Alice in Zombieland

“If they see you, they will chase you. And if they catch you, they will devour you.” Alice Bell’s father warned her about the monsters that come out at night, but Ali doesn’t believe him until she sees zombies kill her family. After relocating to a new town, 16-year-old Ali is relieved to discover that she isn’t entirely on her own: it turns out that local bad boy Cole Holland and his rough crowd hunt zombies. In this kickoff to the White Rabbit Chronicles, Ali works to keep her remaining loved ones safe, decode ghostly warnings, learn new tricks to take down evil spirits, and figure out whether she’s ready to get involved with the hottest guy she’s ever known. Balancing graphic zombie fighting and complicated romantic relationships, Showalter (the Intertwined series) fleshes out this action-packed paranormal story with a giddy focus on the push-and-pull attraction between Ali and Cole and the nastier side of the high school social scene. The result is a zippy story with crossover appeal that highlights the power of guilt, faith, and self-confidence. Ages 14–up. Agent: Deidre Knight, the Knight Agency. (Oct.)