Disclosure: This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by The Children's Book Review. I received a copy of the book to facilitate my review and a promotional giveaway item. All views and opinions expressed are my own. icefairy's Treasure Chest is not responsible for winner selection or prize fulfillment.
Do you think it possible to solve a supernatural mystery through scientific investigation and analysis? Follow two orphans' jaw-dropping adventure in Zombie Zoo, written by Melanie Abed and illustrated by Emmy-winning director Hisham Abed. Enter to win a signed copy and an epic swag haul including stickers, a pin, a Glow-in-the-Dark Green Goo Kit and more!
My Review:
As the first book in the middle-grade series Felix & Ninja: Adventures in Tub, Zombie Zoo presents a spooky, suspenseful and spellbinding story about friendship, courage, collaboration and creative problem-solving.
Felix and Ninja are two teenage loners in a run-down orphanage on the island of Tub. As a naturalist, Felix enjoys taking meticulous notes of his observations and detecting patterns. Ninja is a sharp, agile and vigilant girl good at acting on instinct and in stealth mode. The emergence of suspicious substances like glowing green goo and glowing green mist brings the two together in a high-risk investigation and a daunting mission to save the orphans and their townsfolk from a hive-mind zombie outbreak.
Fast-paced and action-packed, the novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they wonder what Felix and Ninja would encounter or discover next. Its delectable blend of mystery, fantasy, adventure, kid-friendly humor and horror attracts a wide range of book lovers across different age groups. The author does a stellar job of building suspense and bringing the story to life through precise, vivid, and carefully-paced descriptions of actions. Moreover, the use of alternating narrative perspectives provides a closer connection with the main characters and a deeper understanding of their inner worlds.
Apart from the thrill of scientific investigation, mystery-solving and mission accomplishment, what also stands out from the book is the unlikely yet solid friendship forged between Felix and Ninja through teamwork. Both characters learn to step out of their comfort zones, and to trust, protect and care for each other as the story unfolds. Their growths inspire young readers to follow their passions, sharpen their analytical and problem-solving skills, tackle tough challenges with courage and their strengths, and take leadership and responsibility when the occasion arises.
Captivating and cleverly crafted, Zombie Zoo makes a noteworthy debut for the STEM-inspired series. It's a book that adventure and mystery lovers don't want to miss.
About the Book:
Ages: 9–13 | 244 Pages
Publisher: Oculus Print (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-9952813-0-6
Thirteen-year-old Felix Fizzystyxx is an aspiring naturalist who observes the world from his hidden tree fort at Wayward Amok Orphanage. When he witnesses glowing green goo and strange behavior in the orphanage, his life as a quiet observer ends. He partners with Ninja, an intense, shadow-dwelling orphan who trusts her instincts and operates alone, to investigate. Together they discover that the orphans — and soon the entire town of Spinachi on the island of Tub — are turning into wood-eating zombies controlled by a hive mind.
With the help of their eccentric mentor Doc Brunne, Felix and Ninja trace the cause to Noctiluna, rare bioluminescent organisms deliberately introduced into the town's water supply, and race to find a cure before the whole town — including Doc himself — is lost to the transformation. Zombie Zoo kicks off the Adventures in Tub series with a debut story guaranteed to keep readers turning the pages.
Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
About the Author:
Melanie Abed is a behavioral expert turned story weaver. She believes dragons are real but hiding, and finds thunderstorms equally delightful and terrifying. A tea-loving bookworm, she champions young minds and writes to help kids discover their superpowers are real.
Website: melanieabed.com | Instagram: @bymelanieabed
About the Illustrator:
Emmy-winning director Hisham Abed has established himself as a visionary creative force in television, directing commercially successful shows including Netflix's Queer Eye and Disney's High School Musical, and shaping the visual aesthetic of MTV's Laguna Beach and The Hills. Beyond his directorial achievements, Hisham Abed is an accomplished illustrator whose detailed artwork brings imagination and style to every project he touches.
Website: hishamabed.com
One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a signed hardcover copy of Zombie Zoo with a bookmark, postcard, sticker sheet, Tub Explorer Pin, a small sample of Tub's Green Go, and a "Make Your Own Glow-in-the-Dark Green Goo Kit" shipped in a custom Zombie Zoo box!
Ten additional winners will each receive a signed paperback copy of Zombie Zoo!
Giveaway ends 9/14. Open to USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe, and Japan 18+. Please click on the prize image above to submit your entries. Good luck!
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