Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

All across America, dead teenagers...aren't staying dead. They come back as "differently biotic" or "living impaired) (to be politically correct) beings, who are pale, less mobile, and less coordinated so they are taunted because of these traits, by the normally biotic people. This phenonoma only occurs in America, perhaps because of all the immunization and vaccinations that American teenagers have gotten when they were younger. These kids that come back for a second chance at life are hated and since there are no laws protecting these differently biotic, the more zealous of the angry lot have taken violet action against the differently biotic teens, often maiming or killing them, and when a differently biotic dies a second time, that's it, they're dead for good.

Phoebe, a goth girl, has her share of friends, but is definitely not one of the popular kids at school. She does not hate or love the living impared students that start attending her school but she and her friend Margi are haunted by guilt over one of the girls who have come back as a living impared. Most of Phoebe's classmates are less than happy when the living impared start attending their high school, and when one living impared teen joins the football team, the school is in an uproar.

Only Adam and a few others on the football team are more open to the idea of having a differently biotic teammate. The others, with the coach's support, try repeatedly to take out the differently biotic player--Tommy Williams. Much to Phoebe's surprise, she is growing closer to Tommy, and finds herself crushing on him. Those who learn of her crush are not pleased at all--no living person has ever been with a living impared person before. But as the crush becomes more and starts to entangle Phoebe in complex webs of hate and violence, Phoebe finds herself having to take a side. Can she somehow help these differently biotic teens be more accepted in society and help protect them? Or will she also fall prey to "zombie"-haters and their violence? Can she and Margi confront their past and their guilt to start anew with the girl that has become a living impared?

Phoebe joins the Differently Biotic Work Study Program in an attempt to help out, but doing so has earned her even more animosity from the zombie-haters, and her increasing interaction with the so-called 'zombies' is not increasing her social status either. But when Adam realizes that he loves Phoebe and tries to protect her and her new DB friends, more and more people are dragged into the deadly webs of hate and confusion, and the uneasy peace cannot last for long...

Where does Phoebe's heart lie? Where does Tommy's heart lie? Can the imminent confrontation be somehow stopped? Can rights for DB kids be won? Can Phoebe make a difference in this ever-changing society?

Generation Dead was an undoubtedly innovative story with some amazing characters! However, at some points it felt a bit slow and seemed to drag on before the pace picked up again. Generation Dead was an interesting read overall and really gives you some food for thought. Our society is rarely accepting of big changes and yes, there are some overly zealous people even today that think violence is the answer. This novel gave an interesting (& rather acurate, in my opinion) view on society today, and I really cannot imagine what it would be like if dead teens across America did come back to life, but I would hope that there would not be widespread violence and hatred.

9.350 (out of 10)