Date Published: 09-15-2026
Publisher: Oculus Print
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threaten their island, mismatched investigators Felix and Ninja must combine
science and instinct to save Spinachi-before they’re next.
ZOMBIE ZOO is Book 1 in a five-book middle grade adventure series for readers
ages 8-13, blending paranormal mystery, zombies, unlikely friendship, and
STEAM-powered problem-solving.
orphans at Wayward Amok Orphanage are transforming into wood-eating zombies,
his quiet tree-fort observations are no longer enough. Someone has
deliberately unleashed a strange plague on Tub’s island town of Spinachi-and
they’re still out there.
To find a cure, Felix must team up with Ninja, a shadow-dwelling orphan who
trusts her instincts and never backs down. Intense and razor-sharp, she
notices what others overlook and lives up to her name as the island’s most
mysterious sleuth. With their eccentric mentor Doc Brunne compromised and the
town’s water supply contaminated by a glowing bioluminescent substance, the
two mismatched investigators must combine scientific observation with sharp
intuition to stop the outbreak before their island home is devoured.
naturally weaves in STEAM concepts-biology, chemistry, bioluminescence, water
systems, pattern recognition, and the scientific method-within an
age-appropriate supernatural mystery. Themes include unlikely friendship,
identity, trust across differences, courage, and finding your voice when
adults won’t listen.
Featuring diverse protagonists, quirky humor, spooky-but-fun scares, and
strong female and male leads. ZOMBIE ZOO is ideal for reluctant readers and
fans of Max Brallier’s The Last Kids on Earth, B.B. Alston’s Amari and the
Night Brothers, and Goosebumps. Comprehensive educator resources-including
discussion guides, vocabulary lists, STEAM extension activities, and printable
maps-support classroom use, library programming, book clubs, and make this
title ideal for cross-curricular lessons bridging ELA, STEAM, and SEL.
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MY REVIEW
I may be an adult, but children’s books still bring out a feeling of excitement. I recall the anticipation, the eagerness to get started on a book. Especially an eerie one. Zombie Zoo definitely gave me those vibes.
First, the title. Zombie Zoo. Sounds scary. I hope so! Next, the cover. Scary… yes. Bold, yes. Cool, very much so. And I now know what Felix and Ninja look like. I don’t have to guess.
Inside the book. First page is a map of The Territory Of Tub: Spinachi. I went back to it a lot while reading the story. Brought things into focus and events felt more genuine. Then there is the Author’s Note. It sure piqued my curiosity. It’s followed by A Note From The Reporter. The reporter, you ask? Well, sharing that would be a spoiler.
Then, the story itself. Felix lives at Wayward-Amok Orphanage. He’s 14 years old and aspiring to be an authentic Naturalist. Some of his rules are, “Record, don’t react, and Document, don’t disturb.” He takes them very seriously. Especially upon discovering weird green goo and spotting mysterious green glowing lights in the field. His serious rules get challenged when Ninja joins his investigation. She’s impulsive, unafraid and has her own ideas about how to do things. Thus, the fun begins. From the goo, the glowing lights, chocolate and Bessy, the case gets more and more weird. Who’s Bessy? Just you wait and see.
I had a blast. I loved Felix and Ninja. They were so opposite and very fun. I laughed out loud more then once or twice. Little crumbs had me guessing at what was really going on. I took notes. Did I get it right. Not really. I did narrow down some culprits but never had a clear grasp on the what or why. I loved Zombie Zoo And want more about Felix and Ninja.
5 STARS
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Enjoy this peek inside:
The green substance pulsed three feet from Felix Fizzystyxx’s face, defying every natural law he’d documented in four years of fieldwork.
He crouched low in the orphanage hallway, his field notepad balanced on his knee, pencil hovering over the page. The goo glowed—an unnatural, phosphorescent color that reminded him of the lightning bugs he’d cataloged last summer, only much more intense. Felix leaned closer. Was that a shimmer at the edge? Yes. The substance expanded slightly, almost like a water droplet responding to surface tension.
Unprecedented. Undocumented. Unknown.
His pulse quickened. If he could document this properly, maybe he’d finally prove he was a real Naturalist. The kind worthy of creating maps that mattered. Like the one in Spinachi’s town hall. Detailed. Beautiful. Important.
“Fizzysquirt! Where’d that freak go?”
Felix’s hand froze mid-notation. Gilly’s voice. Close. Too close.
His heart rate spiked—sixty-eight beats per minute, he estimated. Unusual for him. His eyes darted down the hallway. The orphanage’s dim gas lamps cast long shadows across the floorboards. Three doors. The pantry was closest.
“Check the stairs,” another voice called. “He always hides. Check outside.”
Move.
Felix snatched his notepad and ran, his lanky frame folding into motion. His green vest flapped as he twisted the pantry knob and slipped inside, pulling the door closed with a soft click.
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About Author Melanie Abed
dragons are real but hiding, and finds thunderstorms equally delightful and
terrifying. A tea-loving bookworm, she champions young minds and writes to
help kids discover their superpowers are real.
Instagram: @byMelanieAbed
Purchase Links
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