Generation Dead: Kiss of Life (Generation Dead Novels) [Hardcover]

Daniel Waters (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 12, 2009 | Series: Generation Dead Novels

The phenomenon that’s been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay.  Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time.  While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they’re calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends.  Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie -- her Homecoming date Tommy Williams -- her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her.  Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave.  Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8–10—As this sequel to Generation Dead (Hyperion, 2008) opens, Adam is just beginning to "regenerate" after diving in front of Phoebe, the girl he always loved, when she was going to take a bullet aimed at her currently undead boyfriend. He is having a difficult time gaining control of his speech and movements, while Phoebe is under the impression that a kiss from a "beating heart" who truly loves him can help speed the process. The story then reveals a whole zombie activist movement, as well as an anti-zombie conspiracy. Taken on a superficial level, the story is an action-packed romp through the zombie subculture, including such products as "Z, the body spray for the active undead male." Taken at a more cerebral level, the novel comments on societal attitudes toward race, disability, and sexual orientation. It could also spark conversation about the afterlife as it raises a disturbing question: If there really is a God, has he turned the zombie kids away? The book is supported by an amazingly well-maintained Web site, but its downfall is that it bites off more than readers can chew. There are too many characters, too many subplots, and too many switches in perspective. Kiss of Life clearly screams for a sequel—if not two or three. With so much going on, it is easy to lose track of which character is which, never mind who is dead or undead. That being said, it's a must-buy if the first title is popular.—Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL END

Review

trThe New York Times

>?

?“Stephenie Meyer meets John Green in debut author Waters’ wry, original

supernatural romance....”

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Waters’s strong first novel introduces a cast of memorable characters—both dead

and alive.” —

Publishers Weekly

• An Oprah’s Book Club Reading List Pick

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; First Edition edition (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423109236
• ISBN-13: 978-1423109235
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #804,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Daniel Waters, the author of the Generation Dead series, loves you all. He lives in New England with his spectacular family.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A breath of life, a kiss of death May 30, 2009

By Jessie Potts TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kiss of Life is the follow up to Generation Dead. Daniel Waters again goes the distance with this book. He rips social issues apart such as racism, sexism and the anti gay movement. We see humanity at its most basal form, showing us that people can be cruel when anything goes against their beliefs.

In this round Phoebe is trying to reanimate Adam who seems to be 'waking up' slower than other bionically different. She's still trying to reconcile feelings between Adam and Tommy when Tommy decides to go on a mission to help bridge the gap between zombies and the bleeders. Pete, who you remember killed Adam in the first place, is working at the Hunter's Center to undergo community service and therapy, is being recruited for the Anti Zombie movement. Meanwhile the Hunter Center gets exposed for what it really is doing to the zombies, and more and more zombies are being killed, massacred, burned, crucified, with the law not behind them, but certainly not stopping them.

This book was brilliant Daniel Waters is an amazing break out author and his light 'teenage' tone masks the deeper uglier issues that are seen in today's society still. I recommend this with two thumbs up and 5 stars all the way!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Followup May 19, 2009

By Jacob A. Mcdougale

Format:Hardcover

A friend picked up Generation Dead for me on a whim. The cover had caught his eye and he knew that I enjoyed a good book, be it Steinbeck, King, Rowling, etc...anything GOOD. Well Generation Dead was awesome! Purely and simply fantastic. The allegory and characters all spoke to me and of course the ending kicked my a**. I had no idea this was the beginning of a series when I finished it and well, that was last August. I was stranded on a beach in Florida, staring at the ocean oblivious to any natural beauty because I was devastated :) That for me folks = GREAT READ.

I just finished Kiss of Life last night and I LOVED every minute of it...it was a great continuation of the story. I was a bit worried in the beginning as it was slower than I had anticipated and pretty sad (atleast for me); but given the ending of the first book, I am glad that Mr. Waters took the time to explore the ramifications and effects of those events. It helped me remember why I loved the first book and furthermore, the characters.

Phoebe breathes on the pages, blissfully unaware of her own beauty and confused like all of us are/were in our teens; Adam is struggling to find himself given the events of the last book (his sensei visiting really got me...well everything with Adam pretty much did); and Pete is lost and as vile as ever. I enjoyed getting to know Karen so much more as well Tak. The world that Mr. Water's has created really expands with this book and I am grateful to have read it. It's such a strangely relevant story with the way the world is nowadays - polarizing politics, the fight for rights, and just the sheer craziness of finding one's self in a world that doesn't seem to make any sense - maybe that's what affects me so much...who knows?

I won't give anything away plot or detail, it's just not my thing. All I can say is I can't wait to read the next installment of Phoebe, Adam, Margi and all the other characters I now love even more. I haven't wanted for a sequel so much since Harry Potter...and that is saying something.

The board is set for a crazy third book...they'd better get to publishing it soon! Read Generation Dead and Kiss of Life...and tell EVERYONE you know to do the same. I'm 27 and think this book would appeal to anyone...I only wish I'd had a series like this to relate to when I was in my teens. Regardless, I love it just the same at my age.

READ IT is all I can say.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes the little things aren't enough February 10, 2011

By Darkfallen

Format:Paperback

Oh the land of the not-so-dead, how I have come to heart you so....

This is one of those series where the 2nd book is actually better than the first. Whereas the second book in most series is what I call a "bridger" this was not. It was SOOOOOOO much more than I thought it was going to be.

In fact this series has completely suprised me in the most fantastic way. I picked Generation Dead up in the clearance section at my local book store for 1 reason, the cover was ironic and cool. I didn't expect much out of it however. Just a little light reading to break up the heart renching series that I've been reading. Boy I couldn't have been more wrong. Daniel Waters has not only introduce my into the world of zombies, he has left my in love with them.

Phoebe is lost as usual in this book. Not knowing which way to go or what she is supposed to do. But who can blame her? Poor Phoebe almost dies because of her living impaired boyfriend Tommy, but instead Adam steps up to the plate and saves the day. The price Adam payed was his life....well his "living" one that his. Since Adam has come back Phoebe is trying to help him find is way all the way "back". He like so many living impared kids has trouble talking, walking, and just about everything else we "living" people take for granted. She doesn't know how to juggle both Tommy and Adam so she pushes Tommy away.

I loved how the point of views switched back and forth giving us an inside look into Adam. Seeing inside Adam's head, hearing the world as he perceives it, well it broke my heart. I spent the majority of this book feeling like I couldn't breath, especially when reading Adam's thoughts. It literally felt like someone had put my heart in a vice. With every thought he had for Phoebe the vice squeezed tighter.

This isn't just your typical love story. There is alot of twists and turns and I still HATE Pete. I locked him in a cage and threw away the key in the first book and I assure you that I set his cage on fire during this one, but he wasn't the only one in that cage if you know what I'm saying;)

Now that you have heard what I had to say I will leave you with this....

Buy it, borrow it, rent it, steal it if you have too, but you need to READ this book!!!