I fun little zombie book. My 13 year old liked it. If you love cozy mysteries, I’d say this is the middle school version. It sounds a bit gross for the girly girls, but my boys were laughing and having fun with it! Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

For any fans of Bunnicula, I think this book is a level up but still spooky fun without being too scary.

Super cute, short story, perfect for Halloween. Zombie cat was just what I needed. I can't wait to pick up the next one.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. The illustrations are absolutely stunning. The description of everything in the book was fantastic. The writing style is good. I can't wait to read more books by this author. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. It is in stores now for $15.99 (USD).

Funny Zombie book that surprisingly is more about friendship, family and finding your place. I wish the story had been longer, it did feel like part was missing. Overall, a fun book for younger readers.

I let my 13 year son read this book since it's geared towards his age range. He really enjoyed reading this book, it captivated his attention and he just got absorbed and lost in his own little reading world. He loved Bert and his adventures, he was just really upset that this book was left with a cliff hanger. Which he didn't appreciate lol. So now the question is will there be a sequel? He is hoping there is another instalment in this series. Seeing that this book isn't released until next summer, and then who knows when the next book will be published if any, this already lost its young audience's attention. This would have been better as a complete book, instead of a series of smaller books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

It starts out with a cat making his escape from a lab. He promised the others he would be back for them. He is so weak that he doesn't make it far before dropping. Then Mellie and her friend Danny where out riding their bikes and find this mangy looking cat that looks almost dead. Mellie decides to take it home and try to help it, she spends her money on cat food. The thing is is that the cat doesn't want it even though he looks like he is starving.

Then the cat goes outside and finds some small critters and eats the heads but leaves the bodies for Mellie to find. He thinks he is leaving her good things but she thinks its gross and buries them. It's because Bert only eats the heads that Danny decides he must be a zombie. He does look weird and has yellow eyes.

Then you have the YummCo lab that is trying to find the missing cat that escaped and you have some really dumb bad guys. Overall though it was entertaining enough to be fun.

I only have a couple complaints. I only got the sketches since it was an eARC but a couple of the illustrations I found a bit morbid and gross. One has Bert with a dead squirrel in its mouth! Reading about it is one thing but I don't need pictures! The other thing was is it left you with a cliffhanger. And I mean I thought maybe my eARC was messed up! It was the kind you had to download to adobe digital and I had it on my phone and I had to look on my computer to see if it was the same way there because it was so abrupt! I hate that in adult books I don't need it in my kids books!

Other than that it was a decent start to a series and I am curious to see what will happen next. Would I recommend it? Maybe, but I would wait till the second book is out unless you don't mind being left hanging.

This was a clever, cute, short book. I can see elementary school kids having fun with this one! It keeps you guessing throughout the book on whether or not Bert is actually a zombie. And although it’s easy for an adult to assume the answer to that, I still think a child would be kept guessing through the whole thing.
I also really liked the cat, Bert. He was definitely my favorite character in the story. He did things that anyone with an appreciation for cats would find funny or humorous. The book also sprinkles fun facts about cats throughout the entirety of the book. Again, I think anyone who has an appreciation for cats or little ones wanting to learn about them, would love that aspect.
All that being said... Nothing was answered by the end of the book. It was almost like the author wrote a full book and then decided to section it off to sell it as a series. I would have preferred it to just be one longer book rather than a bunch of really short ones that end abruptly.

I received an advance reader copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Rise of ZomBert is a middle grade novel with a nine-year-old main character. When I read MG, it's usually at the upper end of the age range, so this is a bit of a departure for me. While I wouldn't call it out and out horror, it does have some creepy elements which were what attracted my interest in it when scanning Net Galley for titles to request.

The story begins when a cat escapes from an experimental lab and is discovered by a young girl and boy the next day. Despite the cat's poor condition and odd appearance, the girl takes him in and comes to care for him. In the meantime, the people who operate the lab the cat escaped from are desperately searching for him. It is a book about friendship and love for animals that resulted in my own cat getting some extra pets and hugs.

I gave The Rise of ZomBert four stars - I was intending to give it five, but the ending was so abrupt that it felt like I was cheated by not getting the end of the story. Of course this means there will be more books to come, but as a writer I have heard many times that every book must have a beginning, a middle and an end - even if it is part of a series. I enjoyed the book up to that point, but I felt it merited a one star deduction.

Honestly, if someone says zombie cats, you know I am probably already there. Really, just say cats and I am probably already there. Seriously, this reminded me of one of my favorite books from when I was a child in the best possible ways.

Overall, if you're into zombies, cats and want some fun art along the way, I recommend this one.

I have always had a weak spot for any book that can work a zombie animal into the plot. This book is a great one for kids that features a cat named Bert. He is found near a dumpster, missing an ear, skinny as can be and taken home by a young girl who feels her parents never notice her. She takes care of him and he starts leaving headless animals around the back porch for her. This leads to the suspicion that Bert might just be Zombert, a zombie cat who beheads his prey for their brains. I was interested to see how the kids in the story handled everything going on. My favorite chapters were the ones from Bert's perspective, getting to see how he thought and why he did some of the things he did. I can't wait to see the rest of the series and see if he finds his answers he is looking for and the home he needs.

Such a fun book for kids who love cats and/or zombies! Loved the illustrations. Will be recommending to kids once possible!

I loved this well written book, it made me smile and root for the characters.
It's engrossing and entertaining, the characters are well thought and the setting is interesting.
I loved Bert, a very special cat, and I loved the kids. I also appreciated the description of the social network obsessed family.
I can't wait to read further adventure of Bert and his friend.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Princess Fuzzypants here:: When ZomBert escapes from the nefarious grasp of evil doers who are experimenting on animals, he is just barely alive. Thank Bast he is found by a young girl and her best friend and she brings him home unbeknownst to her parents. They are far too involved in their “family blog” to notice. Bert, as she names him, is a rather sorry attempt at a kitty. Mellie’s friend, Danny, says he must be a zombie cat.
Millie begins to wonder when Bert gifts her with the headless bodies of his many victims. As his fur grows back and he begins to resemble a cat, Mellie decides to take him to a free clinic run by YummCo, which just happens to be the nasties from whom Bert escaped in the first place.
Thankfully, he scoots out before they recognize him, stopping just long enough to “protect” Mellie from somebody he perceives as a threat. The cat is out of the bag now!
Not only are her parents peeved but there is a chance that those evil perpetrators may be hot on his tail. What is going to happen to ZomBert and his human friends? I guess we will have to wait for the second instalment and I for one (*raises paw*) cannot wait. If you like quirky and oddball characters and mysteries with conspiracy written all over it, you will like this book.
Five purrs and two paws up!

#arcreview #justreleased
@netgalley
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The rise of Zombert - Kara LaReau
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This is the first book of a serie..
It’s an children’s book and so much fun with awesome graphics 🙌🏻😍.
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When Mellie and Danny find a cat, Mellie is determined to help it.
And what happens next?
You really should read the book to know more.
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Blurb;

Could Bert really be a zombie cat? Two friends put their brains together to find out in a wry new mystery series.

While helping her best friend, Danny, film his latest horror flick, Mellie discovers a scraggly cat behind a dumpster outside the YummCo Foods factory. Mellie names the stray Bert and hides him in her room, knowing her parents won’t let her keep him. But soon Bert has decapitated all her stuffed animals, and before long he is leaving the headless corpses of birds and mice as gifts for her. Danny is convinced the cat is a zombie, living on the brains of his victims. But is that what is really going on? Award-winning author Kara LaReau lets loose a fresh and sharply funny new mystery series, with an irresistible touch of the macabre. Fans of creepy stories and animal lovers alike will devour this fast-moving first episode in one gulp.
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Genre children’s book, adventure
Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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#theriseofzombert #netgalley #reading #tbr #childrensbook #illustration #cat #catsofinstagram #bookstagram #booksleeve #adventure #friendship #creative #photography

While filming a movie, Danny and Melli discover a scraggly cat who has escaped from a lab cage. Smitten with the cat, they take him home and name him Bert. Soon, however, the cat begins decapitating all the stuffed animals and demonstrating his hunting prowess. Bert is offended that Mellie keeps burying his “gifts,” but has his own mission he wants to pursue. Meanwhile, the big boss of the lab Bert escaped from is upset that the lab workers let test subject Y-91 escape. Who or what really is Bert? Why was he in a lab? A funny, engaging story that keeps readers wanting to read more. The characters are entertaining, particularly Bert. The plot is well-written and slightly spooky. Readers who enjoy funny zombie books, horror, and scary stories will enjoy reading this book.

OMG....I had so much fun reading this book! When I get stressed (which is like all the time at the moment), I turn to children's books for some much needed entertainment and brain cleansing. When I saw the awesome cover art for this book, I knew I needed to read it..and just have a night immersed in a fun story!

This book was just what I needed!

Mellie and her best buddy, Danny, are working on Danny's latest horror movie idea. While filming outside the YummCo Factory, Mellie discovers a strange looking cat behind a dumpster. He looks half dead...and Mellie decides to bring him home. But she has to hide him in her room because her parents would never let him keep the cat. Bert has some strange behaviors.... For one thing, he eats animal heads. Like....only the heads. Danny thinks the cat is a zombie. Mellie wants to discover the truth about Bert who escaped from the YummCo Factory. Could Bert actually be an undead cat??

This book is fun, cute and entertaining! The front cover art is perfect. Some of the characters are a bit over the top...but I'm ok with that. Mellie and Danny are great main characters. And Bert is just himself....lol

Any middle grade kid who likes zany horror stories would enjoy this book! I look forward to more from this author!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Candlewick Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I wish I could remember how I heard about this book. So, when I saw it on NetGalley, I knew I needed to read it. Mellie finds a cat in a garbage bin. She’s quick to rescue him, name him Bert and take him home. But, his yellow eyes and strange behaviors make her wonder if he’s something more. This book ends on such a cliffhanger! I’m excited to share this new mystery series with students.

Zombert is this generation's Bunnicula. A quick read about a scraggly zombie cat that's taken in by a young girl, meanwhile the corporation from which he escaped is looking for him. Illustrations accompany the text throughout. I can see this becoming a series that young readers who like their stories a bit on the dark side will gravitate towards.

I decided earlier this year to start including middle-grade reads on CLC for a variety of reasons. I remember the love that I had from a very early age of horror-leaning books and how much joy it brought me. Including middle-grade allows me to reconnect with some of the nostalgia of my youth and it also permits me to read more diminutive stories that aren't so heavy topic-wise. There's a different focus in middle-grade horror as well. Friendship and family are so often at the center of the narrative, encouraging a completely distinctive read. Rise of Zombert seemed like a perfect pick!

The story centers around friends Mellie and Danny. They do everything together so when they find a mangy stray cat in the garbage can, they quickly secret him to Mellie's house. She can't tell her parents about him because she's afraid they won't let her keep him. Besides, her parents are clearly distracted by her younger twin siblings and the family blog that her parents run. Everything in this house is about getting the perfect shot or the best blog title or the perfect photograph! So much so that Mellie is able to hide "Bert", as she dubs him, pretty effortlessly, simply because her parents aren't paying attention.

Speaking of Bert, he's not your average cat here, but you knew that already from the title. In fact, Bert aka Y-91 somehow escaped from an animal lab run by YummCo. Everything in the town is run by YummCo, but no one really knows what is going on behind the scene and poor Bert has been at their mercy for who knows how long. Mellie finding him finally gives him a place to recover and he does so immediately by killing small animals and insects and eating their heads. Yum. Of course, he's sweet by bringing the headless corpses back for Mellie. Is he a zombie? What has YummCo done to him?

Rise of Zombert was a bit difficult for me as an animal lover. We have no idea what type of testing the facility is doing behind closed doors and Bert is in pretty rough shape when we first meet him. He frequently spends time thinking about those he left behind and he promises to go back for them which is heartbreaking. I didn't expect it to be so sad! Of course, there's the frogs, and birds and squirrels and the myriad of other creatures that Bert hunts and kills. Kids will probably enjoy the grossness of Bert crunching his favorite part, the heads!

What I did like were the main characters. Mellie is adorable, smart, and very resourceful. Danny is everything you want your childhood best friend to be, loyal and kind. There's lots of fun dialogue between these two dubbed the Weirdo Twins by the class bully—who maybe is just really misunderstood. Even Mellie's family, in spite of being distant in the beginning, eventually come around in a sweet, supportive way. The illustrations peppered throughout are well done and added so much to the story. It also has a split narrative, going back and forth from Mellie and Danny to Bert and to the YummCo lab assistants tasked with finding the wayward kitty.

Don't expect a happy ending from this one though. It's the first episode of Zombert's story, so there's an abrupt finale. I actually kept turning blank pages at the end thinking maybe there was an issue with my copy! I wouldn't even call it a cliffhanger. It literally just...stopped. No closure of any kind. No big build-up. It just ended. I was disappointed that there weren't really any answers given.

I can see younger kids loving this one. It's not spooky or scary and reminds me a lot of the Bunnicula series by James Howe, though Bert doesn't come anywhere close to being the narrator that Chester is. Is Bert really a zombie kitty? You'll have to read the series to find out.