Isamlq's Reviews > Rot & Ruin

Benny Imura has a couple of days till turning fifteen. Fifteen year olds in his post apocalyptic world are expected to contribute to society otherwise they find their rations cut in half (Everything I’ve said happens in the first couple of pages.) He also lives with his half brother, Tom Imura, whom he loathes. Why? You’ll just have to read on. Things get really exciting as he looks for a job only to find that the only viable option is to go into the “family business” with Tom who happens to be a zombie hunter (or so I thought.)

Who would have thought that a book about zombies would make me cry? And I did, I cried some. There are three things that I learned from reading this book: a. I will never look at a chilli dog the same way, b. Tom Imura has got to be one of the coolest big brothers ever and c. I love zombie books! This book has totally altered my perception of what zombies are. Yes, they are the mindless, soulless living undead… but they can be helpless too. Mind you, I’d still run like crazy if I were ever to encounter them, but the point is they can be helpless. That’s what Tom taught me. Have I mentioned that I love Tom?

OK. Zombie book, so definitely not heavy reading, but still it did have its moments. Moments of “I didn’t see that coming.” Moments that made me swallow a lump in my throat that came out of nowhere. And moments that were simply hilarious.

I loved his interaction with his friends: Chong, Morgie and Nix were just the right addition to the story, particularly with Chong and Nix. As to Benny? Initially, I really wanted to punch him but some maturity was showing towards the end . Then there’s Tom. I’d write an ode to his greatness except I would not know where to begin.