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Zombie… That’s what every kid in school calls Mikey since he died. But his problems are much worse than that. After he helped the ghost of Travis Cleveland Riley, an angry spirit who followed him back from the dead, Mikey thought he was all done with being haunted. He was wrong. A new and more terrifying presence has arrived. Now, with the help of his friends and Mrs. Grey, Mikey must figure out how to survive once again. As if that weren’t bad enough, he also has to navigate his way through the baffling world of Jr. High. A bully who wants to beat him like a piñata, two girls who are vying for his attention and a mom who embarrasses him every chance she gets. Life shouldn’t be that hard when you’re back from the dead!
322 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2015
10 people want to read
About the author
John Mercer
3 books4 followersJohn Mercer is a retired 6th grade teacher from Fulton, NY.
They Call Me Zombie, John’s first novel, was crafted over a two and a half year period. Using a pseudonym to introduce the story to his students, John was able to receive feedback from nearly two-hundred kids prior to publication, making his book kid tested and approved!
His follow-up novels, They Call Me Zombie: Hope, and They Call Me Zombie: Kangaroo continue the frightening and funny adventures of Mikey.
They Call Me Zombie books are available on Amazon and Kindle.
John is available as a guest speaker and for author visits.
In addition to his writing, John is an avid fan of Syracuse Football and Basketball. In the spring and summer he continues with his feeble attempts at golf.
They Call Me Zombie, John’s first novel, was crafted over a two and a half year period. Using a pseudonym to introduce the story to his students, John was able to receive feedback from nearly two-hundred kids prior to publication, making his book kid tested and approved!
His follow-up novels, They Call Me Zombie: Hope, and They Call Me Zombie: Kangaroo continue the frightening and funny adventures of Mikey.
They Call Me Zombie books are available on Amazon and Kindle.
John is available as a guest speaker and for author visits.
In addition to his writing, John is an avid fan of Syracuse Football and Basketball. In the spring and summer he continues with his feeble attempts at golf.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 25, 2020
If you're looking for zombies in the vein of The Walking Dead, this might not be the book for you. But if what you seek is a fast-paced mixture of mystery and adventure sprinkled with just the right amount of humor, They Call Me Zombie: Hope is just what you're looking for.
Picking up right where he left off in They Call Me Zombie, author John Mercer has spun an even stronger second offering of the trials and tribulations of Mike, a 12 year old sixth grader with a unique "gift." Clinically dead after a bizarre accident, he suddenly has the ability to see dead people, and it terrifies him. All the familiar characters have returned along with a few new ones as Mike has to deal with not one, but two restless spirits from beyond the grave. To make matters worse one of them, a young girl, is doing him bodily harm with her violent tantrums.
His first ever trip to the dreaded after school activity known as detention introduces Mike to Garth, a great addition to the cast of characters. His best friends Rosie and Tom, and the kindly old Mrs. Gray are all back and more important than ever. The conflicts stemming from his friendship with classmate and partner in crime Liz and his girlfriend Melissa are also back, adding fuel to the fires that threaten to consume him. The last time around Mike was able to handle his ghostly conflict with just Liz and Mrs. Grey by his side. This time it will take a group effort to solve the mounting collection of problems that threaten his very sanity. It doesn't help that Craig, the school bully, is bent on wrecking his life at school, all the while putting on the guise of a model student.
But there is more.
While everything else seems to be crashing around him, Mike is also dealing with a kindly old ghost he met in a local bakery who tells him that his dealings with the spirit world are far from over. He also warns him that the other ghost is "fixin' to do some harm while she's here."
As was the case in the opening book of the series, the use of a first person point of view as told through the eyes of Mike keeps the plot rolling full-steam ahead, and the realistic banter between the characters will delight readers of all ages.
Mercer, a retired sixth grade teacher from Central New York, makes great use of his local setting, in particular Lake Ontario and Oswego's Fort Ontario, a local landmark reputed to have its own share of ghostly occurances.
They Call Me Zombie was an excellent debut. They Call Me Zombie: Hope takes the series to a whole new level that seamlessly transition into the recent release of They Call Me Zombie: Kangaroo.
Picking up right where he left off in They Call Me Zombie, author John Mercer has spun an even stronger second offering of the trials and tribulations of Mike, a 12 year old sixth grader with a unique "gift." Clinically dead after a bizarre accident, he suddenly has the ability to see dead people, and it terrifies him. All the familiar characters have returned along with a few new ones as Mike has to deal with not one, but two restless spirits from beyond the grave. To make matters worse one of them, a young girl, is doing him bodily harm with her violent tantrums.
His first ever trip to the dreaded after school activity known as detention introduces Mike to Garth, a great addition to the cast of characters. His best friends Rosie and Tom, and the kindly old Mrs. Gray are all back and more important than ever. The conflicts stemming from his friendship with classmate and partner in crime Liz and his girlfriend Melissa are also back, adding fuel to the fires that threaten to consume him. The last time around Mike was able to handle his ghostly conflict with just Liz and Mrs. Grey by his side. This time it will take a group effort to solve the mounting collection of problems that threaten his very sanity. It doesn't help that Craig, the school bully, is bent on wrecking his life at school, all the while putting on the guise of a model student.
But there is more.
While everything else seems to be crashing around him, Mike is also dealing with a kindly old ghost he met in a local bakery who tells him that his dealings with the spirit world are far from over. He also warns him that the other ghost is "fixin' to do some harm while she's here."
As was the case in the opening book of the series, the use of a first person point of view as told through the eyes of Mike keeps the plot rolling full-steam ahead, and the realistic banter between the characters will delight readers of all ages.
Mercer, a retired sixth grade teacher from Central New York, makes great use of his local setting, in particular Lake Ontario and Oswego's Fort Ontario, a local landmark reputed to have its own share of ghostly occurances.
They Call Me Zombie was an excellent debut. They Call Me Zombie: Hope takes the series to a whole new level that seamlessly transition into the recent release of They Call Me Zombie: Kangaroo.
July 30, 2020
This book was an excellent follow up to the first. I loved reading a story that takes place where I live and being able to really picture how things are. The characters and their friendships are more developed and deepened, and it will be interesting to see how Mikey handles the next "ghost" in line, as well as Craig and his relationships with Liz & Melissa.
September 20, 2016
I loved this book I hope they come out which a third book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews