Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Post-apocalyptic romp has humor and heart, kids and zombies.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 10 kid reviews
Kids say that this series is entertaining and humorous, often mentioning its cartoon-like depiction of a zombie apocalypse that's suitable for older children. Although there are some scary moments and mild violence, many reviewers feel it is appropriate for ages eight and up, praising its creativity and relatability for kids and teens.
- fun
- suitable age
- mild violence
- creative storytelling
- funny content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Trying to stay safe in a town full of the undead, 13-year-old Jack and his friends soon realize they are THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH. Jack treats the whole thing like a video game, complete with race courses and challenges for points, and with his best friend Quint builds an epically cool tree fort, makes friends with the town's monsters, and tries to figure out how to survive. Along the way they join forces with the few remaining kids in town: Dirk, the school bully and June, Jack's crush and a fierce and focused fighter. The kids try to slay the unrelenting army of zombies and stay alive while an ancient evil king won't stop trying to devour all of planet Earth.
Is It Any Good?
With eye-catching illustrations on every page and funny dialogue among friends, it would be easy to dismiss this series as standard zombie fare. Jack is out to have fun, and everything is a game to him. But The Last Kids on Earth series delves deep into the minds and hearts of the kids who are fighting for their lives while trying to eat as much junk food as possible. Jack is a foster kid who's had a rough time in the foster care system. His best friend, Quint, is full of quirks, Dirk is the school bully, and June rarely admits she needs help.
The Jack-June portrayal gets better over time, but in the beginning, Jack treats her like something to be won ("I call dibs on her") and doesn't listed when she tells him to go away. She sets a boundary and he blows right past it -- hardly the example to show readers navigating their own crushes. Despite the way this stereotypical boy-girl crush plays out, the series is a magnificent, funny, fast-paced look at emotions, expectations, and how building the tree fort of your dreams can really be all you ever hoped. And zombies. Don't forget the zombies.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they would do if they were in a situation like The Last Kids on Earth. What would you do first? Do you think it would be fun to be on your own, with or without zombies?
Who would you want with you on an adventure like this, and why?
What other books about zombies have you read?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Douglas Holgate
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Viking Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : October 13, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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