What do you think?
Rate this book
The Zombie Project
The action-packed and horrorful zombie adventure from debut author Alice Nuttall, with an original environmental twist . . .
When the bees die out, a new pollinator arrives. Deathflies help grow crops but there’s a nasty side effect . . . zombies.
Laying their eggs in people, deathflies turn people into dangerous zombies when they die. But the world must adapt or there won’t be enough to eat.
Can Merian and her scientist mum convince others to save the zombies? Or will the big corporation succeed in convincing people to kill them? And just what does it mean when a docile zombie shows up?
The action-packed debut novel of MSLexia Children’s and YA 2023 winner, Alice Nuttall.
An original idea that turns the usual zombie story on its head – save the zombies, don’t kill them!
With environmental themes packaged alongside age-appropriate horror and scares.
When the bees die out, a new pollinator arrives. Deathflies help grow crops but there’s a nasty side effect . . . zombies.
Laying their eggs in people, deathflies turn people into dangerous zombies when they die. But the world must adapt or there won’t be enough to eat.
Can Merian and her scientist mum convince others to save the zombies? Or will the big corporation succeed in convincing people to kill them? And just what does it mean when a docile zombie shows up?
The action-packed debut novel of MSLexia Children’s and YA 2023 winner, Alice Nuttall.
An original idea that turns the usual zombie story on its head – save the zombies, don’t kill them!
With environmental themes packaged alongside age-appropriate horror and scares.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
272 pages, Paperback
Published January 2, 2025
About the author
Alice Nuttall
23 books29 followersAlice Nuttall is a writer, knitter, D&D player and coffee thief. She lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two sleepy cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 16, 2025
I'm well outside the age bracket of this book's target audience, but I thoroughly enjoyed this!
Zombies have always creeped me out, but I loved the way that they've become a significant part of the planet's ecosystem and human survival here. The whole concept of the death flies and the fact that they have replaced bees as the planet's main pollinator was really fascinating, and the information, podcasts and chats that were sprinkled throughout the story made the book feel more interactive and engaging.
I also really enjoyed the cast of characters - Merian is so brave and headstrong, a really good role model for young girls who have an interest in science, especially; Caspian fell into the role of her older brother so naturally too and I enjoyed their scenes together probably the most out of everything in the book.
The mystery behind the megacorp Unilateralis was definitely intriguing and I really liked how the book ended on such a positive and hopeful note, but I would also love to see what happens next.
Zombies have always creeped me out, but I loved the way that they've become a significant part of the planet's ecosystem and human survival here. The whole concept of the death flies and the fact that they have replaced bees as the planet's main pollinator was really fascinating, and the information, podcasts and chats that were sprinkled throughout the story made the book feel more interactive and engaging.
I also really enjoyed the cast of characters - Merian is so brave and headstrong, a really good role model for young girls who have an interest in science, especially; Caspian fell into the role of her older brother so naturally too and I enjoyed their scenes together probably the most out of everything in the book.
The mystery behind the megacorp Unilateralis was definitely intriguing and I really liked how the book ended on such a positive and hopeful note, but I would also love to see what happens next.
July 18, 2025
I love a zombie, the creepier the better and I know a lot of children who love a scare while reading so with this in mind I took this to bed one night and I loved every second of it.
When the bees die out, a new pollinator arrives. Deathflies help grow crops but there’s a nasty side effect . . . zombies.
Laying their eggs in people, deathflies turn people into dangerous zombies when they die. But the world must adapt or there won’t be enough to eat.
Can Merian and her scientist mum convince others to save the zombies? Or will the big corporation succeed in convincing people to kill them? And just what does it mean when a docile zombie shows up?
I think the first thing to mention is this is a debut book, unbelievable but it is.
This is a different look at zombie’s, in this case they are useful to the environment.
This is such a diverse book packed full of people you would see in your everyday life, there’s queer characters, IVF children, single parent families and hidden disabilities. But it’s written so that it’s not a ticking box book. In my day today I have definitely come across 3 of these.
The book is written so that you can clearly see this world in your mind's eye and you can easily see the zombies walking through the woods.
The theme running through this book is the planet and saving the environment.
This is definitely a book for fans of R.L Stein
When the bees die out, a new pollinator arrives. Deathflies help grow crops but there’s a nasty side effect . . . zombies.
Laying their eggs in people, deathflies turn people into dangerous zombies when they die. But the world must adapt or there won’t be enough to eat.
Can Merian and her scientist mum convince others to save the zombies? Or will the big corporation succeed in convincing people to kill them? And just what does it mean when a docile zombie shows up?
I think the first thing to mention is this is a debut book, unbelievable but it is.
This is a different look at zombie’s, in this case they are useful to the environment.
This is such a diverse book packed full of people you would see in your everyday life, there’s queer characters, IVF children, single parent families and hidden disabilities. But it’s written so that it’s not a ticking box book. In my day today I have definitely come across 3 of these.
The book is written so that you can clearly see this world in your mind's eye and you can easily see the zombies walking through the woods.
The theme running through this book is the planet and saving the environment.
This is definitely a book for fans of R.L Stein
April 7, 2025
Little Bookworms Book Club
Really fun and innovative approach to a kid friendly zombie book. A super novel idea that was really gripping.
Really fun and innovative approach to a kid friendly zombie book. A super novel idea that was really gripping.
January 16, 2025
Wonderful YA eco-adventure with zombies, evil corporates, and excellent cats. Great pacing and characterisation, and my headcanon definitely sets the museum scene in my local natural history museum.
January 6, 2025
It’s like Alice took a peek inside my brain and saw three of my favourite things, and turned them into a book just for me: bees, cats and zombies. According to her bio, we also have knitting and D&D in common: Did we just become best friends?
A new and exciting voice in the world of middle-grade literature, Alice Nuttall has created something weird and wonderful, perfect for those kids (and grown-ups) who like their fiction a little on the spooky side. Think ‘Zombieland’ but for kids.
Merian and her mum Gwen live in the forest, Gwen conducting important research and Merian (along with faithful feline sidekicks Ollie and Jack) patrol the surrounding woods, keeping their home safe. The bees are extinct – nobody has seen one in 30 years. Instead, we have deathflies. But with these, come zombies, but not as you know them... These are a part of the pollination cycle too, so there will be no ‘removing the head or destroying the brain’ with these undead, they are too important.
Life as this cosy duo knows it is turned on its head when Gwen is asked to present her findings at a conference, taking them away from the safe haven of the woods, into the loud and overwhelming life of the city, with life-changing consequences for all…
I really enjoyed ‘The Zombie Project’! It’s hugely cinematic, with a new take on the same old zombie story. There is representation for everyone, queer, characters, IVF kids, single-parent families, invisible disabilities, there is genuinely something for everyone, without it feeling like a box-ticking exercise - which can be really hard to do, so well done, Alice for creating a book for everyone!
All in all, a fantastic, high-octane, action-packed, end-of-the-world adventure, with an underlying theme of environmentalism. A book is ideal for fans of R.L. Stein, Peter Brown and Martin Howard.
As always, a big thank you to both the publishing team at Chicken House, and to the author, for offering an advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.
A new and exciting voice in the world of middle-grade literature, Alice Nuttall has created something weird and wonderful, perfect for those kids (and grown-ups) who like their fiction a little on the spooky side. Think ‘Zombieland’ but for kids.
Merian and her mum Gwen live in the forest, Gwen conducting important research and Merian (along with faithful feline sidekicks Ollie and Jack) patrol the surrounding woods, keeping their home safe. The bees are extinct – nobody has seen one in 30 years. Instead, we have deathflies. But with these, come zombies, but not as you know them... These are a part of the pollination cycle too, so there will be no ‘removing the head or destroying the brain’ with these undead, they are too important.
Life as this cosy duo knows it is turned on its head when Gwen is asked to present her findings at a conference, taking them away from the safe haven of the woods, into the loud and overwhelming life of the city, with life-changing consequences for all…
I really enjoyed ‘The Zombie Project’! It’s hugely cinematic, with a new take on the same old zombie story. There is representation for everyone, queer, characters, IVF kids, single-parent families, invisible disabilities, there is genuinely something for everyone, without it feeling like a box-ticking exercise - which can be really hard to do, so well done, Alice for creating a book for everyone!
All in all, a fantastic, high-octane, action-packed, end-of-the-world adventure, with an underlying theme of environmentalism. A book is ideal for fans of R.L. Stein, Peter Brown and Martin Howard.
As always, a big thank you to both the publishing team at Chicken House, and to the author, for offering an advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2025
This is a book I didn't expect to pick up. Zombies aren't really my thing, but I was intrigued by the blurb suggesting a new angle to the living dead and perhaps something with an ethical message.
Straight away, the zombies are at the centre of the story, tapping at a twelve-year old's bedroom window. With the help of her cat acting as an indicator to zombies' presence by hissing (great idea!) the girl saves herself while guiding the undead creature into one of the prepared traps.
In this scary dystopian tale, bees and other pollinators have become extinct as the world heats up. The only pollinating insects are 'death flies' that feed off corpses who then become zombies. So they have to be saved in order to feed the living world. Of course, not everyone agrees with saving zombies. Social media, especially podcasts (named 'infocasts') demonstrate the general feelings of the public
An unusual, thoughtful story, full of action and horror, prejudice, dealing with climate change, power, science and anti-science, and resilience. A great read that will engage young people and stimulate their thoughts on looking after the planet, so this book doesn't become a prediction. Maybe not with zombies, but who knows. Recommended for middle grade readers.
Straight away, the zombies are at the centre of the story, tapping at a twelve-year old's bedroom window. With the help of her cat acting as an indicator to zombies' presence by hissing (great idea!) the girl saves herself while guiding the undead creature into one of the prepared traps.
In this scary dystopian tale, bees and other pollinators have become extinct as the world heats up. The only pollinating insects are 'death flies' that feed off corpses who then become zombies. So they have to be saved in order to feed the living world. Of course, not everyone agrees with saving zombies. Social media, especially podcasts (named 'infocasts') demonstrate the general feelings of the public
An unusual, thoughtful story, full of action and horror, prejudice, dealing with climate change, power, science and anti-science, and resilience. A great read that will engage young people and stimulate their thoughts on looking after the planet, so this book doesn't become a prediction. Maybe not with zombies, but who knows. Recommended for middle grade readers.
January 20, 2026
An enjoyable eco-thriller with zombies, this is a great debut story. I found the premise of death flies being the vital pollinator in the absence of bees very interesting. The parts where characters were trying to evade or fight off the zombies were vivid and enthralling.
Unilateralis, the megacorp, was suitably sinister and it was very believable that such an organisation would gain power in such times. They were a rather faceless organisation but we still had some baddies for the protagonists to stand up to and face off against.
I felt the message about the zombies was a little mixed at times. Sometimes Merian seemed sympathetic towards them, for example when seeing the girl in the city when she should have been in the forest/mountains. But on other occasions there seemed to be a stress on how unfeeling they were, that they were reanimated flesh rather than living creatures. The former viewpoint made me think the book might be going down the route of having the zombies coming back to life. That would be at odds with the idea of them being necessary hosts for the pollinators so I can see why it was avoided.
The action parts were good and the story has a diverse cast of characters. It would be ideal for middle grade readers.
Unilateralis, the megacorp, was suitably sinister and it was very believable that such an organisation would gain power in such times. They were a rather faceless organisation but we still had some baddies for the protagonists to stand up to and face off against.
I felt the message about the zombies was a little mixed at times. Sometimes Merian seemed sympathetic towards them, for example when seeing the girl in the city when she should have been in the forest/mountains. But on other occasions there seemed to be a stress on how unfeeling they were, that they were reanimated flesh rather than living creatures. The former viewpoint made me think the book might be going down the route of having the zombies coming back to life. That would be at odds with the idea of them being necessary hosts for the pollinators so I can see why it was avoided.
The action parts were good and the story has a diverse cast of characters. It would be ideal for middle grade readers.
April 4, 2025
This was great fun! I'm not a fan of zombies normally, but I really loved The Zombie Project's take on them as part of the natural cycle of life. Indeed, there's a lot to like about the book's gentle messages about understanding nature (not just the cute and fluffy parts, but the disgusting and dangerous as well), preserving our environment, and not shying away from teaching our children the realities of life and death.
The environmental message is particularly well done, and on a personal level I enjoyed the fact that science and willingness to understand were the heroes, while a faceless money-grabbing corporation willing to lie to achieve its own ends was the villain. Seems about right.
Merian is a fabulous main character, the plot moves rapidly (plenty of scares along the way, without ever being unsuitable for the target audience) and in general a lot is packed into a short space of time.
Both my 10yo and my 12yo are interesting in reading this one.
The environmental message is particularly well done, and on a personal level I enjoyed the fact that science and willingness to understand were the heroes, while a faceless money-grabbing corporation willing to lie to achieve its own ends was the villain. Seems about right.
Merian is a fabulous main character, the plot moves rapidly (plenty of scares along the way, without ever being unsuitable for the target audience) and in general a lot is packed into a short space of time.
Both my 10yo and my 12yo are interesting in reading this one.
March 29, 2026
Well - this book hooked me unexpectedly. I was totally prepared to read Chapter 1 to get the gist and then move on, but it really did reel me in with the first sentence -
"Merian woke to a zombie tapping on the window."
Merian and her scientist mum live in the forest surrounding a city in what feels like a dystopian type landscape, where bees have disappears and death-flies are needed to grow food. But death-flies need bodies - and that means zombies.
Merian and her mum have a deep understanding of the situation and that it is what is required to survive, but most other people are afraid of the zombies, so it is up to them to try and turn the world around so that humans can thrive again.
Alice Nuttall has managed to weave together a story which has definite scary elements, alongside an environmental message and humour throughout
This would be a book which would appeal to fans of Bren MacDibble as it has a real dystopian vibe running alongside the environmental message.
"Merian woke to a zombie tapping on the window."
Merian and her scientist mum live in the forest surrounding a city in what feels like a dystopian type landscape, where bees have disappears and death-flies are needed to grow food. But death-flies need bodies - and that means zombies.
Merian and her mum have a deep understanding of the situation and that it is what is required to survive, but most other people are afraid of the zombies, so it is up to them to try and turn the world around so that humans can thrive again.
Alice Nuttall has managed to weave together a story which has definite scary elements, alongside an environmental message and humour throughout
This would be a book which would appeal to fans of Bren MacDibble as it has a real dystopian vibe running alongside the environmental message.
January 27, 2025
The Zombie Project is an inventive, eco-conscious take on the zombie genre. In a world where bees are extinct, death-flies pollinate crops but use human corpses to incubate their eggs, creating temporary zombies crucial to the ecosystem.
The story follows 11-year-old Merian and her scientist mother, Dr. Gwen Hope, as they defend zombies’ ecological role against powerful opponents during a science exhibition. Packed with action, horror, and environmental themes, it’s been praised for its originality and thought-provoking message.
Recommended for readers aged 11+ but I think it would work well with 12 - 14 year olds that are not quite ready for full blow YA yet , this is a fresh and engaging twist on zombie tales.
The story follows 11-year-old Merian and her scientist mother, Dr. Gwen Hope, as they defend zombies’ ecological role against powerful opponents during a science exhibition. Packed with action, horror, and environmental themes, it’s been praised for its originality and thought-provoking message.
Recommended for readers aged 11+ but I think it would work well with 12 - 14 year olds that are not quite ready for full blow YA yet , this is a fresh and engaging twist on zombie tales.
March 17, 2025
Snappy and short lived, this is no corpse of a book (ironically).
Our story here spans across a multitude of settings for such a brief visit and yet the characters feel rooted within their relative environments. Each setting is well fleshed out, although the forest is so lovingly crafted that it does feel like a lot natural home for the tale.
The huts and traps of the forest are told with such bucolic praise that both the danger and glory of these darker lands invites us in. The scratched glass and worn grass add depth. By comparison, the nameless city fails to hit the mark as too much is unsaid.
Our characters are fine, good even for a children’s book.
Overall, a guilty pleasure.
Our story here spans across a multitude of settings for such a brief visit and yet the characters feel rooted within their relative environments. Each setting is well fleshed out, although the forest is so lovingly crafted that it does feel like a lot natural home for the tale.
The huts and traps of the forest are told with such bucolic praise that both the danger and glory of these darker lands invites us in. The scratched glass and worn grass add depth. By comparison, the nameless city fails to hit the mark as too much is unsaid.
Our characters are fine, good even for a children’s book.
Overall, a guilty pleasure.
January 10, 2025
I absolutely adore this book! It has a lot of different views on zombies and a more scientific way of how zombies are created. The characters were very relatable mainly Marian an eleven year old girl who shows you that if she can face zombies and still survive you can do amazing things as well.
Mary, age 12
Mary, age 12
January 11, 2025
This is such a fun read! Not what I usually say about horror, but debut author Alice Nuttall brilliantly balances the truly terrifying with the scientific, the quirky and the funny, for a heartwarming eco-adventure with a gory twist. All content age-appropriately scary for the target audience. And parents/teachers won't want to put it down either.
January 27, 2025
This book has its own suprising take on a popular genre. Action packet from the start, the story romps along at quite a pace. It is well written, thoroughly credible and takes account of current issues which are cleverly woven into the plot. A very enjoyable read for teens and adults alike, everthing you could want in a book except perhaps for it not to end.
October 3, 2025
A fast-paced book I saw described as an "eco-horror", which fits it well. It's an interesting "zombies are needed for pollination purposes" premise.
April 15, 2025
Save the Zombies! Delightful, fast paced read. Such a unique premise and full of surprises!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews