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Highway Bodies
Who will you rely on in the zombie apocalypse?
*
Bodies on the TV, explosions, barriers, and people fleeing. No access to social media. And a dad who’ll suddenly bite your head off – literally. These teens have to learn a new resilience…
Members of a band wield weapons instead of instruments.
A pair of siblings find there’s only so much you can joke about, when the menace is this strong.
And a couple find depth among the chaos.
Highway Bodies is a unique zombie apocalypse story featuring a range of queer and gender non-conforming teens who have lost their families and friends and can only rely upon each other.
*
Bodies on the TV, explosions, barriers, and people fleeing. No access to social media. And a dad who’ll suddenly bite your head off – literally. These teens have to learn a new resilience…
Members of a band wield weapons instead of instruments.
A pair of siblings find there’s only so much you can joke about, when the menace is this strong.
And a couple find depth among the chaos.
Highway Bodies is a unique zombie apocalypse story featuring a range of queer and gender non-conforming teens who have lost their families and friends and can only rely upon each other.
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
930 people want to read
About the author
Alison Evans
10 books189 followersAlison Evans is the author of Ida, which won the People’s Choice Award at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2017.
Their second novel, Highway Bodies, was published earlier this year and they are a contributor to new anthology, Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories.
They are based in Melbourne.
You can find out more at alisonwritesthings.com
Their second novel, Highway Bodies, was published earlier this year and they are a contributor to new anthology, Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories.
They are based in Melbourne.
You can find out more at alisonwritesthings.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 19, 2019
Trigger warnings: death of a parent, seriously y'all there is so much death in this book, zombies, stabbing, graphic violence, blood, animal death, death of a friend, death of a sibling, homophobia, transphobia.
2.5 stars.
So here's the thing: I love how much diversity is in this story. All the protagonists are queer and/or gender non-conforming, and it's great. I also loved that it didn't shy away from the violence of a zombie apocalypse and the inevitable loss of friends and family members. So all of that was great.
However.
I had several problems with this:
1. There's literally no indication of which protagonist is speaking and it often took me a decent chunk of the chapter to work it out. Even if the chapters had started with the character's name, it would have made it an easier reading experience.
2. I...don't love Evans' writing style and I can't pinpoint why. I had the same problem with Ida.
3. There was very little worldbuilding and very little drive to the story. Like, there really wasn't much of a PURPOSE to the story besides "these three groups of kids will eventually meet up".
4. I never really felt like I knew who any of the characters were. The reader is jump dumped into things as the zombie outbreak happens and there's very little explanation of who these kids actually are.
5. I don't really understand the decision to leave one of the protagonists nameless for the first 300 pages of the book. Like, a nameless narrator can definitely work, but there needs to be a reason for it. It didn't seem like there was one here.
6. I really didn't like some of the choices made for the largely nameless narrator. I...yeah. The spelling and grammar is grating in those chapters and given that I felt like we didn't get to know the characters, it didn't really mean much??
7. It ended just as things were finally getting really interesting.
Basically? I went in hoping i would love this and I just...didn't. Sigh.
2.5 stars.
So here's the thing: I love how much diversity is in this story. All the protagonists are queer and/or gender non-conforming, and it's great. I also loved that it didn't shy away from the violence of a zombie apocalypse and the inevitable loss of friends and family members. So all of that was great.
However.
I had several problems with this:
1. There's literally no indication of which protagonist is speaking and it often took me a decent chunk of the chapter to work it out. Even if the chapters had started with the character's name, it would have made it an easier reading experience.
2. I...don't love Evans' writing style and I can't pinpoint why. I had the same problem with Ida.
3. There was very little worldbuilding and very little drive to the story. Like, there really wasn't much of a PURPOSE to the story besides "these three groups of kids will eventually meet up".
4. I never really felt like I knew who any of the characters were. The reader is jump dumped into things as the zombie outbreak happens and there's very little explanation of who these kids actually are.
5. I don't really understand the decision to leave one of the protagonists nameless for the first 300 pages of the book. Like, a nameless narrator can definitely work, but there needs to be a reason for it. It didn't seem like there was one here.
6. I really didn't like some of the choices made for the largely nameless narrator. I...yeah. The spelling and grammar is grating in those chapters and given that I felt like we didn't get to know the characters, it didn't really mean much??
7. It ended just as things were finally getting really interesting.
Basically? I went in hoping i would love this and I just...didn't. Sigh.
Read
February 3, 2019Review to come.
In the meantime...
This was one of the more engaging books I've read in a long time, and I absolutely adored the characters (and also think I totally know the person one of them was based on...).
Some scenes towards the end could have been a little clearer, but overall this was a great Aussie LGBTQI zombie book.
In the meantime...
This was one of the more engaging books I've read in a long time, and I absolutely adored the characters (and also think I totally know the person one of them was based on...).
Some scenes towards the end could have been a little clearer, but overall this was a great Aussie LGBTQI zombie book.
February 14, 2019
Highway Bodies centres on three groups of adolescents throughout Melbourne during an apocalyptic outbreak, our humanity and resistance. Fraternal siblings Rhea and Jojo are awaiting information from their mother, a first responder and emergency nurse during the initial epidemic onslaught. Social media websites are being censored by government officials and journalists are reporting of a factory explosion in a neighbouring suburb.
Imagine rendered defenceless as your father decimates his family. Your only solace is nestled within the large topiaries masquerading as sentinels in your garden. The deceased faltering throughout the streets as you hear a young woman, a survivor needing assistance.
Poppy, Jack, Zufan and Dee are enjoying their freedom, composing and performing among the cicadas of their ramshackle cottage as communications go down. Venturing into the nearest town, the roads are abandoned, blood congealing on pavements.
These three narratives sharing a common ambition, to survive.
The narrative is experienced through three perspectives and although taking place throughout a terrifying outbreak, it centres upon the survivors. Resilient adolescents that are adapting to their new environment. It's survival against humanity. Throughout their journey, the adolescents are consistently challenged by morality and the debris of human life, dangerous adults recruiting survivors and demanding idolisation under the guise of protection. It soon becomes apparent that it's the living that should be feared.
The diversity of characters is wonderful, various identities, cultural backgrounds, genders and pronouns, all wonderfully representative of a multicultural and diverse Melbourne landscape. Genderqueer, bisexual, transgender, lesbian, Ethiopian, Pakistani she and they pronouns, facial scarring and amputated fingers. As each character introduces themselves, they also offer their pronouns. A wonderful and inclusive gesture, being that pronouns are also our own individual identities.
The prose is striking. The discourse and interactions allow readers to empathise with characters, their terror and sorrow is palpable. As a debut, Alison's IDA was brilliant and a wonderful precedent of how authors can write diversely. Alison Evans' writing has matured and flourished, their vibrancy shining throughout the narrative by enthralling and captivating readers until the final page.
Imagine rendered defenceless as your father decimates his family. Your only solace is nestled within the large topiaries masquerading as sentinels in your garden. The deceased faltering throughout the streets as you hear a young woman, a survivor needing assistance.
Poppy, Jack, Zufan and Dee are enjoying their freedom, composing and performing among the cicadas of their ramshackle cottage as communications go down. Venturing into the nearest town, the roads are abandoned, blood congealing on pavements.
These three narratives sharing a common ambition, to survive.
The narrative is experienced through three perspectives and although taking place throughout a terrifying outbreak, it centres upon the survivors. Resilient adolescents that are adapting to their new environment. It's survival against humanity. Throughout their journey, the adolescents are consistently challenged by morality and the debris of human life, dangerous adults recruiting survivors and demanding idolisation under the guise of protection. It soon becomes apparent that it's the living that should be feared.
The diversity of characters is wonderful, various identities, cultural backgrounds, genders and pronouns, all wonderfully representative of a multicultural and diverse Melbourne landscape. Genderqueer, bisexual, transgender, lesbian, Ethiopian, Pakistani she and they pronouns, facial scarring and amputated fingers. As each character introduces themselves, they also offer their pronouns. A wonderful and inclusive gesture, being that pronouns are also our own individual identities.
The prose is striking. The discourse and interactions allow readers to empathise with characters, their terror and sorrow is palpable. As a debut, Alison's IDA was brilliant and a wonderful precedent of how authors can write diversely. Alison Evans' writing has matured and flourished, their vibrancy shining throughout the narrative by enthralling and captivating readers until the final page.
March 8, 2019
A copy of this novel was provided by BFredericksPR for review.
Highway Bodies is the highly anticipated sophomore novel from Australian author Alison Evans. Their first book, Ida , was a major hit on our Aussie shores and there’s been quite some hype for Highway Bodies since its announcement. I read Highway Bodies in one day, and I’m here to share some things I think will entice you to read it:
1) Everyone is queer
And the people who aren’t are evil. All three POV characters are queer: Dee is a bisexual girl, Jojo is non-binary and bisexual, and the third character (whose name is only revealed at the end so I won’t share it) is a trans girl who is attracted to girls. All important side characters are queer as well, and just… my heart??? So often in YA there is the queer character surrounded by non-queer family and friends and mate that just ain’t real life. So to have queer community represented like this is so, so important and real.
2) ZOMBEHS
I remember when zombie books were pretty big, about ten years ago. I read my fair share of them; they were actually some of the paranormal YA books I liked best. So to have Highway Bodies bringing zombies back is great.
I love the fear that zombies bring to a story because they’re these creatures that want to eat you but they were people once – your family, your friends. There’s a scene in Highway Bodies where the characters can’t kill little kiddie-zombies, and it really brought that ‘they were alive and this isn’t their fault’ thing to the front. Zombies are interesting in that way, and also that they change the way you live – not just in the big, apocalypse sense, but also in the sense that you have to be quiet and you have to learn to do things you should never have to learn how to do.
Also there were major The Walking Dead vibes in Highway Bodies and I was LIVING.
3) It’s so Australian
Though I don’t live in the Victorian bush, there are some things that are universally Aussie. Like Woolies runs, language, and the descriptions of things. Australian YA set in Australia brings this level of comfort and relatability that you just don’t get from reading any other kind of book. And in Highway Bodies that Aussie-ness was there in spades.
4) It’s #ownvoices
Alison Evans is bisexual and non-binary and damn is it important to have #ownvoices queer stories on the Australian (and international) YA market.
5) It’s open-ended
If you’re someone who likes open-ended stories then Highway Bodies is perfect for you! For me, however, it just left me a little deflated because even though I know this is a zombie book and happily ever afters are most certainly not guaranteed… I still wanted one. I wanted to see my queer babies happy and together and safe, dammit!!
~
So there are the things that might entice you to read Highway Bodies. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for that true blue Aussie book, a queer #ownvoices story, or you know, brain eating animated corpses.
© 2019, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: death of family members and friends, blood and gore, misgendering, multiple murders, animal death, fires, explosions, reference to past domestic violence/child abuse
Highway Bodies is the highly anticipated sophomore novel from Australian author Alison Evans. Their first book, Ida , was a major hit on our Aussie shores and there’s been quite some hype for Highway Bodies since its announcement. I read Highway Bodies in one day, and I’m here to share some things I think will entice you to read it:
1) Everyone is queer
And the people who aren’t are evil. All three POV characters are queer: Dee is a bisexual girl, Jojo is non-binary and bisexual, and the third character (whose name is only revealed at the end so I won’t share it) is a trans girl who is attracted to girls. All important side characters are queer as well, and just… my heart??? So often in YA there is the queer character surrounded by non-queer family and friends and mate that just ain’t real life. So to have queer community represented like this is so, so important and real.
2) ZOMBEHS
I remember when zombie books were pretty big, about ten years ago. I read my fair share of them; they were actually some of the paranormal YA books I liked best. So to have Highway Bodies bringing zombies back is great.
I love the fear that zombies bring to a story because they’re these creatures that want to eat you but they were people once – your family, your friends. There’s a scene in Highway Bodies where the characters can’t kill little kiddie-zombies, and it really brought that ‘they were alive and this isn’t their fault’ thing to the front. Zombies are interesting in that way, and also that they change the way you live – not just in the big, apocalypse sense, but also in the sense that you have to be quiet and you have to learn to do things you should never have to learn how to do.
Also there were major The Walking Dead vibes in Highway Bodies and I was LIVING.
3) It’s so Australian
Though I don’t live in the Victorian bush, there are some things that are universally Aussie. Like Woolies runs, language, and the descriptions of things. Australian YA set in Australia brings this level of comfort and relatability that you just don’t get from reading any other kind of book. And in Highway Bodies that Aussie-ness was there in spades.
4) It’s #ownvoices
Alison Evans is bisexual and non-binary and damn is it important to have #ownvoices queer stories on the Australian (and international) YA market.
5) It’s open-ended
If you’re someone who likes open-ended stories then Highway Bodies is perfect for you! For me, however, it just left me a little deflated because even though I know this is a zombie book and happily ever afters are most certainly not guaranteed… I still wanted one. I wanted to see my queer babies happy and together and safe, dammit!!
~
So there are the things that might entice you to read Highway Bodies. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for that true blue Aussie book, a queer #ownvoices story, or you know, brain eating animated corpses.
© 2019, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: death of family members and friends, blood and gore, misgendering, multiple murders, animal death, fires, explosions, reference to past domestic violence/child abuse
January 18, 2019
This is the most delightfully Australian zombie apocalypse story I've ever read. I love all the queer representation (big surprise, right), and the fact that for once in a while this is happening somewhere that I know. Maybe less so considering I'm pretty sure one of the outbreak points was at the damn psych ward I've been to three times now, but I'll cope or bite people.
February 10, 2019
Argh, this was an awkward one for me. While I adored the characters, the idea, and the Australian vibe of this book, I absolutely hated the writing for one character, who remains unnamed for most of the book. Letters are just lopped off and the sentence structure is too strange for me to understand. Words like don't become don' and words like just are jus. Not just when they're speaking, but their internal monologue. It made it so hard to read, and I just never liked those chapters no matter how much I tried to.
Then I suppose there is the point. I get it, Zombie Apocalypse, so survival is key, at least in the beginning. But there is no goals for ANY of the characters. It's kill a zombie, loot some food, run from a bad guy. Wash, rinse, repeat. There just needed to be more to drive them to something or somewhere, because they were literally going nowhere. They've survived this long, but they aren't really developing any survival skills or a plan for the future. What happens when all the canned food runs out? Why not establish some kind of base? and there was a weird emotional detachment to everyone who died. Like almost no emotion for killing hundreds of what were once people, and almost no connection to anyone from their previous lives who are now mindless corpses. It was odd!
I loved the representation, and the relationships that were both already present and that developed throughout between the characters. I just needed more from the story and the writing thing irked me too much. Also it's another zombie book with no real information on what caused it, how to stop it or anything. Just get bitten and after a few hours turn.
Still though, I can totally get behind Aussie YA, especially zombie Aussie YA. I just needed a little bit...more? I suppose. Three stars.
Then I suppose there is the point. I get it, Zombie Apocalypse, so survival is key, at least in the beginning. But there is no goals for ANY of the characters. It's kill a zombie, loot some food, run from a bad guy. Wash, rinse, repeat. There just needed to be more to drive them to something or somewhere, because they were literally going nowhere. They've survived this long, but they aren't really developing any survival skills or a plan for the future. What happens when all the canned food runs out? Why not establish some kind of base? and there was a weird emotional detachment to everyone who died. Like almost no emotion for killing hundreds of what were once people, and almost no connection to anyone from their previous lives who are now mindless corpses. It was odd!
I loved the representation, and the relationships that were both already present and that developed throughout between the characters. I just needed more from the story and the writing thing irked me too much. Also it's another zombie book with no real information on what caused it, how to stop it or anything. Just get bitten and after a few hours turn.
Still though, I can totally get behind Aussie YA, especially zombie Aussie YA. I just needed a little bit...more? I suppose. Three stars.
February 25, 2019
Unlike a lot of people, I haven’t seen or read much zombie media. For some reason, I was just never interested in the living dead, so I just never bothered to pick up books with zombies or watch movies with zombies. But when I learned that one of my favorite authors was writing a YA novel with an all queer cast during a zombie apocalypse? I just couldn’t say no. Highway Bodies is a unique zombie story centering queer teens and found family during times of need. An intense story, a lot of warnings would need to be said for this book. But having read and loved this book so much, I can’t not recommend it.
Check out the full review at The Book Deviant.
Check out the full review at The Book Deviant.
August 23, 2019
I love a good zombie survival story, and this one has a fantastic cast of queer characters as well. I liked how it relied heavily on the concept of found families, and how it fostered acceptance between the characters and what they identified as. The main P.O.V. characters are non-binary, bisexual and transgender.
It definitely had a really strong Aussie vibe about it, but otherwise is your standard zombie apocalypse fare - running from zombies, learning how to survive, being afraid of groups of humans, learning who to trust.
I was somewhat jarred by the abrupt, open ending and there wasn't really a strong plot other than surviving the zombie apocalypse.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Check out Happy Indulgence Books for more reviews!
It definitely had a really strong Aussie vibe about it, but otherwise is your standard zombie apocalypse fare - running from zombies, learning how to survive, being afraid of groups of humans, learning who to trust.
I was somewhat jarred by the abrupt, open ending and there wasn't really a strong plot other than surviving the zombie apocalypse.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Check out Happy Indulgence Books for more reviews!
May 20, 2019
I really wanted to like this book. It had so many aspects that appealed to me such as it's set in Australia, it's a zombie book (I could totally get behind more of these) and it had characters that got to speak out their opinions and share who they were.
But unfortunately it just didn't live up to expectations. Mostly this was based off a lack of end goal. I found myself getting a bit tired of the repetitive movements of the characters, e.g. going into towns to get food, fight a few zombies, and then head back to safety. It didn't seem like they were fighting for anything or trying to achieve anything except stay safe. Which is all good and all but I thought it made the book lack in character development.
But unfortunately it just didn't live up to expectations. Mostly this was based off a lack of end goal. I found myself getting a bit tired of the repetitive movements of the characters, e.g. going into towns to get food, fight a few zombies, and then head back to safety. It didn't seem like they were fighting for anything or trying to achieve anything except stay safe. Which is all good and all but I thought it made the book lack in character development.
February 21, 2019
This was like reading a television series, where the backdrop of the zombie apocalypse only serves to provide contrast to the humanity of the very cool cast of diverse characters. Loved it!
Only quibble would be that the ending of the book felt more like the wrap up of a regular episode rather than a season finale - it felt like it just...ended, rather than build up to a big climax. Although I suppose dramatic tension can be hard to build when extreme jeopardy is on par for the course for the entire book!
Only quibble would be that the ending of the book felt more like the wrap up of a regular episode rather than a season finale - it felt like it just...ended, rather than build up to a big climax. Although I suppose dramatic tension can be hard to build when extreme jeopardy is on par for the course for the entire book!
March 21, 2024
Highway Bodies is the second book I’ve read by Alison Evans, Euphoria Kids was the first, and let me tell you, I am obsessed with Alison’s storytelling!! They just know how to grab you from the first chapter, smother you (in a good way) with beautiful queer characters and leave you wanting to jump into the story (zombies and all).
Highway Bodies follows the stories of a trans girl from out “Woop Woop”, JoJo a non-binary twin from the outer suburbs of Melbourne and Dee a bi girl who is a drummer in a band on a getaway with her three friends. What do they have in common? Only the fact that a zombie apocalypse has begun in Victoria, Australia now they must fight to survive.
I’m a sucker for a good apocalyptic story, and this one has jumped to the top of my favourites for sure. I loved actually knowing the locations (or using google maps to double check), the jargon, the back roads and feeling the dusty summer heat. Have I often thought what I’d do during a zombie apocalypse? Mayyyyybe.. Let’s just say I might need to become a “prepper” after reading this book.. Just in case!! One thing I can say for sure though is: I can’t recommend this book enough!! Although I am only giving it 4.5 stars as I really would have liked more with the ending.
Content warning: zombies, gore, blood, death, murder, death of a parent, death of a loved one, graphic violence, weapons, animal death, misgendering, homophobia, transphobia, references to past domestic violence/child abuse.
Highway Bodies follows the stories of a trans girl from out “Woop Woop”, JoJo a non-binary twin from the outer suburbs of Melbourne and Dee a bi girl who is a drummer in a band on a getaway with her three friends. What do they have in common? Only the fact that a zombie apocalypse has begun in Victoria, Australia now they must fight to survive.
I’m a sucker for a good apocalyptic story, and this one has jumped to the top of my favourites for sure. I loved actually knowing the locations (or using google maps to double check), the jargon, the back roads and feeling the dusty summer heat. Have I often thought what I’d do during a zombie apocalypse? Mayyyyybe.. Let’s just say I might need to become a “prepper” after reading this book.. Just in case!! One thing I can say for sure though is: I can’t recommend this book enough!! Although I am only giving it 4.5 stars as I really would have liked more with the ending.
Content warning: zombies, gore, blood, death, murder, death of a parent, death of a loved one, graphic violence, weapons, animal death, misgendering, homophobia, transphobia, references to past domestic violence/child abuse.
dnf
July 9, 2020DNF-ed 3/4's of the way in. I tried to read this as part of my Pride Month TBR, as the author is non-binary and all of the characters in this book were LGBTQ. It was written from three POV's: an unnamed trans girl; Jojo, a non-binary 16-year-old with a bisexual twin sister named Rhea; and Dee, a bisexual girl camping with her bandmates, who were also all LGBTQ if I recall correctly.
I liked most of what I read before I DNF-ed but sadly, I just lost interest in the story. Going in I thought all the characters would know each other and be together but that wasn't the case. There also didn't seem to be an actual plot in terms of the characters' goals other than trying not to get eaten by zombies.
I also could not suspend my disbelief about how people have been turning into zombies for months before the events of the book, and the characters were only just finding out. Not that I trust the government to be 100% competent but surely people eating other people and coming back to life after being killed would be taken more seriously?
I would've rated the book 3.5 stars before I DNF-ed, but I don't rate books if I haven't finished them.
I liked most of what I read before I DNF-ed but sadly, I just lost interest in the story. Going in I thought all the characters would know each other and be together but that wasn't the case. There also didn't seem to be an actual plot in terms of the characters' goals other than trying not to get eaten by zombies.
I also could not suspend my disbelief about how people have been turning into zombies for months before the events of the book, and the characters were only just finding out. Not that I trust the government to be 100% competent but surely people eating other people and coming back to life after being killed would be taken more seriously?
I would've rated the book 3.5 stars before I DNF-ed, but I don't rate books if I haven't finished them.
October 21, 2019
Brilliant character and plot, just couldn't get into it.
February 22, 2020
The best thing I can say about this book is that it was east to read. Kinda meh.
February 21, 2019
I enjoyed that this zombie apocalypse book focuses on queer young people, it’s great to see. Sometimes the characterisation of different first person narrators fell a bit flat and towards the end they all seemed to merge into one voice, sadly. The characters also often seemed to just know instinctually when someone was Bad, which could definitely be because of their previous lives, but sometimes felt a bit too convenient and insightful for gangs of teens. But, given the world they were living in, I’m glad they didn’t have to suffer any more than they did. At one point I did wonder where it was headed, but that ended up being my favourite thing about it - there is no definite place they could go or way they could survive. They just had to keep going.
March 25, 2019
There was so much of this book I was hoping to full in love with, for example it's a zombie apocalypse set in Australia which is pretty rear to find but also it seemed like it would have so many interesting characters. Unfortantly this story jumped around to much to get a good hold on it and the author could have put more thought into the characters having a positive interaction with an open minded heterosexual character instead of just genderqueer characters. Otherwise this was a really good Australian Apocalypse read.
BOOK COVER: 4 stars
FAVE CHARACTER: none, not cause of the characters sexuality or genderqueer but cause I couldn't choose which one I liked above the others. They all had the same number of things i disliked and liked about them.
RATING: M
OVERALL: Frustrated, the story doesn't have a proper ending to me it just seems to cut which would be okay if this was a series book but it's not (unless the author does have it has a series it's just not one on goodreads) Also I know what the author was trying to do with this book due to do research on the author but I believe she over did it and it took away some realism and aspects this story could have had that would have made it amazing.
WOULD YOU READ MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR: At this current time I'm going to say yes cause I want to see if any of her other books would hold my interest just cause of how much promise this one did have but probably only one more depending on how that one is.
RECOMMEND: For people who like genderqueer novels with a siding of zombie apocalypse.
BOOK COVER: 4 stars
FAVE CHARACTER: none, not cause of the characters sexuality or genderqueer but cause I couldn't choose which one I liked above the others. They all had the same number of things i disliked and liked about them.
RATING: M
OVERALL: Frustrated, the story doesn't have a proper ending to me it just seems to cut which would be okay if this was a series book but it's not (unless the author does have it has a series it's just not one on goodreads) Also I know what the author was trying to do with this book due to do research on the author but I believe she over did it and it took away some realism and aspects this story could have had that would have made it amazing.
WOULD YOU READ MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR: At this current time I'm going to say yes cause I want to see if any of her other books would hold my interest just cause of how much promise this one did have but probably only one more depending on how that one is.
RECOMMEND: For people who like genderqueer novels with a siding of zombie apocalypse.
February 18, 2019
• Majority queer characters who are MCs and not evil or killed off tragically to further straight MC’s plot? “Tick”
• A nice variety of LGBTQI+ characters, including Bi & Trans? “Tick”
• Written by an Own Voices author? “Tick”
• Such well written Australian setting, you can smell, hear and taste it? “Tick”
Honestly, I’m loving how, in the midst of this Zombie apocalypse, these kids show us this utopian society, where you can still respect each other’s genders & pronouns.
I do worry about their poops, though.
Edited to add: DID I MENTION THE INDIGENOUS AND MULTICULTURAL REP?
• A nice variety of LGBTQI+ characters, including Bi & Trans? “Tick”
• Written by an Own Voices author? “Tick”
• Such well written Australian setting, you can smell, hear and taste it? “Tick”
Honestly, I’m loving how, in the midst of this Zombie apocalypse, these kids show us this utopian society, where you can still respect each other’s genders & pronouns.
I do worry about their poops, though.
Edited to add: DID I MENTION THE INDIGENOUS AND MULTICULTURAL REP?
March 4, 2019
Highway Bodies puts the heart (tasty tasty heart) into a zombie novel. I've decided that the tagline for this could be "Queer teens find and support each other in troubled times" because it's just so good! Just don't get bit, you'll turn! (LOL! *Tears*)
March 16, 2022
I liked it. prob won't read book 2 that the end left it open for. Enjoyed that it was set in Melbourne Australia.
January 14, 2019
I received an advanced reading copy of this book.
Zombie apocalypse + clueless teenagers = chaos.
For a third of this book, half the main characters don’t even know anything is happening. Lots of death and zombie killing as 3 separate teenage groups eventually find each other.
All the main characters in this book are queer so it will appeal to the LGBTIQ community.
Zombie apocalypse + clueless teenagers = chaos.
For a third of this book, half the main characters don’t even know anything is happening. Lots of death and zombie killing as 3 separate teenage groups eventually find each other.
All the main characters in this book are queer so it will appeal to the LGBTIQ community.
July 29, 2019
Excellent zombie thriller with refreshingly gender-diverse cast. Ended up finishing it in one long session, sign of a good book.
June 12, 2019
"We keep moving, because that's what we're good at."
It has taken two months for the world to fall apart. Where once there was a functioning society, now there is only rot and ruin. Zombies have taken over Melbourne and the only hope is to flee. But all the highways out of the city are blocked with bodies - some dead, some undead, and very few alive. For a group of teenagers, there is nothing to do but find food and water but life needs more than sustenance to survive.
I was so worried when I heard this book was about a zombie apocalypse because zombies usually scare the living daylights out of me but Highway Bodies is not your usual zombie story. Alison Evans has written a gorgeous, thrilling novel full of wonderful characters with danger at every turn that has made me look at my hometown in an entirely different light.
The cast of characters is brilliantly diverse. The narrative is split between three perspectives, one person from each of the groups that paint a portrait of this zombified world. A (mostly) unnamed trans character toughs it out through the bush with a Pakistani girl. A rock band full of queer kids who were staying in a country house at the outbreak. And twins Rhea and Jojo, who are bi and nonbinary respectively, making their way out of the city after losing their mother. I loved all the different perspectives and really enjoyed all the different sexualities and gender identities I got to read about.
This book feels like Tomorrow When the War Begin but with zombies. The driving force behind the whole thing is fighting for survival and figuring out how to manage when your world is ripped out from beneath your feet. But it's also about friendship and love and finding people you can trust - who literally have your life in their hands.
Another wonderful book from my favourite Australian YA author. I can't wait for Alison's next novel, Euphoria Kids which releases in 2020.
Warnings: Gore, violence, references to past physical abuse, some homophobia and transphobia.
September 20, 2020
Adorable cast of baby queers who I would 100% die for in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Action-packed (I was reading this for a readathon where the prompt was to read something with a lot of action and this delivered). Love an Australian setting, love an apocalypse, love a diverse cast of precious and complex characters.
The only things stopping me from giving this a full 5 stars is it is just a fairly standard zombie survival story, while it wowed me in a lot of ways (as well as what I’ve already said, the story is told from 3 perspectives and there was never any question in my mind whose perspective I was reading from even though it’s not explicitly stated at the start of each chapter and that is some damn fine writing) the plot itself was kind of just fine, good but not amazing. In itself this is a great novel, but it doesn’t bring anything new and exciting to the genre.
Also, due to the current weather conditions when I read this, I felt like I would have liked to have seen more mention of the threat of bushfires than there was. I feel like it could have made more use of the wonderful Australian setting as well as the added danger balanced with the renewing powers of bushfires (germinating new flora etc) just seems like a really great fit for an apocalypse story.
Otherwise, excellent novel, highly recommend.
The only things stopping me from giving this a full 5 stars is it is just a fairly standard zombie survival story, while it wowed me in a lot of ways (as well as what I’ve already said, the story is told from 3 perspectives and there was never any question in my mind whose perspective I was reading from even though it’s not explicitly stated at the start of each chapter and that is some damn fine writing) the plot itself was kind of just fine, good but not amazing. In itself this is a great novel, but it doesn’t bring anything new and exciting to the genre.
Also, due to the current weather conditions when I read this, I felt like I would have liked to have seen more mention of the threat of bushfires than there was. I feel like it could have made more use of the wonderful Australian setting as well as the added danger balanced with the renewing powers of bushfires (germinating new flora etc) just seems like a really great fit for an apocalypse story.
Otherwise, excellent novel, highly recommend.
February 21, 2019
I wanted to like this book, I really did. An Australian Zombie Apocalypse? What's not to like, right? Sadly, I didn't even make it 1/3 of the way through before throwing it in the bin. Try as I might to ignore the rabid gender politics being rammed down my throat, I couldn't go more than 2 pages without being reminded that *EVERY* POV character is bisexual, non-binary, lesbian, homosexual, or transgender. That's right, not a single heterosexual POV or main character as at page 116. Sure, the blurb mentions "a range of queer and gender non-conforming" characters, and mention a character's orientation once or twice if you feel you really need to (ideally if there's a romantic story arc in there somewhere); but unless that gives them a survival advantage in the apocalypse, I don't see why I need to be constantly beaten over the head with it. If only it were possible to leave negative star reviews, because I feel like one star is still three stars too many.
September 23, 2019
!!EVERYONE!!
Amazing!!! It is soooo good!!! EVERYONE MUST READ THIS BOOK OR ELSE!!!! It is now my FAVOURITE BOOK!!! It. is. the. Best. Book. In. The. World.
Amazing!!! It is soooo good!!! EVERYONE MUST READ THIS BOOK OR ELSE!!!! It is now my FAVOURITE BOOK!!! It. is. the. Best. Book. In. The. World.
May 14, 2020
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
Once I got into ‘Highway Bodies’ I could not put this book down – I stayed up until 3am to finish it, and every tap, scratch, and spook noise from outside my widow and I’d freeze like I was living in a zombie apocalypse too. Having lived in Melbourne, Australia for over 7 years, it was great to recognise many of the landmarks referenced in this novel. And it was additionally a breath of fresh air to read a story where cis, straight-gendered people were the minority. ‘Highway Bodies’ has a lot going for it.
Told in three alternating perspectives from differing groups of teenagers as they witness the initiation of a viral outbreak from a meat processing plant, turning the population into flesh eating zombies. One of the narratives in particular is expressed in dialect slang – which is jarring at first – I didn’t like it so much, but then as the novel progresses and you get used to it, it really shines through and separates this perspective or Eve from the other two. Eve is transgender and flees from his home after his father turns and attacks Eve’s mother and brother. There is a lot of gore in ‘Highway Bodies’ think ‘The Walking Dead’ starring a diverse group of teens.
Dee leads the second narrative, a member of a rock band renting a house in the countryside while they practice and write new songs. Dee identifies as bisexual and we see many expression of genders and sexuality in her bandmates and throughout the novel. After the power cuts off and they cannot access the internet or get cell service they venture into town to find bodies everywhere, the whole town slaughtered. It doesn’t take them too long to run into their first zombie.
JoJo is our final non-binary protagonist, one of a pair of fraternal twins from a previously abusive home. Their mother is a nurse and after she returns to work and does not return home, JoJo and sister Rhea sneak to the hospital to investigate. Finding their mother, turned, and amongst a horde of caged zombies from a military presence.
After that things really to go hell in a fight for survival: from the zombies, the elements, and other survivors.
It took me a bit to click to what was going on with the switching of narratives in the beginning, it’s not until 50 pages in that you get a sense of the rhythm of ‘Highway Bodies’ and after that the pace and tension keep increasing right up until the end. I enjoyed Alison Evans writing style much more in this novel than I did in her debut ‘Ida.’ ‘Highway Bodies’ has a gruesome realism befitting the dystopian landscape. I found myself invested and caring about these teens plight. The conclusion is a bit of a one-two punch, but satisfying.
The three things holding me back from awarding a perfect score for this novel were the fact I didn’t know what was going on initially with the switching of perspectives. Maybe some chapter titles to let the reader know whose story we were following would have been helpful. The other was the affirmation of gender pronouns to be used when characters were introducing themselves to each other. I get the practicality of it, but in the setting the dialogue did not feel natural and true to the characters… but it is only my opinion. I would have liked to have seen a more intimate setting, or a correction to make this scene feel more authentic. And finally, though there is romance in ‘Highway Bodies’ it wasn’t given enough time to develop to a point for me to really get into the couplings. They were cute and I was rooting for them, but it missed some angst or something.
I have to applaud the representation in ‘Highway Bodies’ it helps raise awareness and give a voice to minority groups. I’m enjoy experiencing a world through the eyes of someone other than a straight white cis-gendered protagonist.
I liken this to Mindy McGinnis ‘Not a Drop to Drink’ it has the same level of brutality, a survival story – and as such is mostly predictable. You want the protagonists to stay alive and make it to the end of the novel; but the journey there has many unexpected turns. ‘Highway Bodies’ is one of my most favourite zombie apocalypse reads to date. And I can’t recommend this enough.
Just some trigger warnings for younger readers for assault, violence, gore, murder, and you know general zombiness.
Once I got into ‘Highway Bodies’ I could not put this book down – I stayed up until 3am to finish it, and every tap, scratch, and spook noise from outside my widow and I’d freeze like I was living in a zombie apocalypse too. Having lived in Melbourne, Australia for over 7 years, it was great to recognise many of the landmarks referenced in this novel. And it was additionally a breath of fresh air to read a story where cis, straight-gendered people were the minority. ‘Highway Bodies’ has a lot going for it.
Told in three alternating perspectives from differing groups of teenagers as they witness the initiation of a viral outbreak from a meat processing plant, turning the population into flesh eating zombies. One of the narratives in particular is expressed in dialect slang – which is jarring at first – I didn’t like it so much, but then as the novel progresses and you get used to it, it really shines through and separates this perspective or Eve from the other two. Eve is transgender and flees from his home after his father turns and attacks Eve’s mother and brother. There is a lot of gore in ‘Highway Bodies’ think ‘The Walking Dead’ starring a diverse group of teens.
Dee leads the second narrative, a member of a rock band renting a house in the countryside while they practice and write new songs. Dee identifies as bisexual and we see many expression of genders and sexuality in her bandmates and throughout the novel. After the power cuts off and they cannot access the internet or get cell service they venture into town to find bodies everywhere, the whole town slaughtered. It doesn’t take them too long to run into their first zombie.
JoJo is our final non-binary protagonist, one of a pair of fraternal twins from a previously abusive home. Their mother is a nurse and after she returns to work and does not return home, JoJo and sister Rhea sneak to the hospital to investigate. Finding their mother, turned, and amongst a horde of caged zombies from a military presence.
After that things really to go hell in a fight for survival: from the zombies, the elements, and other survivors.
It took me a bit to click to what was going on with the switching of narratives in the beginning, it’s not until 50 pages in that you get a sense of the rhythm of ‘Highway Bodies’ and after that the pace and tension keep increasing right up until the end. I enjoyed Alison Evans writing style much more in this novel than I did in her debut ‘Ida.’ ‘Highway Bodies’ has a gruesome realism befitting the dystopian landscape. I found myself invested and caring about these teens plight. The conclusion is a bit of a one-two punch, but satisfying.
The three things holding me back from awarding a perfect score for this novel were the fact I didn’t know what was going on initially with the switching of perspectives. Maybe some chapter titles to let the reader know whose story we were following would have been helpful. The other was the affirmation of gender pronouns to be used when characters were introducing themselves to each other. I get the practicality of it, but in the setting the dialogue did not feel natural and true to the characters… but it is only my opinion. I would have liked to have seen a more intimate setting, or a correction to make this scene feel more authentic. And finally, though there is romance in ‘Highway Bodies’ it wasn’t given enough time to develop to a point for me to really get into the couplings. They were cute and I was rooting for them, but it missed some angst or something.
I have to applaud the representation in ‘Highway Bodies’ it helps raise awareness and give a voice to minority groups. I’m enjoy experiencing a world through the eyes of someone other than a straight white cis-gendered protagonist.
I liken this to Mindy McGinnis ‘Not a Drop to Drink’ it has the same level of brutality, a survival story – and as such is mostly predictable. You want the protagonists to stay alive and make it to the end of the novel; but the journey there has many unexpected turns. ‘Highway Bodies’ is one of my most favourite zombie apocalypse reads to date. And I can’t recommend this enough.
Just some trigger warnings for younger readers for assault, violence, gore, murder, and you know general zombiness.
July 30, 2021
This book is about three groups of young people figuring out how to survive in a zombie apocalypse in Victoria, Australia. All the young people are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
The first chapter was a bit hard to get through initially because the author wrote out the character's accent, but it got a lot easier once I got used to it. Please don't let that put you off because it's a really great read!
The group of camping kids reminded me of the start of Tomorrow When the War Began (another classic Australian YA book), how they came out of the bush and had to sneak around town to figure out what was going on.
I love all the sexual and gender diversity (and racial too!), it's so great to see so much representation in a book! I love the small comments, like not assuming someone's gender and calling a stranger "they" until you're told differently.
I also love that the author takes time to talk about things like figuring out that you're nonbinary. It took me until my 30s to figure it all out properly, I'm so excited that kids these days get to see themselves represented and will grow up understanding themselves better for it!
I laughed when this book turned out to be prescient about people protesting being quarantined. Just stay home and it will all be over faster, gosh!
This book might be written for young people, but damn, it really doesn't pull any punches. Some of these scenes are just brutal! This book is well written horror, but with a strong found family backbone, and is full of acceptance.
I know zombies are sooo 2010, but don't let that stop you from picking up this book! The zombies are just the background event that allows the character arcs to be told. This book is all about the characters. It also has a great Australian flavour to it, with Woolies runs and trips to Mitre 10, and heaps of Strayan slang!
It was a great quick read, I nearly finished it in a night, and I HIGHLY recommend it!
The first chapter was a bit hard to get through initially because the author wrote out the character's accent, but it got a lot easier once I got used to it. Please don't let that put you off because it's a really great read!
The group of camping kids reminded me of the start of Tomorrow When the War Began (another classic Australian YA book), how they came out of the bush and had to sneak around town to figure out what was going on.
I love all the sexual and gender diversity (and racial too!), it's so great to see so much representation in a book! I love the small comments, like not assuming someone's gender and calling a stranger "they" until you're told differently.
I also love that the author takes time to talk about things like figuring out that you're nonbinary. It took me until my 30s to figure it all out properly, I'm so excited that kids these days get to see themselves represented and will grow up understanding themselves better for it!
I laughed when this book turned out to be prescient about people protesting being quarantined. Just stay home and it will all be over faster, gosh!
This book might be written for young people, but damn, it really doesn't pull any punches. Some of these scenes are just brutal! This book is well written horror, but with a strong found family backbone, and is full of acceptance.
I know zombies are sooo 2010, but don't let that stop you from picking up this book! The zombies are just the background event that allows the character arcs to be told. This book is all about the characters. It also has a great Australian flavour to it, with Woolies runs and trips to Mitre 10, and heaps of Strayan slang!
It was a great quick read, I nearly finished it in a night, and I HIGHLY recommend it!
February 3, 2019
It’s always fabulous to have new zombie fiction set in Australia, and it’s ten times as grand when the zombie fiction in question has as much personality, drama and heart as Alison Evans’ new YA book, Highway Bodies.
The story is divided into three-chapter sections: the first from the point of view of a teen near the epicentre of the zombie outbreak; the second from a group of young musicians taking a week away in the country to work on songs; the third a pair of non-identical twins whose mother is a nurse at a hospital where the outbreak is getting out of hand.
These young people are diverse and queer. As their stories are told and eventually converge, we learn that the world has always been hostile for them – the twins, for example, bear scars inflicted by a violent father. In trying to survive, each group is aware that other survivors are just as – or even more – dangerous to them than the mindless zombies.
Evans has a deft hand in giving each of the three main narrators their own distinctive voice. A lot of what happens is gruesome as each is confronted with the zombie infestation, mitigated by the humanity of the characters’ responses and fears for the lives of their loved ones.
The story leads to a conclusion that isn’t a safe geographical point so much as a fierce dedication to supporting each other in a world where everything is hostile. It’s a bit like actual life in that way.
For all the gore and violence, Highway Bodies manages to be simultaneously uplifting in the love and protectiveness its protagonists feel for each other. Love for family (both born and made) and friendships are the motivating forces for each of them, and there’s tenderness, loyalty and love at the heart of the end of the world.
As zombie fiction it’s fast-paced and full of the types of zombie encounters we love to read about. As an allegory for growing up queer in an environment that’s hostile to your very existence, it has power beyond the surface story.
Highway Bodies is thematically reminiscent of Mary Borsellino’s fantastic work in Ruby Coral Cornelian, The Devil’s Mixtape, Thrive and others – diverse kids in a hostile world, whose best weapon and best hope is love.
Evans’ second book is a corker, and I can’t wait to read whatever they write next.
The story is divided into three-chapter sections: the first from the point of view of a teen near the epicentre of the zombie outbreak; the second from a group of young musicians taking a week away in the country to work on songs; the third a pair of non-identical twins whose mother is a nurse at a hospital where the outbreak is getting out of hand.
These young people are diverse and queer. As their stories are told and eventually converge, we learn that the world has always been hostile for them – the twins, for example, bear scars inflicted by a violent father. In trying to survive, each group is aware that other survivors are just as – or even more – dangerous to them than the mindless zombies.
Evans has a deft hand in giving each of the three main narrators their own distinctive voice. A lot of what happens is gruesome as each is confronted with the zombie infestation, mitigated by the humanity of the characters’ responses and fears for the lives of their loved ones.
The story leads to a conclusion that isn’t a safe geographical point so much as a fierce dedication to supporting each other in a world where everything is hostile. It’s a bit like actual life in that way.
For all the gore and violence, Highway Bodies manages to be simultaneously uplifting in the love and protectiveness its protagonists feel for each other. Love for family (both born and made) and friendships are the motivating forces for each of them, and there’s tenderness, loyalty and love at the heart of the end of the world.
As zombie fiction it’s fast-paced and full of the types of zombie encounters we love to read about. As an allegory for growing up queer in an environment that’s hostile to your very existence, it has power beyond the surface story.
Highway Bodies is thematically reminiscent of Mary Borsellino’s fantastic work in Ruby Coral Cornelian, The Devil’s Mixtape, Thrive and others – diverse kids in a hostile world, whose best weapon and best hope is love.
Evans’ second book is a corker, and I can’t wait to read whatever they write next.
February 11, 2020
This is one of the novels where you pick it up going 'Oh, I'll read a chapter or two' and suddenly you're halfway through and wondering what the hells is happening.
I love the imagery and descriptions throughout the book; I love how Evans portrays the fear factor and the overwhelming sense of doom and not being able to do anything. The diversity of the characters are great and how they respond to the turn of events is each unique and relatable. I also haven't read a book until now where all the main characters who we hear from are queer. This book, like most zombie ones, gets you in the way that you start considering if an apocalypse did happen, what would you do? Having the characters split from each other at the beginning of the novel is great to show how they operated at the beginning, what choices they made, who they become. Evan's captures it well throughout the novel.
That said, I found the side characters to be a little stale. Like they were there and then they weren't. Like Matt, just randomly popping up here and there to torment them. I mean, how'd he even find them in that town and house after the zombie attack on his campgrounds? It felt forced and really, I'd forgotten who he even was when he rocked back up. Another thing was the fights between humans. They seemed slow and I found it hard to imagine the scenes (like the one with Joy and her band of goons). I much preferred the zombie vs the teenagers fights because they had a bit more fluidity to the imagery.
I love the imagery and descriptions throughout the book; I love how Evans portrays the fear factor and the overwhelming sense of doom and not being able to do anything. The diversity of the characters are great and how they respond to the turn of events is each unique and relatable. I also haven't read a book until now where all the main characters who we hear from are queer. This book, like most zombie ones, gets you in the way that you start considering if an apocalypse did happen, what would you do? Having the characters split from each other at the beginning of the novel is great to show how they operated at the beginning, what choices they made, who they become. Evan's captures it well throughout the novel.
That said, I found the side characters to be a little stale. Like they were there and then they weren't. Like Matt, just randomly popping up here and there to torment them. I mean, how'd he even find them in that town and house after the zombie attack on his campgrounds? It felt forced and really, I'd forgotten who he even was when he rocked back up. Another thing was the fights between humans. They seemed slow and I found it hard to imagine the scenes (like the one with Joy and her band of goons). I much preferred the zombie vs the teenagers fights because they had a bit more fluidity to the imagery.
February 27, 2022
It took me a good moment to realise that this wasn’t in fact my first zombie book I’d ever read, but y’all what a good second zombie read! (I mean the first, “Girls Save the World in This One” is also a bangerrrr tho ofc)
Highway Bodies was the first novel I’ve finished in a good while and it is SO crazy to me that I leapt in with a freaking zombie novel, like that stuff isn’t nightmare material, but HOW GOOD. Genuinely I was absolutely suckered in. I was so hesitant at first because there are three different perspectives being cycled through and lbr my concentration is not the best out there, but it ended up being one of the coolest things. Mainly because the characters and their stories really touched me.
I can’t stress enough how nice it is to see good representation of LGBTQIA+ characters, particularly in settings like the zombie apocalypse. And how pure and wholesome it was when the characters meet and there’s like this amazing connection where they just understand eachother and omfg is it the nicest thing bloody ever.
I don’t even know how Alison did it but they just somehow made the perfect blend of apocalyptic and contemporary fiction. Like I get that it’s not contemporary fiction, not really, but it is the vibes and so it was this weird but really inviting combination of having the comfortability of contemporary and the hecticness that is an apocalypse. I would therefore like to describe this book in one word as “ooft” because it hits you right in the heartstrings.
Highway Bodies was the first novel I’ve finished in a good while and it is SO crazy to me that I leapt in with a freaking zombie novel, like that stuff isn’t nightmare material, but HOW GOOD. Genuinely I was absolutely suckered in. I was so hesitant at first because there are three different perspectives being cycled through and lbr my concentration is not the best out there, but it ended up being one of the coolest things. Mainly because the characters and their stories really touched me.
I can’t stress enough how nice it is to see good representation of LGBTQIA+ characters, particularly in settings like the zombie apocalypse. And how pure and wholesome it was when the characters meet and there’s like this amazing connection where they just understand eachother and omfg is it the nicest thing bloody ever.
I don’t even know how Alison did it but they just somehow made the perfect blend of apocalyptic and contemporary fiction. Like I get that it’s not contemporary fiction, not really, but it is the vibes and so it was this weird but really inviting combination of having the comfortability of contemporary and the hecticness that is an apocalypse. I would therefore like to describe this book in one word as “ooft” because it hits you right in the heartstrings.
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