Dead Guy Spy

Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie #2

by David Lubar

Nathan Abercrombie is getting used to his rotten life as a half-dead zombie. The good thing is he doesn't feel any pain. The bad thing is his body can't heal, so he has to be really careful not to break anything. But that's hard to do when his wrestling-obsessed gym teacher, Mr. Lomux, matches him up with Rodney the bully, who's looking for any excuse to break his bones. Then one day, Nathan is approached by the secret organization B.U.M.―aka the Bureau of Useful Misadventures―which offers him a cure in exchange for his help. Nathan jumps at the chance to become the world's first zombie spy, but soon discovers that B.U.M. isn't quite what it seems. Can Nathan trust them?

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Childrens, Zombies, Young Adult, Adventure

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 4, 2010

About the author

David Lubar created a sensation with his debut novel, Hidden Talents, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Thousands of kids and educators across the country have voted Hidden Talents onto over twenty state lists. David is also the author of True Talents, the sequel to Hidden Talents; Flip, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror selection; several short story collections: In the Land of the Lawn Weenies, Invasion of the Road Weenies, The Curse of the Campfire Weenies, The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies, and Attack of the Vampire Weenies; and the Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series. Lubar grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, and he has also lived in New Brunswick, Edison and Piscataway, NJ, and Sacramento, CA. Besides writing, he has also worked as a video game programmer and designer. He now lives in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidl...

Reviews

[Heidi Vargas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from good reads.

This book was silly and entertaining good for more then one chuckle. It's a light read, with some silly fart humor and a twist of spy gadgets. Both of my kids helped themselves to this book before I had a chance to read it, they both had an easy time completing it in one day and are really excited about seeking other books written by David Lubar. They had both read My Rotten Life Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie and clued me in about what happen to Nathan in the first book in this series. I think if you haven't read the first book you'll miss out on the introductions into the characters. Nathan is everything typical of a young boy with the exception, he doesn't breath. Mookie, the funny jokes he tells even had me cracking up. Abigail, really is the super hero of the bunch she always finds away to fix everything. Mr. Lubar hit the mark with this one and we can't wait for what is in store for Nathan, Mookie and Abigail.

[Adam N]

I started reading this book and I arrived at the part where Nathan, the main character, has a secret identity of a zombie and no one except his two friends know about it. Later he figures out he has a spy following him trying to find out who Nathan really is and what he is capable of doing. Nathan and his two friends are being very brave, even at the most scariest moments in the book.
Nathan's friends are always there to help him face his Zombie life and still like him for what he is. I think the theme is that Nathan's freinds are always there for him, You can tell by how the author is describing his friends as always being there for him throughout the book. I can relate to him because I also have friends that are always there for me as I am for them.
This book is teaching me a lot about friendship even though it isn't about it. I am eager to find out what the spy wants from Nathan and what will happen when they meet face to face.

I just finished reading the part where Nathan, who is half a Zombie, met with BUM a secret agency that agrees to strengthen his bones so he won't break them since he can't feel any pain. Nathan had to agree to let BUM test some
things on him for an unknown science secret that BUM is working on. I was excited to read that Nathan's friends Mookie and Abigail are spying on BUM to find out about their science secret before letting them do tests on Nathan. I think they are going to find out BUM's secret and figure out why they are keeping it from Nathan.
This reminds me of the time in 2nd grade when I wanted to find out why my parents went to bed later than I did. I figured out because they are adults and no one can tell them what to do except themselves. I hope Nathan and his friends don't get into a bad situation if they find out BUM's secret. I am looking forward to finishing this book to see what happens to Nathan and BUM.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We picked this up after searching for "spy" books at the library, with a little help from the Children's Librarian. My 5 and 7 year old sons loved it. I read it aloud but I will issue a warning about the fact that Nathan Abercrombie cannot digest food now that he is a zombie. A couple of scenes had me passing the book to my 7 year old to read, they were retch worthy but perfect for my kids. Nathan Abercrombie is a likeable character, who wants to do good in the world (if in a super hero fashion) but struggles to find his place in a Grade 5 world as a dead guy. The spy gadget scenes are entertaining and what Nathan learns about good and evil are useful segues for this age group.

[Tiara Arini · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun!

[WayBackWhen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun kids book. It is what it is and when I was young I very much enjoyed it. Still pretty fun though definitely feels so short.

[Woodenvelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an advance reader's copy and my very first win from a giveaway contest, which lent an inherent sense of giddy delight and anticipation to its reading. Simply by virtue of being the tale of a 4th grade zombie named Nate, the book already tapped into my love of all things undead and dovetailed nicely with my continuing quest to find entertaining reads for my own 4th grader.

This book delivered on both accounts. Nate might not be your typical brain craving walking dead, but despite his objections, he is definitely zombie material. He can't eat, he can't sleep, he can't feel sensations of hot or cold and his body won't heal itself once broken. Nate's condition readily lends itself to a host of potential hijinks that keep the book fast paced and entertaining. With the help of his friends Mook and Abigail, the class clown and class brainiac respectively, Nate navigates the troubled waters of zombie-hood. As the second book in the series, Dead Guy Spy doesn't deal with Nate's origin story, but rather with the problem of how to live with and what to do with his newfound abilities. As luck would have it, the mysterious spy organization known as B.U.M. offers Nate an opportunity to do just that. The only question is, are the really the beneficial agency they make themselves out to be, or something more sinister?

This book will make a fun read for elementary school kids who enjoy humor, adventure, and mystery. It has a fast pace, fun characters, and lots of gruesome speculation about what it would be like to really be a zombie. The only thing I could really find to complain about was the supporting characters. Abby and Mook seem like the stock characters required in every preadolescent adventure story these days. Cue one brainy girl and one comic relief boy with a funny name and our intrepid hero is all set for adventure.

Overall, this was still an entertaining read and I recommend it for any boy of a certain age who isn’t always eager to pick up a book.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now you have to remember that this is a middle grade book and I am going to say that it would probably be more enjoyed by the younger middle graders (8-10). I also think it is more fitting for boys than girls but I think both can enjoy it. Nathan Abercrombie, was in a accident with some chemicals that left him dead. He doesn't have to breathe, he has no heart beat, he has no need to sleep. His best friend calls him a zombie, but Nathan doesn't really like that term. The cool thing about being dead is you can stay up all night, but bad thing is that when you break something it breaks off of you. Nathan has some glue that is specially made to put him back together when he breaks.

BUM (Bureau of Useful Misadventures) knows that Nathan is a half dead zombie and they want to use him in their organization. Meanwhile, Nathan's gym teacher thinks he needs to toughing them up, but Nathan's just worried about losing a body part in the process.

Nathan thinks it would be cool to be a spy but when he learns somethings about BUM he is not sure if they are the good guys or the bad guys.

Overall, I thought this was a cute book, for me it was a fast read. I thought it was funny in parts and would recommend it to anyone who has young readers. It has all the fun elements of a kids book, robot squirells, lots of talk about farting, and one very gaseous mess due to a half dead zombie eating chicken wings.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I read this book: I really enjoyed the first one and wanted to see what other misadventures Nathan the Zombie would have.

Plot: Nathan is now a full blown zombie and figuring out the serious problems he's going to encounter as one. Like getting stalked by B.U.M. - but do they really want to help him, or just use him? Definitely a fun-filled plot with great adventures and hilariousness.

Characters: C'mon, this middle school boy is a zombie... how can you not connect to that? Let's just say he's just like my best friend when I was a kid - finding a way into adventure and trouble by just stepping outside. If you can't relate to goofy Nathan, then you may relate to his friends Mookie or Abigail. I definitely can relate to Abigail - the level headed girl character who is smart and still can figure out how to help the two goofy guys she hangs out with.

Relatability: Never been a zombie? Then maybe you've gone through one of those awkward kid phases where nothing seems to work right or everyone is out to get you (or so it seems). Even if you can't relate, it's just fun. Anyone working with kids can definitely see a Mookie, Nathan, or Abigail of their own.

Cover commentary: Stands out and is definitely goofy. For those struggling readers who want something real but out of the ordinary.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Initial thoughts: This book made me feel kind of sick. There's just some things I don't want to read about involving bodily functions. I didn't care for the story line either.

The title of this book should have given me a clue, but this story featured a lot of gross descriptions and scenarios. It definitely felt like a "boy book" with the crazy concoctions, bizarre scenarios and off-beat humor. But still, even though it was unlike anything I had read before, it made me feel a little queasy...and that's never a good thing. I actually put it down for a while and then a few months later I picked it back up and finished it. I didn't like it. The characters weren't relatable and I never felt anything for Nathan's plight or his well-being. It might have helped to have read the first book in the series (this is book two) but after finishing this I didn't want to read any more. Not my taste at all.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2011...

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this book from a goodreads giveaway. I agree with several of the previous reviews that this book is definitely more of a fit for the target audience. It's slightly grotesque in places in ways that would appeal to a young male audience. There are a few too many "ewww" moments for little girls I would think. Even I was grossed out in the gym scene during the wrestling match and I'm much older than 8 years old. On another note, I know it's fiction, and being a zombie is unreal, but Abigail's intelligence level was a little off. I mean even if she was the smartest kid ever, would she grasp particle physics? I just kept shaking my head when she would make these huge theoretical jumps in logic and it was a little annoying. I think David Lubar was trying to keep the storyline seem like it was a possibility with the normality of the supporting cast and other children in the school, and Abigail just seemed out of place. All in all though, it was a very fast read and was easy to get through. It was quirky, funny, and unique and I would recommend it for young children.

[Natisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advanced readers copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads, started to read the first chapter, and then decided I really wanted to read the first book first. So, I hid it from my son, because once he got a hold of it, I'd never get it back.

Nathan (in the first book) is accidentally doused by chemicals that turned him into a zombie, although he's not crazy about that term. He doesn't breathe. If he eats, the food doesn't digest. And his body doesn't repair itself. Just as Nathan starts getting the knack of being an undead kid, someone starts to spy on him. Someone with high tech spy gadgets. And BUM (Bureau of Useful Misadventures) tries to recruit him to be a spy. But can he trust them?

This is a great book for kids who enjoy, humor, adventure, and spy stories. It's a quick read and a great choice for 8-12 yr old boys. My 4th grader snatched it up and started reading it as soon as he finished reading the first book.

I would recommend this book to any kid who enjoys a wacky adventure now and again.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com

As if becoming a zombie permanently wasn't bad enough, Nathan's problems have just gotten worse.

His limbs keep falling off and having to be glued back on; his wrestling-obsessed gym teacher is determined to toughen the whole class up; and now some weirdo, secret organization is trying to make him a spy. The spy thing wouldn't be so bad if they weren't already trying to kill him if he doesn't join.

Will Nathan Abercrombie find a way to cope with school and survive the spies?

DEAD GUY SPY is a hilarious adventure in true Lubar fashion. The characters are well-developed and entertaining. The plot is unique and fun to read. Readers will have a hard time keeping a straight face while enjoying this book.

Although you'll definitely want to read the first book in the series, MY ROTTEN LIFE, this is a great stand-alone story and will keep reluctant and avid readers wanting to read more.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received this as an ARC from Goodreads First Reads program. Before reading this #2 in series I took the time to read (well, listen to) the first book. This latest entry was much more fun than the first- it didn't seem quite as gross [is this a difference between reading and listening- is gross grosser by ear?:]. I think bringing in the secret organization BUM gave it a vibe akin to Get Smart/ Man from U.N.C.L.E./ Men in Black that made the weirdness of the basic premise more palatable. I like the interactions between the 3 friends and the rest of the "uncool" kids.

It bothers me, however, that these kids are running around with so little adult supervision, frequently interacting both on-line and in person with stranger adults. I know Nathan can't tell his parents he's a zombie but I still don't like that he sneaks out at night to meet the guy he was talking to on-line. Wrong message, especially for this age group. Am I being too sensitive on this issue?

[Uriah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book as a First Reads copy. While I only rated it 2 stars, I think that for the right audience, it would be more. Let's take a look at what the book has and see if we can determine who that correct audience is:

- Explosions (a car, a squirrel, etc.)
- Kid with special powers (Zombie powers)
- Psycho gym teacher
- Frequent references to bodily functions
- Secret organizations
- Playing video games all night long

If you add all of that up, you get: middle school boys. This book would be great for them. It is just the sort of humor that many of them enjoy. For me it was just okay. The biggest reason it got two stars instead of three though was that while he is willing to share information about his powers with his friends and a secret organization, he doesn't do it with his parents. Overall a good mindless fun boy book.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just won this on Goodreads.

This would be a fun book for young boys to read, I think. Nathan is a boy who gets doused with an experimental formula called Hurt-Be-Gone and it does take away all sense of pain, in fact, he doesn't really feel anything, he has turned into a zombie. Nathan wants to do something special with his new abilities while trying to appear normal. He gets recruited to join a special team and has to decide if he agrees with them and trusts them.

There are elements of body humor in the book, things like one boy who has really bad gas. Nathan also has to be careful of body parts falling off. It was a cute book and I think that boys would like it better than girls.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Nathan is still a zombie and he just wants to do something great with his Zombie powers, but he learns he needs to be careful since someone could be watching him and someone is. Nathan gets stalked which sounded waaay to much like pedophilia territory with creepy guys with mustaches lurking in bushes, late night chatrooms, secret meetings in cars and on street corners... Ya no idea why that was all like that. Nevertheless, a corporation called BUM wants Nathan to work for then in return he will get his bones made stronger which is much needed with a wrestling match coming up. Does Nathan get molested? No. Does his zombie life get more complicated? In a way. Which bones will he break now? Read and find out.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an interesting turn of events, I got this book from the description of a zombie detective. Being a mystery lover, that got my attention - after all, I have read books about supernatural detectives before. When it arrived it was a book about a 5th grade boy who had been turned into a zombie accidently. The good thing about being a zombie is that you never have to sleep, so you get a lot done when you stay up all night. Unfortunately, your body parts have a habit of breaking off. Fun book for kids and I think I have a home for the book in a teacher's book shelf. Lots of kids will be able to have a good read.

[Charlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nathan Abercrombie, accidental zombie, has two missions in life: to avoid others realizing his secret--he's pretty much one of the walking dead--and to be a superhero. When Mr. Murphy recruits him to work for BUM, the Bureau of Useful Misadventure, he beging to think his life may improve. BUM appears to be working on a procedure to make Nathan's body stronger and becoming a spy will almost be like being a superhero. But is BUM really an agency working for the good of the country or is it a sinister force? Nathan must discover the truth so he'll know what to do, and he has two good friends to help him through his predicament.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from the Goodreads Book Giveaway. It is geared toward middle school aged children. I definitely think a young boy would enjoy this book. It is filled with lots of bathroom humor and gross out silliness. I found the main character Nathan's friends reminded me a good bit of another literary character's frends...the bookish smart girl and the goofy not as smart guy friend. But I guess I can forgive that...lol. Overall, I thought it was a very cute book about a young boy dealing with very unusual circumstances.

[Christy Stewart · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's like The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets zombies meets grass growing.

Too slow a pace for me as a 24 year old, it would have been torture as a 14 year old and impossible for my prepubescent days. What was the biggest let down is that the lead is a zombie when the book begins and the back story is "My friend's uncle messed up a spell and got powder on me and now Im a zombie, anyway......." If your zombie isn't going to eat brains then he at least needs an exciting transformation.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, fun to read book with the right combination of action, thinking, and goofy situations for boys in the 4th - 6th grade. Maybe some girls would enjoy it too. Some of the 'body gas expulsion' jokes were not for me, but after listening to my grandson tell silly toilet jokes until he and his younger brother were laughing so hard they were crying, I thought perhaps it is the type of humor and story he would enjoy. Other than that, the book gave me an enjoyable break from my usual 'Grandpa' reading.

[Jenna Gall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I was a little old for the book but I thought I would give it a read and pass it on to one of my friends who has a kid.
However, I thought that the book had a good story line but I felt it dropped off at the end. In the beginning of the book it was focused on the spys of BUM but at the end it focus more on the wrestling match. I thought it would go more into his special abilities and how he would be able to help BUM. It was just a little disappointing.
I recieved the book for free from goodreads.com

[Luanne Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this second book from the Dead Guy Spy series quite humorous. It's a book I'd recommend to our boys that enjoy a fun, nonchallenging book. In the first book, Nathan was accidently splashed with a jar of formula that was supposed to remove bad feelings. A wrong ingredient, corpse flower, was used instead of corpus flower, which resulted in his new condition. He's like the walking dead. In this book, he wants to help people, and with an opportunity to become a spy for BUM, he might just have the chance. I enjoyed it!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this on first reads.

A delightful read from an adult standpoint. Not too fluffy, not too kiddish or boring. This is a good book to pick up when you have a little time and want something light and not too serious.

This is a book that my kids, neices, nephew, cousins and any other kid in my family is going to love. I will be keeping it on my bookshelf for them and for my future grandkida.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually found this book quite entertaining and would have loved it as a boy. Nathan is a very comical and likable character and his series of misadventures stirs that younger voice within me that yearned for such crazy adventures when I was his age.

While I have not read the first book to this series, I never felt out of the 'loop' of the plot. In fact, it only made me want to pick up the first one and fill in the small holes around the story of his circumstance.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book that turns a zombie into a good guy! This is the second book in the Nathan Abercrombie Accidental Zombie series. I must admit that I won my copy through a Goodreads Give Away. As soon as I learned of my winning, I borrowed the first book from the library. The first book covered Nathan's adventures becoming an accidental zombie. The second book makes him even more of a hero, and a spy. Kids reading chapter books will find it funny, and even gross. Overall I liked it!

[Astraplain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book featuring a likable main characters, his two friends - who each help in their own way - and a cast of interesting characters whose quirks don't overshadow the story. There's plenty of action, particularly in the later half of the book, and lots of humor and amusing situations, some of which might be less appreciated by adults. Overall, a fast and fun read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Won through First Reads.

When Nathan Abercrombie is recruited for a world of secret-super spies, trouble ensues (of course).

Filled with zombie-humor, vomit, spies, and sports, this would be a great read for elementary-aged boys. Personally, I loved it too, and I'm most definitely not a 4th grade boy. :-)

[Lisa Welch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back in my younger days, I would have loved a book like this that had a "spy" theme to it. The author makes the reader feel as if kids can really experience some cool things. As an adult, it would have been nice to see the kids in the story making some "smarter" choices in terms of their overall safety.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was way below my reading level, but kind of fun regardless. I think it was a really unique plot, with exciting ideas and clever characters. It was really cute, and I'm sure that middle-aged kids would love it. It has just enough edge of gross that I think it is typically for boys, but it was cute nonetheless.