Zombie Blondes

From the moment Hannah Sanders arrives in town, she feels there is something wrong. On her first day of school, she runs into the most popular girls, who are all nearly identical in appearance: blonde, beautiful, and deathly pale.

Brian James is the author of several notable books including Pure Sunshine and Dirty Liar. He lives in a small town in upstate New York that may or may not be overrun with zombies. He is currently researching the matter . . . very carefully. His next book, The Heights, will be available from Feiwel and Friends in Spring 2009.

He’s about to walk away but stops. Turns to me and opens his mouth and starts to stutter like he’s not sure if he should say what he wants to. Then finally deciding to go ahead and say it, but refusing to take his eyes off the floor when he does. “It’s just . . . you’re kind of pretty . . . and she might try to turn you into one of them . . . one of her clones,” he says. “I don’t want to see that happen to you, that’s all.”     I tuck my lip under my top teeth.     “Is that supposed to be a compliment?” I ask.     “Nope,” he says.     “Just a warning.”