Zombie Haiku





Mecum, Ryan. 2008. Zombie Haiku. Cincinnati, Ohio: How Books. ISBN: 1600610706.

     Chris L. has written a "haiku journal" documenting a zombie plague. He first hides from the zombies but is soon turned into one. He writes about eating people and staying within the zombie group. Soon rigor mortis sets in and he can't move anymore. His last entries are about his wife.

     This novel-in-verse, in this case, haiku, will dispel any preconceived notions to teens that poetry has to rhyme or needs to be written in iambic pentameter. Teens will love these zombie haikus. They will also like the simplicity of haiku and how easy and fast this book will read. Chris's encounters are humorous but at the same time gross- giving zombie behavior. Teens will enjoy the blood-stained pages, disgusting illustrations and horrid zombie photos throughout the book; which is the strength of the novel. Teens will also get a thrill of the description of zombie-life and how Chris L. survives as a zombie.

     A book description from Amazon stated: "Poetry is dead. "Zombie Haiku" is the touching story of a zombie's gradual decay told through the intimate poetry of haiku. From infection to demise, readers will accompany the narrator through deserted streets and barricaded doors for every eye-popping, gut-wrenching, flesh-eating moment. The book is illustrated with over 50 photos from the zombie's point of view and designed with extra blood, pus, gore, and guts!" "A thoroughly unique and entertaining experience. Ryan Mecum has quite possibly found the only corner of entertainment not yet infected by the zombie plague--haiku--and made me wonder why it took this long, as the two seem to go together like zombies and brains. I highly recommend it to fans of all things zombie." wrote Robert Kirkman, author of The Walking Dead and Marvel Zombies and "The most inventive zombie book in years!" stated David Wellington, author of Monster Island.

     There are several haikus I enjoyed: some made me laugh while others made me cringed. These haikus appeared separately throughout the book.

Something on the news
about people acting odd,
so I switch to sports.

The slow walk takes days.

A speeding car hits a pole,

so we get a snack.

I know he can't see

because the room is pitch black

and I have his eyes.

I can't wait to read Vampire Haiku and Werewolf Haiku.