripping and in some places I actually found myself holding my breath while I speedily read through the pages to find out what was going to happen next....and....breathe... ;-)
I loved how these kids looked out for each other but still made some wrong decisions as would happen in real life. I want to tell you so much more but I don't want to give this brilliantly written book away. Dont be put off by the YA genre or the cute cartoony cover; this book is for zombie-loving adults too. If your a zombie-holic and want something different you NEED to read this, its a refreshing twist on this popular genre, you will feel like you know Ricky and Michelle, and at times want to yell at them...hey they are teenagers afterall.
The ending was just genius; I didnt see that coming and it pulls the title and whole book together, so cleverly done; Im sad its finished as I loved this book, i really wish there was a book 2...hint...hint...hint.
WRONG I was so wrong, what a fantastic read, I couldn't put this down till I'd got to the last digital page. This book is written for the Young Adult genre but Im in my 40's and still found it as exciting and addictive as any of the adult horror genre zombie-esk reads Ive read this year. In many cases this book was better than those Ive already read.
Robert has come up with a brilliantly creative and original plot line to how it started, no germ warfare or alien technology here but a believable mixup with a popular everyday product.
I loved how this book is essentially the diary/journal of a 15 year old boy and I found the main characters engaging and completely realistic. Robert has captured the real 15 year old within Ricky and its reflected in everything he says and does.
Ricky had a tough life and your drawn to him right from the very first page as he is continually looking out for his little 6 year old brother Chuck. The flashbacks explaining the start of everything is beautifully written and so well planned. I loved the way we gradually found out about Chuck's cruel demise; and how deeply it affected Ricky who kept his fathers promise to look out for him, which he did even after death. In many books flashbacks can be distracting; not with Robert, he uses perfectly timed flashbacks to enhance the storyline to pull the reader in until you simply cannot put the book down.
I was absolutely glued to my kindle till the early hours.
The short chapters make it easy to read for those that just want to pickit up and put it down; but I bet you cant stop once you start.
Every chapter is action-packed, fast paced and full of suspense but still maintaining believability even from a 15 year olds perspective. The action is heart pounding, gripping and in some places I actually found myself holding my breath while I speedily read through the pages to find out what was going to happen next....and....breathe... ;-)
I loved how these kids looked out for each other but still made some wrong decisions as would happen in real life. I want to tell you so much more but I don't want to give this brilliantly written book away. Dont be put off by the YA genre or the cute cartoony cover; this book is for zombie-loving adults too. If your a zombie-holic and want something different you NEED to read this, its a refreshing twist on this popular genre, you will feel like you know Ricky and Michelle, and at times want to yell at them...hey they are teenagers afterall.
The ending was just genius; I didnt see that coming and it pulls the title and whole book together, so cleverly done; Im sad its finished as I loved this book, i really wish there was a book 2...hint...hint...hint.
February 8, 2014
I'm going to start this review by stating that please DO NOT judge this book by its cover. It's one of those where you see it and just go 'eww. what is that?' but it's definitely one of those that is more than meets the eye (Hehe Transformers).
In All Together Now we have the story of fifteen year old Ricky Genero trying to survive the so called zombie apocalypse with his almost step sister Michelle and his six year old brother Chuck who has turned into a zombie in a very heartbreaking scene. His sole mission is to get Chuck to the Kirkman's soda plant where the source of the zombie virus originated and apparently where there's also a cure.
The idea that an energy drink was the source of the zombie virus was original and believable seeing as there always newer ones with more sugar, more caffeine, more chemicals in the market everyday. I also liked the fact that the characters were believable and very much acted their ages. They don't turn into these survivalists that automatically know how to wield weapons and ration foods. They made mistakes and knew it and at times became hopeless and very much lost. That's not to say that the entire book was gloomy. There were moments of levity and humor injected at very much needed moments and Ricky's voice very much helped in the ways he recounted events before and after the outbreak.
The author didn't shy away from the action or the gore especially in regards to the fact that children became zombies as well. I think most books always leave out that detail and I suppose it's because we don't really think about children becoming zombies. That somehow they won't be affected seeing as they're so young and innocent but I liked the fact that the author showed us that anyone, young or old, can be infected. I mean one of the main characters is a six year old boy who's a zombie for crying out loud. The ending I have to say is very different and very unexpected but somewhat ends on a good note. I won't say any more than that.
Overall, All Together Now is a very original experience and a refreshing take on the zombie apocalypse concept. It's a very fast paced book and can easily can be read in one sitting which I think anyone would be inclined to do considering the chapters end in mini-cliffhangers. Many fans of the genre will definitely like this one regardless of age although there are gory bits that might be a little much for the real young readers. Just to reiterate though, DO NOT JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER!
4.5 stars
***2/7/14 The book has received a new more appealing cover. No excuses now not to read it.***
In All Together Now we have the story of fifteen year old Ricky Genero trying to survive the so called zombie apocalypse with his almost step sister Michelle and his six year old brother Chuck who has turned into a zombie in a very heartbreaking scene. His sole mission is to get Chuck to the Kirkman's soda plant where the source of the zombie virus originated and apparently where there's also a cure.
The idea that an energy drink was the source of the zombie virus was original and believable seeing as there always newer ones with more sugar, more caffeine, more chemicals in the market everyday. I also liked the fact that the characters were believable and very much acted their ages. They don't turn into these survivalists that automatically know how to wield weapons and ration foods. They made mistakes and knew it and at times became hopeless and very much lost. That's not to say that the entire book was gloomy. There were moments of levity and humor injected at very much needed moments and Ricky's voice very much helped in the ways he recounted events before and after the outbreak.
The author didn't shy away from the action or the gore especially in regards to the fact that children became zombies as well. I think most books always leave out that detail and I suppose it's because we don't really think about children becoming zombies. That somehow they won't be affected seeing as they're so young and innocent but I liked the fact that the author showed us that anyone, young or old, can be infected. I mean one of the main characters is a six year old boy who's a zombie for crying out loud. The ending I have to say is very different and very unexpected but somewhat ends on a good note. I won't say any more than that.
Overall, All Together Now is a very original experience and a refreshing take on the zombie apocalypse concept. It's a very fast paced book and can easily can be read in one sitting which I think anyone would be inclined to do considering the chapters end in mini-cliffhangers. Many fans of the genre will definitely like this one regardless of age although there are gory bits that might be a little much for the real young readers. Just to reiterate though, DO NOT JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER!
4.5 stars
***2/7/14 The book has received a new more appealing cover. No excuses now not to read it.***
January 13, 2014
More reviews at Creating Serenity
As my family looks on and just shakes their head, I was reading this, on Christmas Day. I have to say it was a fabulous read and especially when everyone else was tired and I wasn’t quite ready for my nap!
So… the upsides! This definitely has some horrific parts in it! It has guts everywhere, zombies eating everything they can get their hands and teeth on, and the blood just doesn’t stop gushing.
The characters were also quite fun. I really enjoyed reading about their plight and the fact that this is all in a journal so of course I was never sure how it was going to end. Ricky surprisingly lives through a lot of disaster at the beginning when all hell is breaking loose. But it seems that it just continues throughout the story, although, Robert Kent does a great job of balancing the drama with some slow moments.
How about a baseball chapter? Raise your hand if you think it’s a good idea.
The plot was very interesting and I have to say, my favorite was the ending! I just loved how this ended! It’s not your normal ok everyone is going to live out the zombie apocalypse now, NOPE! Totally fantastic ending that I honestly didn’t see coming.
The downside is that this goes back and forth between times. Ricky shows what has happened prior to the zombie invasion and sometimes that can get very confusing. I always got it together after a few sentences but it can be confusing when it’s right at a chapter that is seriously intense and I’m waiting to see what happens just to be taken back when there isn’t even any zombies! But there were times when I had to just laugh out loud…
Thank you Molly Hale and sluts everywhere for your years of public service.
But even with that, the story line is seriously fun, really easy to read, and the characters were easy to cheer for. And there are some fabulous one liners in this, seriously… for a zombie book I think I laughed much more than I cringed! Well, maybe a bit, maybe not more…
Dad motioned behind us to where the police officer dove his head into the guts of the collapsed manager as though he were feeding at a trough. “The law’s busy.”
And my all time fav; when stories actually have something to say that makes you think!
Wherever you are, if you have family or friends, love them. If you’ve got food, enjoy it. If you’re alive, live.
4.5 / 5 Starts
As my family looks on and just shakes their head, I was reading this, on Christmas Day. I have to say it was a fabulous read and especially when everyone else was tired and I wasn’t quite ready for my nap!
So… the upsides! This definitely has some horrific parts in it! It has guts everywhere, zombies eating everything they can get their hands and teeth on, and the blood just doesn’t stop gushing.
The characters were also quite fun. I really enjoyed reading about their plight and the fact that this is all in a journal so of course I was never sure how it was going to end. Ricky surprisingly lives through a lot of disaster at the beginning when all hell is breaking loose. But it seems that it just continues throughout the story, although, Robert Kent does a great job of balancing the drama with some slow moments.
How about a baseball chapter? Raise your hand if you think it’s a good idea.
The plot was very interesting and I have to say, my favorite was the ending! I just loved how this ended! It’s not your normal ok everyone is going to live out the zombie apocalypse now, NOPE! Totally fantastic ending that I honestly didn’t see coming.
The downside is that this goes back and forth between times. Ricky shows what has happened prior to the zombie invasion and sometimes that can get very confusing. I always got it together after a few sentences but it can be confusing when it’s right at a chapter that is seriously intense and I’m waiting to see what happens just to be taken back when there isn’t even any zombies! But there were times when I had to just laugh out loud…
Thank you Molly Hale and sluts everywhere for your years of public service.
But even with that, the story line is seriously fun, really easy to read, and the characters were easy to cheer for. And there are some fabulous one liners in this, seriously… for a zombie book I think I laughed much more than I cringed! Well, maybe a bit, maybe not more…
Dad motioned behind us to where the police officer dove his head into the guts of the collapsed manager as though he were feeding at a trough. “The law’s busy.”
And my all time fav; when stories actually have something to say that makes you think!
Wherever you are, if you have family or friends, love them. If you’ve got food, enjoy it. If you’re alive, live.
4.5 / 5 Starts
April 5, 2015
I like journal style zombie books such as Day by Day Armageddon and Apocalypse Z, especially when the author makes us feel like the character is really writing it that way. ATN did a good job using this format. There was a little too much backstory, though. I get that he was catching us up, but I got frustrated with how much was being told about the past once I knew what his current struggle was. I wanted to see him move forward.
The author does a very good job making me care for the main character, both with his relationship to the romantic interest and with his family. It didn't make me cry, as only two books have, but it was still pretty strong.
The ending was terrific and totally surprised me. I wasn't sure if I was going to give this a four or a three because I was able to put the story down for extended periods of time, but in the end I can recommend this book as a solid read. It may be I'm also not the ideal audience.
Aside from the lengthy backstory stealing momentum for me, I was also taken from the story by the narrator's method of dialogue tagging. I think he did a very good job on the voices and narration, but every time he added a dialogue tag the jolt between the dialogue and the tag made it feel obvious that he was splicing two tracks together. It happened so much I got pretty annoyed. I listen to audiobooks partly because I love how the voices can immerse me in the story, but when I am getting taken out of that experience as often as I was on this one, it makes me want to stop listening. The narrator did well enough on everything else that I'd listen to him again, but only after checking a sample to see if this problem has been worked out.
The author does a very good job making me care for the main character, both with his relationship to the romantic interest and with his family. It didn't make me cry, as only two books have, but it was still pretty strong.
The ending was terrific and totally surprised me. I wasn't sure if I was going to give this a four or a three because I was able to put the story down for extended periods of time, but in the end I can recommend this book as a solid read. It may be I'm also not the ideal audience.
Aside from the lengthy backstory stealing momentum for me, I was also taken from the story by the narrator's method of dialogue tagging. I think he did a very good job on the voices and narration, but every time he added a dialogue tag the jolt between the dialogue and the tag made it feel obvious that he was splicing two tracks together. It happened so much I got pretty annoyed. I listen to audiobooks partly because I love how the voices can immerse me in the story, but when I am getting taken out of that experience as often as I was on this one, it makes me want to stop listening. The narrator did well enough on everything else that I'd listen to him again, but only after checking a sample to see if this problem has been worked out.
December 9, 2013
This is a cool zombie read.
I will confess I had a bit of a problem with Ricky at times. He's a typical average teenager, with lots of prejudices. The way he described some of the other people in this story made me want to push him in front of a horde of zombies at times.
But luckily the story is cool enough to not get too annoyed by Ricky. There's lots of zombie mayhem and other intense situations.
The reason for the zombie outbreak is original and believable. Kent also did a great job with the pacing and the way people react at first.
Kent doesn't pull any punches. This is a violent story, that not only shows the zombie carnage, but also how humans can be just as nasty and dangerous as zombies, if not more so.
I really liked the ending of this story. I won't spoil too much, but it was both a clever and a cool ending.
All in all I very much enjoyed this story and I can advice it to anyone who doesn't shy away from zombie mayhem. I will keep an eye out for what else Kent will write.
I will confess I had a bit of a problem with Ricky at times. He's a typical average teenager, with lots of prejudices. The way he described some of the other people in this story made me want to push him in front of a horde of zombies at times.
But luckily the story is cool enough to not get too annoyed by Ricky. There's lots of zombie mayhem and other intense situations.
The reason for the zombie outbreak is original and believable. Kent also did a great job with the pacing and the way people react at first.
Kent doesn't pull any punches. This is a violent story, that not only shows the zombie carnage, but also how humans can be just as nasty and dangerous as zombies, if not more so.
I really liked the ending of this story. I won't spoil too much, but it was both a clever and a cool ending.
All in all I very much enjoyed this story and I can advice it to anyone who doesn't shy away from zombie mayhem. I will keep an eye out for what else Kent will write.
October 14, 2013
I Love Zombie stories but this one has them all beat. This story is what I could imagine a true zombie take over being like especially for a couple of kids just trying to survive. This author has a great imagination and yet still keeps it so real that you can actually see it happening. These kids are normal or as normal as they can be for their situation. Of course I would be the idiot that gets killed by some rogue zombie. I could actually put someone I know into each character in this book. I only had one problem with the book in general, at the end is 2 seperate endings and the second ending got a bit confusing. The author forgets his own rules here and does not kill or cause his character to die of some death. Other than that it is a great BOOK....Hope to see more like this from the author.
December 30, 2013
Turns out I love zombie books! Full disclosure, Robert Kent is a friend and critique partner, but my love of the book is not born of my friendship--All Together Now holds its own!
Gritty, witty, and wisely written. Fans of gruesome, irreverent action and characters that come of age in the worst possible circumstances will love this book.
Gritty, witty, and wisely written. Fans of gruesome, irreverent action and characters that come of age in the worst possible circumstances will love this book.
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February 8, 2014Even though this book was written by a friend and critique partner, I had to skim a few seriously gruesome zombie episodes. But I'm not a big fan of zombie stories. That being said, Ricky Genero's voice is spot on. Pacing is great (translation: amazing balance of icky zombies and solid, heartfelt storytelling) and the end is mind blowing. I never saw it coming.
August 10, 2014
Never been much of a fan of Zombie Stories...
but this one caught me by surprise and sucked me in from the very beginning, then kept me hooked till the bitter end!! Very, very good read! Extremely well written and quite difficult to put down!!
but this one caught me by surprise and sucked me in from the very beginning, then kept me hooked till the bitter end!! Very, very good read! Extremely well written and quite difficult to put down!!
March 29, 2014
Awesome YA read. Fans of TWD will enjoy this one! Great characters and world building. Looking forward to more!
June 14, 2014
A pretty good zombie book. It is a little different story line than most zombie stories but a quick read and well-written.
August 30, 2016
I have written before about my interest in the zombie genre and this book doesn't fail to get high in my favourites.
I never get particularly worried before reading anything about zombies, I do when I read any new vampire stories because I always think about Twilight. Ugh! As a big fan of The Walking Dead series I never feel worried that the zombie genre will be ruined. There will always be stories of fear, horror and survival but each one is told differently. Or so far that I have read anyway.
Robert Kent's book is different too and that is not a criticism. I liked the fact that this zombie apocalypse came about because of the wrong chemicals in energy drinks. So me drinking Red Bull whilst starting to read this on a trip from London to Manchester by train had definitely made me look at my drink differently. Haha!
I liked the journal type writing but I'm not a fan of going backwards and back to present day too much so some of the flashbacks confused me a bit. There was still enough to keep me gripped throughout and some of the zombie scenes are really quite graphic. There is a warning about it so you are sort of prepared ;-)
I was not prepared for the ending. Not prepared at all. No spoilers on that.
Loved the book and I want more!
I never get particularly worried before reading anything about zombies, I do when I read any new vampire stories because I always think about Twilight. Ugh! As a big fan of The Walking Dead series I never feel worried that the zombie genre will be ruined. There will always be stories of fear, horror and survival but each one is told differently. Or so far that I have read anyway.
Robert Kent's book is different too and that is not a criticism. I liked the fact that this zombie apocalypse came about because of the wrong chemicals in energy drinks. So me drinking Red Bull whilst starting to read this on a trip from London to Manchester by train had definitely made me look at my drink differently. Haha!
I liked the journal type writing but I'm not a fan of going backwards and back to present day too much so some of the flashbacks confused me a bit. There was still enough to keep me gripped throughout and some of the zombie scenes are really quite graphic. There is a warning about it so you are sort of prepared ;-)
I was not prepared for the ending. Not prepared at all. No spoilers on that.
Loved the book and I want more!
December 18, 2015
Well written, great character development, not really YA limited. I enjoyed this book very much - until it was spoiled. The only thing I DIDN'T enjoy was the 15% of the book that revolved around a group of Christians and their church. You'll be stunned to hear that they were portrayed as stupid, evil, culty, suicidal/homicidal, racist, and in the audiobook the church members are inexplicably read with a bizarre southern accent. If you are a regular reader of this genre you will at least be bored by this tired overdone plot device. At most, if you are a Christian or have any of them in your life, you will be annoyed if not offended. Too bad. It taints an otherwise fun book.
February 4, 2016
Oh that ending! Thought I was going to punch the author for grammatical reasons, then thought I was going to punch him because it was so sneaky! Loved it, though. An interesting take on the zombie apocalypse that I hadn't seen before.
April 22, 2020
Zombie Fest!
A walking dead but with kids; pretty dark and gruesome; lots of description of people getting eaten; the ending was surprising.
A walking dead but with kids; pretty dark and gruesome; lots of description of people getting eaten; the ending was surprising.
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