Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Zombie adventure with a twist is a cut above most.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
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 :
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy
- 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 : October 1, 2025
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