SOMETHING TO READ

“My Rotten Life: Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie, Book 1, by David Lubar; Starscape/Tom Doherty Associates Book, 148 pages ($5.99 paperback) Ages 8 to 12.

The author of the hilarious “Weenie” story collections offers a new series for middle-schoolers, and it’s a hoot. Nathan is in fifth grade and definitely uncool, so bad at video games he’s called a “vidiot” and always picked last for sports teams. Then an inventor splashes him with an experimental serum and he becomes a half-dead zombie. He isn’t breathing, he can’t feel pain, he doesn’t have to eat or go to the bathroom, and his superhuman strength helps his school win the annual track meet. But he doesn’t want to be all-dead. His classmate, the inventor’s niece, Abigail, promises to help find the cure, but will she do it before he’s 100 percent zombie?

This hilarious and suspenseful story captures the bullying atmosphere of middle school along with the fun and the friendships, and we look forward to more laughs in Book 2.

—Jean Westmoore

HALLOWEEN TOP FIVE

According to halloweenexpress.com, here are the top five kids costumes for 2009:

1. Optimus Prime

2. Cheerleader

3. Bobble Head Ghost

4. Fairy

5. Snake Eyes

MINI HA-HAs

What did Frankenstein climb to get to his room?

Mon-stairs.

What is the first thing Frankenstein reads in the daily paper?

The horror-scopes.

Who does Frankenstein take to the movies? His ghoulfriend.