Down, Zombie, Down! (series Zombie Zappers).

Higgins, Nadia.  Down, Zombie, Down! (series Zombie Zappers).  Enslow/Speeding Star 2014  64p   $11.95  ISBN 978-1-62285-015-0  elem  Science fiction  G          

For elementary students who like zombies, this fourth installment in the Zombie Zappers series will entertain.  In this title, Leo’s pet dog Tina acts weird, then goes missing.  When other animals in their hometown of Rotfield start acting bizarre, Leo realizes that the animals have become zombies.  When Leo learns of his friend Roger’s secret of being half-zombie, he asks him questions relating to how the zombie outbreak years ago ended and how life returned to normal.  With the help of his friends, the Zombie Zappers, the group jumps back into action to resolve the animal zombie crisis.  The crew of Zombie Zappers uses Chad’s Zombot robot to help lure the animals to a new location and then use Roger’s Z-ray maser to cure the zombie pets with the right Z-wave frequency. 

The author uses short chapters and easy-to-understand text to tell the story.  Since the title is geared toward elementary students, the title could have included some black-and-white illustrations to help readers visualize the story.

The story could be read as a stand-alone and does not require students to have read the other titles in this series.  Leo, Chad, and Roger are the Zombie Zappers.  With the help of friends, family, pets, and previous zombie research, the boys are always looking to thwart a zombie outbreak! At the same time, they learn valuable life lessons.  These fictional narratives are low-level chapter books that are humorous, fast-paced, and kind of scary.      

Summary: "The Zombie Zappers jump back into action when a unique zombie outbreak spreads to their hometown.  Leo will have to join forces with Chad's new best friend if they want to stop Rotfield from being overrun by a new breed of zombie.”

Zombies-Fiction                                       --Charleen Forba-Mayer

Higgins, Jane. The Bridge.

Higgins, Jane.  The Bridge.   Tundra Books  341p  $19.99   978-1-77049-437-4  2012
hs   VG          Fantasy    

This thrilling futuristic adventure novel is sure to please teens and young adult readers.  Fans captivated by the exciting new television series Revolution will surely enjoy this book, as it contains many of the same suspenseful elements and characteristics of the popular program.

Sure-to-be-recruited Nik is passed over when selections are made for the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, leaving everyone stupefied. Then the high school is bombed and good friend Sol goes missing.  Nik goes on the run with Sol’s sister and crosses the bridge in search of him.  This action reveals many answers to many questions Nik had always been afraid to ask.

Jane Higgins has created an exciting adventure novel that combines action and survival in a futuristic world with friendship, loyalty and courage. This novel is sure to engage readers, with its fast plot and interesting, complex characters.

Survival–Fiction                                     --Virginia McGarvey

Higgins, M.C. Falling Out of Place.

Higgins, M.C.     Falling Out of Place.   Saddleback  191p  $8.95 978-1-62250-021-5   2013      hs    VG          Realistic Fiction

Gabby Herrera feels like an outsider in her own family, especially in relation to her perfect sister.  She feels the family does not understand that her trying hard sometimes just isn’t enough.  Through a series of her own mistakes and poor choices, drinking and partying too much, fits of temper and outbursts, her favorite uncle’s suicide, and her own attempted suicide, Gabby learns the hard way that she is a victim of depression.

Part of the Gravel Road series of books from Saddleback, this little book will hit home with anyone who knows someone suffering from depression, or is himself depressed.  With the limited vocabulary found in many high-interest/low-level books, the author still manages to bring Gabby’s emotional turmoil to life.  This book brings to the fore a subject that is still stigmatized in our society, making the topic of depression come sadly to life for the reader.              

Depression–Fiction, Suicide–Fiction                   --Lynn Fisher

Higgins, F.E. The Lunatics Curse.

Higgins, F.E.     The Lunatics Curse.     

 Feiwel&Friends/Macmillan Child Pub Gr     2011  336p  16.99 978-0-312-56682-1      ms/jr E-BN  Fantasy      

Rex’s father had gone away on business and came home with a new wife! The moment Rex met Acantha he felt that something was wrong with her sweetness. Then at the dinner table his father took a drink from his cup and right before his very eyes his father went mad and even bit him on his arm. That is when Rex knew that evil was at work in his home.      Rex and his father had a wonderful relationship. After his mother died, Rex and his father did many things together. His father was a brilliant architect and Rex had the opportunity to learn everything as he worked with his dad. He was becoming quite a good architect himself at an early age. Then his father came home with a new wife which was quite surprising because he was given to doing things without thinking it over.
     Rex was suspicious but his father seem genuinely in love until the evening meal was serve. As they sat together at the dinner table his father was drinking from his cup when all of a sudden he stood up and began sweating profusely and then he began wrestling with the air and groaning and growling. Rex sat in shock not understanding what was going on! Then his father grab Rex by his arm and bit him!
 They came and took his father away but Rex suspected that something was not right. Now it was up to him to find out how to solve this mystery and expose Acantha his stepmother as the fraud and murderer that she was.
 Excellent story with many twist and turns and many characters that come and go but all are interconnected in the story and to solve the mystery you just have to follow the leads. Very entertaining and the story keeps you at the edge of your seat.                   

 psychiatric hospitals - father & sons     Magna Diaz
978-0-312-60541-4

Higgins, Dalton. Hip Hop World.

Higgins, Dalton. Hip Hop World.
Groundwood see Douglas McIntyre 2009 144p 18.95 978-0-88899-910-8 hs
Groundwork Guide

This overview of the hip hop rap culture takes an international stance as it examines the history, effects, and social issues that the music addresses. Higgins, a writer and critic of popular media, has written an overview of the hip hop rap scene of today as it relates to the past and the future of the culture of this music. He is Canadian but takes an international stance as he examines the history, the effects, and the social issues that the music addresses. Higgins discusses where the music came from, where it is today, how it works, and where it is going. Subjects that are tackled include: racism, sexism, classism, the use of the “n” word, and drugs. The writing is not just reporting about the world of hip hop, but is a critical introduction to the music that offers opinions about this growing and controversial music. There is an immediacy to the writing that puts forward an original perspective on the music. At the end of the book, there is a Hip Hop Timeline encompassing the time between the birth of rap up to 2009. Extensive notes and an index complete this book. This title will be an excellent addition to high school libraries as it offers a unique point of view about a topic that interests many teen readers. Recommended for Books of Note. Tina Weinraub