Review: Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Pub. Date: May 2008
Age Range: Young Adult
400pp

Phoebe is just your typical goth girl with a crush. He's strong and silent and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is happening. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. They are coming back to life, but they are no longer the same-they stutter, and their reactions to everything are slower. Termed "living impaired" or "differently biotic," they are doing their best to fit into a society that doesn't want them.

Fitting in is hard enough when you don't have the look or attitude, but when almost everyone else is alive and you're not, it's close to impossible. The kids at Oakvale High don't want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn't breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the differently biotic from the people who want them to disappear-for good.

With her pale skin and Goth wardrobe, Phoebe has never run with the popular crowd. But no one can believe it when she falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids. Not her best friend, Margi, whose fear of the differently biotic is deeply rooted in guilt over the past. And especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has just realized his feelings for Phoebe run much deeper than just friendship. He would do anything for her, but what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

First off, I want to say that Generation Dead is a totally fresh and original story. The writing is Brilliant with a capital B. The characters are so well developed that I felt their struggles and found myself completely engrossed in this book and could not put it down. I stayed up all night to read it and kept saying to myself “Keep it together.” Why? One minute I was laughing, the next minute I was angry and finally believe it or not I was tearing up (I’m a very emotional person). Was there an underlying message in this book? Well, I’ll let you come to your own conclusion about it. Mine, prejudice is something that is very apparent and we’re presented with diversity of choices on a daily basis. So, I say “You never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in his shoes.”

Daniel is able to get into the minds of teens and portray their thoughts, feelings, reactions and interactions to the world around them. I felt like I was teenager again. At times I found myself thinking back to when I was in high school and remembering all the cliques and how people were treated because they were different. Even with the “differently biotic” spin, this book is so relatable to what’s going on in today’s society. The only criticism I have, is when it ended I wanted more. I highly recommend this book, go check it out!

One last note: KISS OF LIFE THE SEQUEL TO GENERATION DEAD IN STORES TODAY!

Rating: 5 out 5 stars