Author: Thomas Jenner and Angeline Perkins
Published By: Survive Entertainment
Reviewed by Melissa Minners
When I first heard word of this horror novel written through the eyes of a nine year old, I was intrigued. A zombie novel written in the form of a child’s diary – interesting. The fact that I could download Kellie’s Diary #1 by Thomas Jenner and Angeline Perkins for free made it even more inviting. I decided to check it out.
We meet Kellie during the beginning stages of an outbreak. Kellie describes having just returned from her grandparents’ home, but it doesn’t really explain why she had been staying there (long enough to have been attending school apparently). We learn that a mysterious outbreak, possibly the flu, has been spreading throughout Kellie’s school. Kellie is scared, but she believes that this is just a really bad cold. She has no idea what’s in store for her.
After a couple of days, Kellie realizes that there is more to this spreading illness than she could ever have imagined. She finds herself hiding out in a school bathroom while classmates and teachers alike become “monsters,” taking bites out of one another. Incredibly resourceful for a little girl, Kellie somehow finds her way to the cafeteria and loads up on food supplies before making a break for it and trying to get to her home. But if and when she gets there, what will she find? After all, it has been days and she hasn’t seen one member of her family. Are they still alive, or have they turned into monsters like everyone else?
Kellie’s Diary #1 is quite an interesting read. I’ve read zombie tales written in the first person as seen through the eyes of the victim, I’ve read zombie stories written in the first person, I’ve even read zombie stories written in the first person as seen through the eyes of a zombie, but I have never read a zombie tale written as having been seen through the eyes of a child. I loved the diary format of this novel. Reading the entries by Kellie in the scrawl of a child with all of its spelling errors and grammar issues gives the readers a sense of youthful innocence. It actually makes the tale that more disturbing as you find yourself thinking, “What can this little nine-year-old girl do against a horde of flesh-eating zombies?”
Thomas Jenner and Angeline Perkins have really achieved something new here – a zombie story as seen through the eyes of an innocent child. Writing it in diary style makes the tale that much more real and that much more disturbing. Their writing draws the reader to the character, making them care about Kellie and hoping against hope that she survives. My only complaint is that the book was so short – I finished it in a matter of a couple of hours! I have to get hold of the rest of the Kellie’s Diary series – I need to know what happens to this poor, loveable little girl.
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