Minecraft: Zombies!: An Official Minecraft Novel

Minecraft: Zombies #1

by Nick Eliopulos

Meet the next big thing in the world of official Minecraft zombies!Looking after a little sibling can be a real headache . . . especially when they’re a zombie trying to eat your brains! Life is good for Bobbie in the sleepy village of Plaintown. Sure, her villager parents only ever say “Hrm,” but you pick up the local language quickly. And maybe her little brother, Johnny, is always getting into trouble, but the village’s iron golem is there to look out for him. And, yeah, things are too busy for exploring when you’re the only one in town who ever takes their hands out of their sleeves. But maybe that’s for the best. After all, there are things out there beyond the torchlight that are better handled by adventurers. But one night, a stranger comes to Plaintown—and he’s followed by a horde of ravenous zombies! Bobbie’s village is overrun, and her world is turned upside down as her friends, family, and neighbors fall victim to the zombies’ endless appetite. Life is not so good for Ben, an adventurer with nothing left to his name but the armor on his back. When dawn’s light shows him an abandoned village, he sees it as a chance to pick through the wreckage and get himself back on track. What he wasn’t expecting to run into was a desperate girl with a baby zombie villager on a leash. Bobbie and Johnny are the only ones left . . . and her brother’s a lot greener and a lot bitier than he was last night. There’s still some of Johnny rattling around the little zombie monster’s mind; Bobbie just knows it. And Ben might know a way to bring him back.As the two journey across the Overworld, dragging Johnny along (literally), they brave dangerous depths, terrifying mobs, and an expanding mystery. Was the zombie attack on Bobbie’s village really just bad luck? Where did the rest of the zombies go? And how exactly do you take care of a little brother who can’t stop trying to eat you? Hold onto your brains—and your bows—and get ready to enter Zombies!

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy, Chapter Books

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2022

About the author

Nick Eliopulos was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where he grew up on a steady diet of super-hero comics and “non-fiction” books about alien abductions, psychic phenomena, and Sasquatch. He was fortunate to have parents and teachers who encouraged his off-beat reading habits, which ultimately led him to pursue a degree in cultural studies at the University of Florida.

Shortly after graduating, Nick moved to New York to work in publishing. In the course of his thirteen-year career as a children’s book editor, he had the opportunity to write for a number of licensed properties, from Thomas the Tank Engine to DC Super Friends and Scholastic’s New York Times bestselling multiplatform series Spirit Animals. His original comics work has appeared in anthologies Stuck in the Middle and First Kiss (Then Tell).

Nick’s debut novel, The Adventurers Guild, will be published by Hyperion in October 2017. Co-authored with his best friend Zack Loran Clark, the book is heavily inspired by the duo’s collaborative storytelling experiences with tabletop role-playing games; they’ve been in the same weekly gaming group for nearly a decade.

Nick lives in Brooklyn with his husband, a fellow editor, author, and Southern transplant. He’s currently employed as a narrative designer for an indie video game studio. He still reads super-hero comics and harbors an ever-dwindling hope that Sasquatch might be out there.

Reviews

[Kimberly Steimel Howard]

My daughter had me read this book and it was great! Really enjoyed the zombie brother wearing the pumpkin on his head and the idea of how you can’t just loot villagers, very funny and well done.

[Kelly Green's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have a Minecraft lover in your family? This is the book YOU need.
Getting young readers excited to read is all about selecting the right book. If your child loves Minecraft this book is sure to get them reading. The storyline is fun and adventurous and makes the reader feel like they are part of the game. There are so many gaming stories out there that are poorly written, this story is well written and exciting for a young reader.

I really enjoyed how it included familiar words, characters and components of Minecraft that are sure to captive a Minecraft fans attention!!

[Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bobbie has lived her entire life in Plaintown. She was adopted into the village as a baby and raised by villagers around her, despite not looking anything like them. She loves her life, even if it's a bit repetitive, until the day disaster strikes and everything she knows is stolen from her - including her baby brothers humanity.

*****

I wasn't expecting to love this one so much! Bobbie and Ben are on a mission to cure her little brother Johnny of being a zombie. The novel follows them on adventures as they try to find a cure, as well as resources, while uncovering the mystery of the strange occurrences they keep stumbling across in the Overworld. The book is rife with comically dry lines, a growly zombie brother, and a lot of heart.

Bobbie's perspective is through the eyes of the villagers going about their day, with her frustration towards the adventurers that come across her village to trade, plunder and destroy before moving on their way. Anyone who's played Minecraft will love not only the perspective, but also the woven in battle tips and nods to how players navigate the world with the intent to loot chests and get supplies without thought for the NPC's that inhabit villages and beyond. As we move through the story it's so easy to get lost in details and character development, especially with the cliffhanger that leads into the next book in the trilogy.

Overall this is a great chapter book for kids and gamers alike. The author crafts a detailed and imaginative world that calls upon imagery that's immediately familiar and entertaining. Any player will be thrilled to jump into this story and see the Overworld come to life through the perspective of the characters they play.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minecraft: Zombies! is a surprisingly engaging read that takes place entirely within the familiar pixelated world of Minecraft. Unlike some other Minecraft novels that feature real world characters entering the game, this story is set completely inside the Minecraft universe. The characters live in the world as if it is the only one they have ever known, which creates an immersive and consistent setting.

The beginning of the book is a bit slow. It takes some time to introduce the world and characters, and it may feel like it takes a while before the real action begins. But once the story picks up, it moves quickly and becomes an exciting and enjoyable adventure.

The book includes all the classic elements Minecraft fans love such as mobs, crafting, villages, and survival. It mixes humor and mystery in a way that makes the story feel alive. While the plot is quite predictable which is common in children’s books it still offers a fun and lighthearted journey.

The story ends with a cliffhanger, making it clear that this is just the beginning. Two more books have already been released in this trilogy and I am looking forward to reading what happens next.

This book is a great choice for young readers and Minecraft fans who enjoy imaginative stories set in a familiar and well loved world.

[X Zombie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get over the character arcs in this book! Enemies to friends! We need more of that in fiction! I am a fan of Minecraft and I enjoy reading books about the game while learning the characters' motives and personalities. You'll adore Bobbie, Ben, and Johnny's adventure1 I highly recommend adding to your TBR!!

[Saykrid Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story so much! It made me wish this was sorta possible in the game. Initially I overlooked this book because I thought it wasn’t part of the Official Minecraft Novel series. But then I found out that it was and I am so glad I read it. 😊

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ohio E Book Project Copy

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly good.

[Branson H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I read this with my son expecting to be bored but it was surprisingly enjoyable. We will be reading the second book together!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with for my kid. Such a cute adventure story.

[Catarina Ferreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro muito giro, e espero que num próximo livro tudo acabe bem.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brady and Ben gave this a 4/5 stars, it was good but a little predictable!

[Christiana Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my 8 year old daughter who loves minecraft. We both thought it was funny and awesome with some great little life lessons sprinkled in. The minecraft atmosphere was done in such a clever and entertaining way. We are excited to read the rest of this trilogy!

[Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it, but, I feel kinda like it was unfinished . I mean, Bobbie just sent Ben and Jonny of in a minecart!