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Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead
At its core, Love & Other Cures for the Recently Undead is a gritty, emotional, and strangely tender post-apocalyptic coming-of-age tale. We follow CeCe, a teenage girl who wakes up from a two-year blackout only to discover she was among the Infected, essentially the undead, during the downfall of civilization. As she tries to rebuild a life in a world that has changed beyond recognition, she confronts loss, trauma, guilt, and, unexpectedly, the guy who bit her. It’s not just a zombie survival story, it’s about identity, healing, and navigating the ugly mess of grief and rebirth.
I wasn’t prepared for how raw this book would hit. The opening chapters aren’t action-packed in the usual undead thriller way, but they are claustrophobic and gut-wrenching. CeCe waking up in darkness, confused and crushed under bodies, is horrifying, not because of gore but because it’s so human and real. Ramsay doesn’t rush the emotional recovery, and I appreciated that. You really feel CeCe’s pain when she realizes her mother didn’t make it, that her best friend and boyfriend are missing, that she’s been gone for two years and everything she loved (tennis, high school, her future) is shattered. That kind of slow-burn horror hits harder than any jump scare.
The writing style is simple but effective. Ramsay keeps things clean and fast-moving, even when the plot slows down. There’s a lot of introspection, especially in scenes where CeCe returns to her old school as part of the Rehabilitation Program. Those moments of being surrounded by other damaged kids with missing limbs, haunted eyes, and weird silence hit me like a punch to the chest. And the subtle tension with Olivia, the hostile Survivor, is quietly terrifying. But where the book really surprised me was Derrick. The boy who infected CeCe? It turns out he’s been cured, too. And somehow, this book manages to make you feel something when they meet again. Confused anger. Loathing. Maybe even curiosity. I didn’t want to root for him, but I found myself leaning in.
What really stood out was the emotional weirdness of returning to something familiar that’s now unrecognizable. Ramsay captures that eerie feeling of trying to go back to normal when “normal” is gone forever. When CeCe walks through her school, sees her old tennis team photo, or opens her ex-boyfriend’s locker. Those moments are small, but they carry so much weight. And it’s honestly heartbreaking how she’s just expected to rejoin society, do her homework, eat her weird canned spaghetti, and pretend everything’s fine. It’s not. It never will be. And that tension between survival and actual living is what keeps the book from falling into cliché.
Love and Other Cures for the Recently Undead is for anyone who’s ever felt like a stranger in their own life, or tried to rebuild something that doesn’t quite fit anymore. It’s not a light read, but it’s oddly hopeful in its own way. There’s still love. There’s still friendship. And there’s still that weird human ability to keep going, even when everything’s broken. I didn’t expect to care this much about a girl with a zombie bite. I’m glad I read it.
Pages: 270 | ISBN: 979-8-9870253-4-5
A Human Story
SiP follows a twelve-year-old boy with aquaphobia whose father’s naval ship is sucked up a giant drinking straw into space, leading him to join forces with his uncle, pirates, and aliens to try and save the Earth. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I had one of those daydream “Wouldn’t that be a cool idea” moments where I imagined an enormous straw drinking the oceans, like a juice box, and the idea grew from there. Earth is mostly water after all, and water is relatively rare in the universe so the idea that something might come and drink it was an interesting starting point.
In many contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
I’m not the strongest swimmer. I can swim, but I don’t float. My body is not naturally buoyant. Jim in the story is slightly different, in that he is a strong swimmer who experiences a trauma that creates a fear of the water. I think some of Jim’s fear stems directly from my own lack of confidence in the water, and from the challenge it creates for him as the hero in the situation he ultimately finds himself in.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Family, friendship, humanity, inner strength, love. I wanted the story to be a positive, uplifting one. I tried to avoid violence or the ‘good vs evil’ trope in favor of telling a human story.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
The story deviates in book two and introduces new protagonists, a new conundrum, and an adventure that at first glance isn’t linked to the events of SiP. That all changes, however, when the story leads to the mysterious location which is also the title of the next book – AREA 52. The series is going to span seven books and will continue in the same vein as SiP – telling a human story using non-human, and extremely odd circumstances.
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Teaming up with his wacky inventor uncle, a bunch of fishermen (who think they’re pirates), and a group of bizarre alien castaways, Jim’s incredible journey takes him from a sleepy village in Portsmouth, England, across the Atlantic and into the very edge of space.
If that wasn’t enough, the President of the United States is trying to stop everyone from blowing the straw to pieces, while the Earth could well be doomed if Jim can’t convince the mysterious presence in orbit that the world is worth saving. SiP by Marius Trevelean. The last straw for Planet Earth.
SiP is a science fiction mystery adventure for tween girls and boys thirsty for new and exciting books to read. Suitable for middle school kids ages 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 and even parents, teachers, grown-ups with a sense of humor, and anyone who loves adventure stories, science fiction, and funny books! All content is good, clean, fun, and age-appropriate for school grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th.
Unusual Friendships Creating Understanding
Shadow of the West follows the daughter of an American diplomat stationed in Berlin in the 70s who makes friends with teenagers from East Berlin. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
While the novel is fiction, the set up for the story is based on my own experiences living in West Berlin in the late 70s. My father was a diplomat at the U.S. Mission in the American Sector in West Berlin. With my diplomatic passport, I was allowed to cross into East Berlin and stay over. My best friend—who lived in the East where her father was a diplomat at the U.S. Embassy to the German Democratic Republic (East Germany)—and I became friends with teenagers in the East. This was unusual—and certainly not encouraged. For a decade, I corresponded with my East German friend. His letters arrived opened and censored until, after the Wall fell in 1989, when he was finally able to write freely. We were reunited in 2011 when he and his family came to visit us when we were living in Istanbul. Our children were curious how we met, and their questions sparked a discussion of our uncommon friendship. It then dawned on me how much my perspective of that strange time differed from his—and how few people ever experienced that chapter in history as I had.
Your coming-of-age story blends the lives of Americans, West Germans, and East Germans at a critical time both in history and their lives. What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?
I decided to write the story of the protagonist in the West in first person to induce a sense of familiarity, to draw the reader in with a sense that the friendships in the West were like typical high schoolers anytime and anywhere–focused, as teenagers are, more on their own struggles and dramas than on the bigger picture of what is happening in the world around them. The story in the East is developed with a third person narrative, allowing a greater sense of alienation, and to make the reader feel less comfortable, less secure, with less understanding—and so more guarded—which is how I envision most East German citizens had to live. Yet when the characters from the two worlds meet, these differences seem to fade with the sheer force of our shared humanness. Depicting how East German teenagers on the other side of the Wall had no choice but to acknowledge the bigger picture creates a poignant contrast that offers insight: feeling safe and being free is indeed something no one should take for granted. The experiences forever change the protagonist, reshaping her worldview which impacts her interactions with her friends back in the West—thereby having repercussions that extend far beyond her. I wanted to show that friendships across cultural divides can be rewarding and impactful in ways that can exceed the relationships themselves.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore the notion of freedom, its significance to people in different environments, and how its interpretation should matter to each of us. Another theme was individuality: what does it mean in terms of responsibility to the greater good? What happens, both good and bad, when we revere individual thought? How do our experiences influence and challenge our ways of thinking? To what extent are we truly individuals or simply products of our societies? It was also important for me to explore the notion of friendships, how they are not dependent solely on proximity or the length of time people know each other, but rather on the depth of experiences shared. And while only subtly touched upon in this story, I wanted to show tolerance of diversity, and how all of us are entitled to a safe journey through life as our authentic selves.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am struggling on which of two books I’ve started to focus my attention on first. One is a fictionalized version of my grandmother’s life when living in occupied Japan after WWII. The other is another “diplomat’s daughter” story that takes place in Istanbul in the 80s. It’s anybody’s guess when I’ll finish either one, but I’m doing my best!
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Divided Berlin is the face of the Cold War in the 70s. Kate is new at Berlin American High School in West Berlin, confused how life works in an island of freedom walled in by a totalitarian state.
Life in the American Sector takes off when Kate befriends Amy, joins cross country, and discovers Berlin’s quirky nightlife, while falling quietly in love.
On the other side of the Wall, siblings Michael and Anika are alone, struggling to stay true to their values despite State repression and manipulations of a creepy relative who works for the Stasi. Anika must find the courage to reveal her dark secret to her brother.
Worlds separated by the Wall: when they merge, the result is an explosion of courage as love leads the way.
Shadow of the West: A Story of Divided Berlin
Shadow of the West by Sarah Brotherhood Chapman is a compelling narrative woven from the threads of historical events, offering readers a glimpse into the complexities of teenage life against the backdrop of a divided Berlin in 1977. Through the eyes of Kate, an American diplomat’s daughter, we delve into a coming-of-age journey that explores the bonds of friendship and the stirrings of first love within the shadows of the Berlin Wall.
Kate’s story intersects with diverse characters, including her steadfast friend Amy, who navigates life across the divide, and Will, who ignites the flames of young romance. The plot thickens when Kate’s curiosity about the East leads her to Amy’s home, where they encounter Michael and Anika, two individuals stifled by their oppressive surroundings. It’s a tale of resilience, as Kate ultimately becomes the key to liberating Michael and Anika from their dire circumstances.
The novel’s heart lies in its exploration of friendship’s power to bridge the gaps of geography and ideology. Chapman skillfully challenges the notion that stability comes solely from staying in one place, proposing instead that it’s through the richness of varied experiences that one can achieve genuine openness and understanding.
This story resonates with those who appreciate historical fiction, teen drama, and romance while engaging in weighty discussions on individuality, freedom of thought, and the concept of equality versus uniformity.
I recommend Shadow of the West for its insightful portrayal of East Berlin’s ambiance, though I would caution readers that some German expressions remain untranslated. Nonetheless, Chapman’s narrative is an accessible and thought-provoking read that sheds light on the era’s societal nuances.
Pages: 303 | ASIN : B0BVGGDGYV
Southpaw Sully
In Steven Carman’s gripping novel, “Southpaw Sully,” readers are introduced to the unbreakable spirit of a fourteen-year-old protagonist, Sully. Possessing an unwavering ambition, Sully dreams of leading his local baseball team, the Collingdale Warriors, to a triumphant championship win. Yet, his path is littered with countless obstacles, among which is the heartrending loss of his twin brother, Brendan.
The depiction of Sully’s struggle is immensely moving. His experiences with trauma, survivor’s guilt, and family estrangement color his internal landscape with vivid strokes of poignant emotions. Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, his bond with his best friend Christina and the solace he finds in baseball become his pillars of strength. Sully’s monumental personal challenge involves mastering the art of single-handed pitching, having lost his other hand in the tragic accident that claimed Brendan’s life.
As Sully embarks on this turbulent odyssey, he is faced with battling his innermost fears and countering relentless bullies, who deride his distinct abilities. With the support of his cousin Gus and unexpected allies, he and the Collingdale Warriors brace themselves for the most consequential showdown of their lives—a striking portrayal of resilience and tenacity.
“Southpaw Sully” is a novel impossible to put down, pulsating with a vibrant energy that keeps readers enthralled from beginning to end. Carman’s expertly crafted descriptions of on-field action are riveting, ensuring that Sully’s triumphs and trials are intensely palpable. Sully’s journey from a sorrow-laden past towards a horizon filled with hope reverberates powerfully throughout the narrative. Carman skillfully spins a tale of community solidarity and shared dreams, making this deeply touching narrative well-deserving of a five-star rating.
A must-read for sports enthusiasts and those entranced by compelling stories of gritty underdogs battling adversity, “Southpaw Sully” promises to leave an enduring impression on its readers. Even for those unfamiliar with sports, the novel’s masterful narrative technique lends a vibrant realism to the baseball scenes. The compelling saga of a young boy striving to honor his brother’s memory transcends the constraints of sports terminology. With its inclusion of themes such as vehicular accidents, mortality, and light-hearted humor, the novel is an ideal read for those aged 12 and up who cherish stories that champion courage and determination.
Pages: 184 | ASIN: B0C4C6HGDZ
