Zombierella: Fairytales Gone Bad

A really excellent gruesome story in verse. Coelho is always exceptional , and now he has an mbe

Elsahughes

When Cinderella dies after falling down the stairs she is visited by “The Fairy of Death.” who says “Cinderella, you have died, It is sad but true, You fell and hit your head, after slipping on some poo!” the Fairy goes on to give her three nights to attend the balls being hosted by the Prince. Zombierella is laugh out loud funny, from the opening words of the inside cover “Dear friends if you are looking for a lovely little rags-to-riches fairy tale, please close this book IMMEDIATLEY. Immediately. This gory story has bugs and bogeys, slimy surprises, and more than a spot of revenge. And, yes…I’m afraid, dear sweet readers that there is DEATH.” The characters, especially Cinderella’s three ‘fake’ step-sisters are fabulous and completely over the top. The descriptions of characters and surroundings are great and make everything easy to imagine even Cinderella’s feet (no spoilers)! The book is cleverly written and has the most amazing illustrations that compliment the words and bring the story to life, a perfect read for KS2.

SarahC39

Star Reviewer

Dark! I plan to use this as a book club text with Y4-6. I hope that the boys are able to get past the 'retelling of a fairytale' as I think they'll love the gruesome details.

MHames

Such a fun book! Fab, my Year 5s are going to love this! A familiar story with a gruesome twist. Zombies, vampires, skeletons and self-amputation.. what more could a 10 year old wish for?

KirstenF

A dark version of the classic Cinderella Fairytale. A quick read but took some time to get used to the layout of the text and switching into rhyme every so often. I’m going to share this book with a Year 4 class but I’m in 2 minds about how it will be received with lots of reference to death as well as the dark content of the undead.

MaxMiaL

Not sure what to make of this. Part of the Fairy Tales Gone Bad series it takes the story of Cinderella and turns it upside down and inside out! Told in a mixture of prose and poetry by Joseph Coelho, it is full of puns and wordplay supported by amazing black & white illustrations throughout by Freya Hartas. This is an imaginative and quirky read, but is very dark, gory and gruesome so may not appeal to everyone, but is certainly worth a look. Also ticks the diversity box as Zombierella and her family are women of colour.

Joyful

Wonderfully written story that spins the traditional fairytale in a fantastically gruesome new way. Zombierella is still the kind hearted girl from the traditional tale, but this time she uses her unusual zombie talents to woo a prince and frighten her ‘fake’ sisters. Really enjoyed this retelling, especially all the small details that pull the whole feel of the story into something humorously gory but not needlessly frightening. Recommend for readers who want a bit more to a traditional fairytale and who are gaining confidence in reading longer books but still enjoy illustrations to break up the text.

Elli D

It says it’s a gory story and it most definitely is! A dark re-telling of Cinderella, not for the squeamish, but easy to read and good fun

Roobarb

One of the oddest books I have read. Perhaps more of an 'experience' than a read? By the end I was fond of it but there were details along the way that I really didn't enjoy. It's not aimed at me though, and I think a lot of children would find it fun. It reminded me (only a teeny weeny bit) of the 'Uncle Gobb' books by Michael Rosen. The unconventionality perhaps? What I loved though, were the illustrations. I'd highly recommend it on the strength of the illustrations.

Stephanie_H

A twisted tale - a zombie Cinderella tale in verse! Sounded nutty, but was absolutely brilliant. Grabbed me from the beginning, and couldn't put it down until I'd finished. Read it in one sitting!

ameena.gamiet

This book is a fascinating twist on the traditional tale, with plenty of links to the original as well as any modern twists and flourishes. The story is very descriptive and vice, creating an absorbing world for the reader. It does include a number of dark, gruesome elements which might not be suitable for young readers but will definitely entice slightly older KS2 readers.

MissBloomfield

A marvellously gruesome imagining of Cinderella. Rich vocabulary and amazing illustrations. Have been reading with my Y4 class this week and they are oh so keen to read more!

ChrisGraham

This is a very alternative version of Cinderella, nothing like any other version you will have read before. Full of shocks and yucky moments this is the sort of version that children will love. Cinderella lives with her fake sisters and fake mother (who had almost certainly murdered her real father) and they make her life a misery; so far, much like the original. But that is where the story differs- the Prince is a Vampire who feeds on his brides, plural, and keeps moving on to find a new one. Before she can get to the ball Cinderella dies and is resurrected on a temporary basis by Death. After several gory and revolting moments, the story ends happily ever after, only with rather fewer feet than the characters started out with. My seven-year-old read and enjoyed this; her verdict was that it was Cinderella with a sad and bad bit in the middle, but the right ending- which pretty much sums it up. I have to confess to not enjoying the gory bits, but I’m not a seven-year-old and she seemed unbothered by it. I think what really helps are the wonderful illustrations. Cinderella/Zombierella is beautiful, even when dead! The bloodier parts of the book are rendered in cartoon, with no real gore in sight, just bones sticking out! Each of the fake sisters is also beautifully recreated as larger than life characters and the whole thing is in black and white. The cover is particularly gorgeous. The book is also really accessible for a young audience, using some challenging vocabulary in such a way that it becomes easy to comprehend. “….the mushroom swelled and bloated into the form of a carriage..” And at times the characters do things like nasalize to each other, or phlegm instead of speaking! The language is very poetic and at times the story is told through poems. There is obviously scope for many more books in this series and as the inscription at the front of the book says, children will always enjoy the gruesome tales because there is something deliciously wicked about them.

Jach

I found this a very funny book that those in upper KS2 would just love. Full of zombies and vampires and with fake sisters at hand, the twist to the Cinderella tale was very creative. The illustrations are stunning and I also likeD it being written in poetry form. An easy but memorable read.

Madaboutbooks

Excellent gory story told through poetry with some challenging vocabulary too - perfect KS1/2 October reading.

readnteach

A twist on a usual fairy tale, this book is amusing and fun, slightly gory and has great illustrations.

hfaz

This dark, eerie story has beautiful description and floods of wonderful vocabulary. Filled with dark humour and a deathly twist, the story captures the dark tale of a dead princess who has entered the other world. The verses are haunting and gothic and are perfect for teaching poetry to upper KS2. A great choice for Halloween!

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