4 stars
| Every time I see this book, I think about reading it because I’m drawn in by the zombie story, unique take, and bright cover. I finally picked it up from the library last week. I’ve been hesitant to read it, because while I enjoy silly, goofy, gross-out humor like The Adventures of Captain Underpants, I’m also pretty picky when it comes to animal stories. I’m one of those people who rarely reads dog books because I know something bad is going to happen to the dog. However, when I finally read this, I found I actually really enjoyed it. The writing is fun and cartoonish. While Tom’s brother definitely has some violent plans for Frankie, that fish can take care of himself. Mark’s plots feel reminiscent of Loony Tune-esque schemes that you know will not quite work out. This book is broken into two stories, “A Frankly Shocking Tale” and “Rules the School!”. Both of the stories are action-packed and easy to get into. This was definitely one of those books that I did not want to put down. It is weird and hilarious and creative and great. I am already looking forward to reading the next book. There are also tons of humorous illustrations throughout the stories. I especially liked the ones representing weird idioms and turns of phrase like “dead meat” and “on the double”. They made the stories even more engaging and fun. The one drawback to the book is the sibling rivalry. While funny and what I can only assume is relatable (only-child over here), the older brothers’ tendency to call their siblings “morons” is less than ideal. But it does fit with the story and definitely seems like something mostly/completely evil brothers would do. In that aspect, I get it, but I can see why some parents would have reservations about that detail. On the whole, this was a fantastic read that is funny, engaging, and just weird enough to be thoroughly entertaining. A great book for reluctant readers and book worms alike. Can’t wait to read the next book for more stories of zombie fish strangeness and high jinks. Goodreads |