Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Get ready for the next sensation: waking up after you’ve died.

It started with one strange case, and now it’s happening to more and more American teens. But having a second chance doesn’t make living, or whatever their existence is called, any easier for these “living impaired” or “differently biotic” teens. They face much discrimination, fear, and hatred, and they don’t have any legal rights either. That means anyone who hates them enough can destroy them – and the differently biotic won’t be able to come back after their second death.

Most people are terrified of the differently biotic, but Phoebe is actually attracted to their leader, Tommy Williams. This makes Phoebe’s best friend Margi uncomfortable because of what happened to their other friend Colette. Phoebe’s other good friend Adam is just realizing his deeper feelings for Phoebe, and he doesn’t quite know how to deal with the fact that Phoebe likes Tommy. Add in Pete, a football player who hates the differently biotic with a passion, and you have the incredible novel Generation Dead.

Daniel Waters proves himself to be an exceptionally talented writer with this debut. This story is fast-paced and incredibly unique, and I was impressed with how Waters took on the philosophical topic of death (or undeath, in this case). I liked how each character’s past influenced the decisions they made and the mysteriousness that surrounded others. I can honestly say Generation Dead was one of the best-written and most unique stories I have ever read.

Generation Dead was an incredibly amazing novel, and it has the potential to be made into a series, which I hope happens. I most definitely recommend this novel to anyone and everyone, especially fans of the Twilight series and other vampire novels. I suggest everyone run to the nearest bookstore on May 6 before Generation Dead gets sold out.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Disney Hyperion