A Good Night for Shooting Zombies
by Jaco Jacobs, illustrated by Jim Tierney
Translated by Kobus Geldenhuys
Interest age: 10 to 13
Reading age: 11+
Published by Rock the Boat, 2018
About this book
Martin, also called Clucky, spends most of his time with his chickens after his dad dies, as well as thinking a lot about maths. His mother has withdrawn in her grief and his sister spends all her time with her boyfriend.
He meets his neighbour Vusi when Vusi’s dog kills Martin’s favourite chicken. Introductions don’t go well when Vusi reveals he knows about Martin’s mother being a former actress, which leaves Vusi with a bloody nose.
Sent over to apologise the next day, Martin learns that Vusi has cancer, and the two bond over Vusi’s love for horror films. Vusi’s ambition is to create a zombie movie, and as Martin helps realise Vusi’s vision, he begins to step out of his comfort zone and discover his potential.
This is the second of Jaco Jacobs’s books to be translated from Afrikaans and it is a wonderfully quirky, humorous and heart-warming read. Jacobs is a superb storyteller, blending a captivating voice with a compelling plot. You can immediately tell he is a master at writing for children and young adults.
With over 140 books to his name, we can only hope that more continue to be translated into English from what is likely to be a treasure trove of stories.
About the author
More books like this
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A Good Day For Climbing Trees
by Jaco Jacobs, illustrated by Jim Tierney
9 to 14 years
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Mexikid: a Graphic Memoir
by Pedro Martin
9 to 14 years
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My Especially Weird Week with Tess
by Anna Woltz
9 to 14 years
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The Elephant In The Room (Holly Goldberg Sloan)
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
9 to 14 years
Lists of recommended reads
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World Cancer Day
4 February is World Cancer Day, which aims to raise awareness, urge governments to take action, and educate us all about the disease and its impact. We've put together a booklist for children of all ages featuring stories that explore the effects of cancer, so if you and your family want to do some wider reading, take a look at our recommendations below.