The End Games
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The End Games is an action-packed adventure set in the wake of a zombie apocalypse. Characters are attacked by undead "Bellows," becoming monsters themselves if bitten. In addition to the monster-killing, there is a lot of gunplay between factions of human characters, including one group led by a murderous priest. The language is strong (frequent uses of "damn," "hell," "s--t," "bastard," and "piss") but "f--k" is very rarely used. The mayhem may be too intense for younger or more sensitive readers.
Community Reviews
Very dumb zombie apocalypse book.
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What's the Story?
When the zombie apocalypse arrives, Michael tells his mentally fragile brother, Patrick, that the mayhem is only a Game, that nothing bad will happen to them if they play by the rules and obey the instructions of the mysterious Game Master. But as Michael and Patrick travel through West Virginia and meet up with other survivors trying to keep the undead \"Bellows\" at bay, the Game starts to change. The Bellows begin mutating, and those who lead the various factions of humans begin acting in odd ways. Will Michael be able to maintain the web of lies he has spun, or will the truth come crashing down on everyone he loves?
Is It Any Good?
There's no shortage of zombie novels these days, but THE END GAMES finds an interesting new wrinkle in the subgenre. Michael's attempt to protect his beloved brother by insisting that the end of civilization is a game that they can ultimately "win" gives the events in the novel a greater poignancy than is usually found in this kind of horror novel. Although the dialogue sometimes becomes repetitive, the action is relentless, and there are plot twists that most readers will not see coming.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about lying, even to ease someone's anxiety. What are some of the unforeseen consequences that can come from telling lies?
Why are books and movies about zombies so popular?
How do governments maintain authority during a disaster? How are power vacuums filled when society collapses?
Book Details
- Author: T. Michael Martin
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Balzer + Bray
- Publication date: May 7, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
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The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Cool heroine makes this for more than zombie horror fans.
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Warm Bodies
Gory but sweet romance of teen girl and zombie.
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This Is Not a Test
Zombie apocalypse meets mature high school-set thriller.
For kids who love horror and zombies
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