The Last Kids on Earth and the Cosmic Beyond

The Last Kids on Earth #4

by Max Brallier, Douglas Holgate (Illustrator)

The fourth book in the New York Times bestselling series with over ten million copies in print!

‘Terrifyingly fun! Max Brallier’s The Last Kids on Earth delivers big thrills and even bigger laughs.’ Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Now an award-winning Netflix show!

The newest installment in this New York Times bestselling series introduces new monsters, new bad guys, and tons of new laughs – Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets The Waking Dead!

It's the first winter after the Monster Apocalypse. For Jack and his buddies, that means sled catapults, epic snowball battles, and one monstrous Christmas celebration. But their winter wonderland turns dark when a villainess begins hunting them. And this villainess is different – she's a human.

When the villainess steals Jack's prized monster-slaying tool, the Louisville Slicer, he vows to get it back. But it won't be easy. Jack and his friends soon discover that the Louisville Slicer is the key to a dark plan that threatens the entire world – and beyond …

The Last Kids on Earth

The Last Kids on EarthThe Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie ParadeThe Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare KingThe Last Kids on Earth and the Cosmic Beyond

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Zombies, Adventure, Fiction, Horror

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2018

About the author

Max Brallier is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. His books and series include The Last Kids on Earth, Eerie Elementary, Mister Shivers, Galactic Hot Dogs, and Can YOU Survive the Zombie Apocalypse? He is a writer and producer for Netflix's Emmy-award-winning adaptation of The Last Kids on Earth. Max lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter. Visit him at MaxBrallier.com.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love listening to this series on audio. Robbie Daymond gives such a great performance each time! The stories are filled with action and humor, plus zombies and monsters. What's not to love?

The premise -- the zombie apocalypse came to town. Most people were turned into zombies. Some kids escaped being zombified and live in the city avoiding the hordes of undead the best they can. There are also monsters that zapped their way into this world through a portal from another dimension. Luckily, some monsters are friendly....so the kids have some large buddies to help them out. That's a good thing....because other monsters are evil.

It's winter time now.....and the kids soon learn that their monster buddies are afraid of snow. So, they decide to help them get over that fear by planning the best part of a kid's winter -- Christmas! Their plans take a detour when they meet up with a new foe.....who steals Jack's most prized possession, the Louisville Slicer!

The audio book is just under 4 hours long. Easy listening length. Lots of zombie and monster fighting humor as usual. Daymond gave his usual enthusiastic performance. I really enjoy these books! The characters and plots are just fun and innocently entertaining. Moving on to the next book -- The Last Kids on Earth and.....the Midnight Blade!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth book in this action-packed, hilarious, fantastic series! This time new villains, friendships get tested, and it is Christmas!


It has been a while since I read the last book in the series. Why? Well, because I got book 1-3 in hardcover and would like to continue the series like that. But I have been checking and keeping an eye out for years and hardcovers are just too expensive. The paperback is HALF of the price. So after getting the Survival Guide during Christmas I decided to just say screw it to hardcovers and continue the series in paperback. Way better for my monthly book-budget.

I have to say that I love the book Jack over the Netflix Jack. Haha, this is probably totally random, but I have tried watching the show recently and well… I don’t know, while he is obnoxious in the books and at times just goes too far (with him thinking this is just a big adventure/game while for his friends this means no more family and no more normalcy), in the Netflix series he is just TOO much and that is why I am happy I still got several books to read. Back to book Jack. In this one he makes some stupid mistakes, says some hilarious things, but I love that he could also rationalise why his friends are not always feeling the adventure. You can see that he is growing up. I love that. His gift to June was so thoughtful and so kind and I was just cheering.

In this book we see the kids trying to make the monsters happy with snow with hilarious results to go with it. Haha, I can definitely understand the monsters though. If I had never seen snow I would also panic in what the hell is happening. I loved that the kids never gave up, they were dedicated to find something to make the monsters happy again. And this all happens while some serious things were happening/going to happen. It may at times feel a bit out of place.. but it also fitted perfectly. Haha, I am confusing, I know. I loved seeing Christmas apocalypse-style and see how the kids tried to make a fun moment for not just them but the monsters as well. Sometimes you need a moment to just enjoy life.

We meet a new antagonist and I just don’t know how I feel about her. I was mostly just frustrated with her for a few reasons. I did like that she was geeky and loved comics and all that comes with that.

There is tons of excitement and even some heartbreaking moments (that one with D. just ripped my heart out) where I was wondering if things would end up right. I know there are still books left, but seriously, at the moment I was just so much in the books that I didn’t think of that. Not to mention.. I have read enough books in which characters die or disappear, so who knows what would be next?

There are battles, monsters, friendship, and more. I just couldn’t stop reading. Each page, each new illustration grabbed me.

My heart broke over that a decision had to be made. They have received a transmission from New York… but will they all go? Throughout the book we see that decisions need to be made and I was definitely holding my heart over what decision that would be! I was hoping this wouldn’t mean the end of our group. Now that I know the decisions, and what has been said, I am very curious about the next books and what will happen in those.

All in all, WOW, what a book. What an amazing continuation of a series. I cannot wait to get the next book in the series. We are getting closer to the end and I wonder how the author will end it. I would highly recommend this book to all!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Justin]

It was made up but pretty interesting to see how they go up against the monsters and try having a nice and normal Christmas.

[Pallavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
RTC

Happy Reading!

[Victor The Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The winter holidays have arrived in our gang’s zombie monster land. While making the best of their first zombie Christmas together, they discover they’re not the only ones trying to survive, there’s a bigger threat coming from beyond and one of their own could become one of the infected. A- (91%/Excellent)

[Krasi Karaivanov]

Забавна, увлекателна и интересна♥️

[Adelina Levărdă · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Glen Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2.5. It's a kid's book. I've read many kid's books, and some are better than others. The Last Kids on Earth series are meant for kids to read. I keep telling myself that, but so what? Why over simplify daily challenges for the end of the world? Idk, character development leaves much to be desired. The whole story leaves a lot to be desired. Honestly, these books aren't very good, and are popular because of the TV series. I'll even say the TV series is better!

[Shadyside Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read as always, but this time taking place during winter, with a very different villain.

[XOX · Rating 4 out of 5]

So it is snowing. And friendly monsters do not like snow that much. 

Jack tried his best to find some fun things to do with his friends, both humans and monsters. 

A new big bad is in town and she is also human. And she set a trap to try to turn humans into zombies. Dirk was bitten and Jack and June are trying to find a cure for Dirk before he turned into 100% zombie. 

That is the best about this story is there is no big mission. Just friends trying to make the best out of a not so ideal situation. That's life for a lot of people. Life sucks sometimes and having the courage to move towards something positive is a life saving skill.

4 stars read. 

[Niina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tähän mennessä paras osa sarjasta! Vaikka tälläkin kertaa tavataan uusi minipääpahis (monster of the week -tyyliin), ei tätä saatukaan kerrasta nujerrettua vaan tämä tullaan mitä luultavimmin tapaamaan vielä seuraavassa osassa. Esiteltiin myös uusi ihmispahis, avulias hirviö ja zombismin parannuskeino, ajoka toimii jos ei ole ihan kokonaan muuttunut.

Joulu on tulossa, mutta toisesta ulottuvuudesta tulleet hirviöt pelkäävät lunta. Maailman viimeiset tyypit opettavat heidät rakastamaan talvea ja mikä olisikaan siihen parempi kuin maailmanlopun joulujuhla.

[Bruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obožavam ovaj serijal! Sjajna kao i prethodne!

[Петър Панчев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Зимни чудовищни приключения
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)

Бързо-бързо преминах и през четвъртата книга от апокалиптичната тийн поредица, която се оказа не само екшън ориентирана, макар да си ги имаше типичните битки на хлапетата герои. Може би свикнах с това детско преекспониране на приключенията с чудовища и филмови препратки, което е типично за аудиторията на книгата, затова новите нюанси ми харесаха изключително много. Сред тази „дандания“ от екшън сцени, няколкото „спирки“ показаха съвсем друга страна от хлапашката действителност. „Последните деца на Земята и Космическото отвъдно“ („ProBook“, 2019, с превод на Боряна Даракчиева) все пак си върви в подходящата тоналност и новите чудовища ги има в изобилие. Но в един момент се оглеждаш и разбираш, че ти и приятелите ти са прецакани и остава само да си направиш съответните изводи за бъдещето. Самата книга е като компютърна игра – печелиш, губиш и се връщаш назад, докато се научиш да преминаваш през всички капани. По някое време ти идват нови идеи, но ако ги няма, приятелите ти идват на помощ. Бралиър отлично знае, че нещо тук трябва да се промени и го прави в самия край.
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing I like about The Last Kids on Earth series is the stakes change after each book. The characters are the same at the end of each new addition as they were at the beginning. This allows for character growth.

The Cosmic Beyond is no exception. At the beginning of the book, Jack and the gang's goal is to get to New York because they know other people are there. At the end of the Cosmic Beyond, that's no longer their goal. The events in the book change the characters' desires because the characters have changed.

A couple of new characters are introduced in the Cosmic Beyond. One of these characters adds to the backstory of the "good" monsters.

Perhaps the most important event in the Cosmic Beyond is Jack and his friends lose the book's final battle. This loss allows parents to discuss an important lesson with their children. The good guys don't always win. No matter how hard we try, sometimes it's not good enough -- and that's okay.

The important thing is we continue to try.

[そっと ときと · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I thought Evie is a cool heroine that'll team up with Jack and his gang, I'm such a fool to think so. Ghazt could have been in better shape but good thing he's stucked as a rodent. I really wished that they should have tricked Evie and let her be eaten by that horde of zombies. She's heartless af.

[Lyla Rouleau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. I’m glad I didn’t watch any of the episodes for this book. But it was a really great book and there’s not a lot of words to describe it. why did they need to put some parts in that didn’t match, wile other parts were meant to be?

[Adam Griesbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a very good funny book that would be fun to read again. I think the theme is there might be a giant monster hunting you down but you should never give up.

[Shaihak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was pure brilliant.
It was so gooooooooooooood.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was great, and would be a fun read for anyone who likes sci-fi.

[Анђела Јовчић · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is time to read the next book

[Al Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series continues, this time with the gang's plan to go to New York scuppered by a massive snowfall. Their monster friends are terrified of the snow, so Jack and friends decide to introduce them to a post-apocalyptic Christmas. On the Rezzoch front, a new threat rises, a human who speaks the language of Rezzoch and Co, and seems to have some control over zombies. Something bad happens to one of the gang, and things look bleak. Can Jack save the day again?

Still funny, still bonkers, and Jack's desire to risk all to save his friends makes him one of the best pre-teen heroes around.

[Diego Munoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sons review of the book, he is 10.

“I liked it because it was set in a different season.i don’t know why else I liked it. “

In depth review.

From my perspective. Lots of zombies, a new enemy, new adventures, pretty fun.

[John Ready Reader One · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy quick listen. Good middle age story

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was great. What I liked about it was how there so much action and sometimes very sad moments too.

[Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really like the series and graphic novels and i like apocalypse theme books

[Erin Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series for Andrew

[Savvas · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like this book because there is a lot of adventures and comedy
the kids finished the radio so they had a party with monsters.

[Hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[audy ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

sooooo goooood