About Zombie-saurus Rex:
Rex Morton, a seventeen year-old zombie, has arrived in the small farming town of Plain View, Nebraska; just another stop in a long string of small towns left behind in their rear view mirror. Unlike the zombie stereotype, Rex is bright and friendly - as long as he doesn't get hungry. He hopes this time he can manage to stick around long enough to get his diploma.
Rex’s fiercely protective mother has strong armed yet another school district into accepting her son by threatening a discrimination lawsuit. At Plain View High, a dismal pattern of fear, prejudice, and bullying steers Rex down a familiar path toward expulsion. The difference this time is that Rex has fallen for fiery Goth girl, Ariella Klopenstein, the daughter of the Police Chief, and decided he will make his stand in Plain View.
As the Z-virus spreads west and the country panics, Rex and Ariella must find a way to overcome Rex’s mother who wants to break them apart and flee town, a school principal who wants Rex expelled, Ariella’s father, the Police Chief, who thinks Rex is dangerous, and a government zombie round-up aimed at solving the zombie problem once and for all.
Zombie-saurus Rex is a story about perseverance, overcoming prejudice, stereotypes and adversity. What it isn’t is a story about dinosaurs. The title is inspired by a nickname a school bully hangs on Rex due to his size, posture, and slow plodding gate.
Excerpt
Bouncing from school district to school district had advantages and disadvantages. Rex
often found himself hopelessly behind in some subjects if the curriculum at his previous school
was wonting. In the case of Ms. Remington’s English class, he’d already read most of the books
listed, either on his own or for assignments at other schools. Academically, English was going to
be a breeze. But then again, academics were never the problem.
Students around him looked frightened and confused. Rex copied the reading list slowly,
careful not to do anything threatening. Even after copying the titles, Rex kept his head down and
pretended to still be writing to occupy time.
Once, just once, he’d like to rise from his chair baring his teeth and growling, and advance
on the class stiff legged to watch them cower and run. Just once he wanted to trade places, to
make them know what it was like to be powerless, to be victimized. His mother always warned,
mind your manners, son. Dogs that bite get shot.
A girl in the next row watched him, a sly grin on her lips. She was small, both short and
slim, dressed all in black. She had pale skin and fine features, a small nose, sharp chin, and heartshaped
face. Parted at the side, her hair cascaded across her face like a shiny black waterfall
concealing one eye. She wore a black Jane’s Addiction tee-shirt, a short black skirt, long black
satin fingerless gloves, and black Doc Martin’s.
“Guess who just lost the tag of weirdest kid in school?” she said. She pointed her thumbs at
her chest and said, “This girl.” She cocked an eyebrow upward. “Do you eat people, big boy?”
Rex snorted out a laugh. “Only when I’m hungry.”
“You hungry now?”
Rex shook his head. “Aren’t you afraid of me?”
“Should I be?” she said.
“Everyone else is.”
A small smile played across her lips. “Who wants to be like everyone else?”
Rex grinned.
The girl extended her hand and he took it. “Ariella,” she said in a cheery tone.
The warmth of her skin crept into Rex’s fingers and seemed to suck the air from his lungs. “Rex
Morton,” he managed to stammer out. He stared at her and struggled to say something more. The
moment begged for it, something witty that would convey in a casual way that he liked her. But
his brain went blank. She smiled and let her hand drop from his. As her warmth evaporated from
his skin, he realized the she was escaping him. The opportunity had passed him by. Embarrassed,
he looked straight ahead at the blackboard feeling lame and stupid.
My Review
I found this book to be interesting and deeply moving. It reminds us all how we, as humans, hate and fear the unknown. It made me intensely angry because I hated how everyone treated Rex. He was infected through no fault of his own and yet, he is punished for it by those around him. I found that the supporting characters were all very interesting and some were very funny. I thought that the story was a bit slow moving but it is a great story for anyone who enjoyed Warm Bodies. I give this book 3 Fairies for an intense read that held my attention.
About the Author:
Author Mark Souza has always been a storyteller, whether explaining who filched the ice cream, or what happened to the cat’s tail. He learned most of life’s lessons from the business end of a wooden spoon, and the rest from public schools spanning the breadth of North America, all of which were overjoyed to be rid of him. He became an author of short stories and novels in the horror, mystery, thriller, and young adult genres later in life, after time and a desk job had softened his edges, transforming him into the round, doughy shape Big-&-Not-So-Tall shops crave.
Mark was the proud recipient of the 2013 Indie Reader Award for Best Science Fiction for his debut novel Robyn’s Egg.
He now resides in Western Washington with his wife (also an author), two daughters, and their dog of questionable heritage, Tater. Visit his website; http://www.marksouza,com. There you’ll find a multitude of ways to make contact. Mark enjoys cordial correspondence and will write back. He’s always on the lookout for that next victim reader.
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.
