Zombies Don't Play Soccer

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids #15

by Debbie Dadey, Marcia Thornton Jones

Trying to discover the truth about their eerie new soccer coach's strange behavior, Melody begins to suspect that Coach Graves has been turned into a zombie, much to the delight of the Bailey School kids.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Mystery, Chapter Books, Fantasy, Zombies, Juvenile

80 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Debbie Dadey is the author and co-author of 162 books for children, including the Mermaid Tales series from Simon and Schuster and the beloved Adventures of The Bailey School Kids from Scholastic. Ms. Dadey is a former teacher and librarian. Please like her at Facebook.com/debbiedadey.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not every day that I pick a random children's novel from the middle of a series to read, but I needed “a book about soccer” for a reading challenge and choices were slim. I tried reading Terry Pratchett's Unseen Academicals first, but that didn't work out and I couldn't bring myself to read a nonfiction book about a sport I care nothing about (no insult to soccer intended … I care very little about anything requiring physical activity), so here we are.

And, well, it was … fine? This book is meant for young children (ages 5-8 according to Barnes & Noble) so it doesn't have the most robust plot, and I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat during the “suspenseful” bits. Also, the title for this book is a little misleading. I mean, maybe zombies really don't play soccer, I dunno, but the zombie in this book is actually the team coach and not a player, and it should probably more accurately be called Zombies Can't Coach Soccer. 🤷🏻‍♀️⚽️🧟‍♀️

Still, though, my kid probably would have enjoyed this book when he was six or seven and it has a zombie in it so that's cool. 3.45 stars, rounded down.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fifteen books in and this series still features a bully character that the other kids enable. And apparently the ambiguity of whether events are truly paranormal or just misinterpreted by the kids is an ongoing theme.

I can see why my daughter only got a handful of these books when she was younger. They're just not funny or good.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun one. Was Coach Graves actually a zombie? No, but I'm not entirely sure what was going on (my guess is that she's very, very tired).

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bailey School Kids books are awesome! They are funny with a just hint of scary and always offer a good mystery for young readers. These books are good for children who are just beginning with chapter books as well as those who just enjoy a good mystery. This one in particular was a favorite of mine because it was about soccer (which I love), but the series covers a wide range of topics that could appeal to any young reader.

[Tyler Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Literally didn’t even say if she was a zombie or not!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daugter LOVES the Bailey School Kids series. This is the only book from the series that I, personally, have read. It was cute, and definitely humorous, although some of the humor was lost on my 7 year old. Definitely not the same quality literature as "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" or "Ella Enchanted". But, this is a fun series of books for elementary age kids, and worth letting them enjoy.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bailey School Kids is a best-selling children's book series by Marcia Thornton Jones and Debbie Dadey. Its main characters are a group of four children (Eddie, Howie, Liza, Melody) who suspect some persons in the stories are popular folk lore or fairy tale characters. They are appealing because they mix a familiar story in with this group of kids. Mid-grammar school

[Romy Nehme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very intresting story! It talks about a football team of a certain school that turnrd out to be a zombie! I liked it becuase it was fun to read how the kids suffered with this zombie and how they knew it was one!

[Ainsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because it was really good and fun to read. I like the characters and they make me laugh. I like how the author decided to make the coach a zombie.

[Samantha Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny

[paige turner ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean... zombies are cool and everything, but they didn't solve what was wrong with their coach. I just thought it was weird, one day she's the best coach that could whip them into shape, and then she's a zombie, who won't even talk to the kids, until they win the game? What kind of coach is that? Those kids had a coach for one day and then they had to figure it all out on their own, I mean what's the point of that?

Nothing was really solved, I'm not really satisfied with this one...

[J.B. Mathias · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book not only leaves it open ended whether or not the soccer coach is a zombie or not but leaves the idea of what a zombie is ambiguous. Is she the living dead, is she a normal person who was hypnotized or put under a spell or is she just a weirdo who was depressed because her team sucked? A soccer game was the only real conflict in this story.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made a goal to read two books per month. Well, January is almost over and I have yet to open a book. I had an idea to borrow two books from the library that I enjoyed during childhood. This was one of them! I’m so glad I decided to do this. This 70 page, very quick read, was filled with nostalgia and was everything I needed! 5/5

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another monstrous experience with the Bailey Kids this time with a soccer coach. My 2nd grader is really enjoying this series.

[Victoria Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awsome.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute as always!

[Elena Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Sarah]

The Bailey School Kids was one of my favorite series when I was in 5th grade. I had to go back for a re-read at some point.

[Savani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still curious to know why Coach Graves zoned out like that. Was that a bet with her grandmother?

[Hope Anderson (HopelessBookAddict) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

[Krista]

I was obsessed with this series as a young reader -- and it's been fun coming back to them as our "up north reads" with our kiddos <3

[Momento Elmetwaly · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was was really realistic but it was good I wanted it to be more creepy and longer with more details but it is what it is

[Josh Epp · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars!

Fun addition to the story. A bit repetitive compared to most of the books. Didnt enjoy the narrator as much as I normally do. Still had a good time!

[Julia Harpel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elementary

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids is another favorite children's series of mine. That is why I chose to read this book. I don't remember reading this book, in particular, as a child and that is another reason that I chose it and because soccer is my favorite sport. This book is a good book to read for young children. The book teaches a good lesson on teamwork and helping each other be the best they can be. I would read this book to my class to help them understand the concept of teamwork and helping each other.

[BookeryBliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

The collection of "The adventures of the Bailey School Kids" stories are among my all-time favorite children's books. Witty, mischievous and fun, these short and silly books continue to bring giggles to the young and old. Just as I have enjoyed them as a kid, my own children also love them today. I even catch myself re-reading them (alone) from time to time. What can I say? I guess I'll always be a BSK kid at heart.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bailey School soccer team sucks, so a new instructor is hired to whip them into shape. Coach Graves walks and talks like a zombie, and he appears to live in a graveyard. Graves’s coaching style is also rigorous and the players frequently complain of being worked to death. At one point, a mysterious old woman is seen arguing with Graves, who afterwards becomes numb and is seen staring into space a lot.

Adventurous, funny, and enjoyable.

[Isha B.]

he Bailey School Kids is a series of Books. I love the Bailey School Kids. It is so interesting. I am always after any of the books in this series. The adventures of the Bailey School Kids series are so fascinating.

The books are about four children, Liza, Melody, Eddie and Howie. Liza and Melody are girls, while the other two are boys. The books are like mystery and adventure books.

http://isha-borade.blogspot.com/2014/...

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

In their quest to unravel the mystery behind their peculiar new soccer coach's odd conduct, Melody and her friends grow increasingly suspicious that Coach Graves might have undergone a transformation into a zombie. This unexpected twist in their coach's identity both perplexes and intrigues the Bailey School kids.

This series of book was just funny and entertaining as a kid!

[Bianca Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery book is about children who think the new coach is a zombie. It would be perfect fore students who are just beginning to read chapter books. It is a funny beginning reader chapter book that is also part of a series, so that can also motivate children to read these books.