World War Z

• Genre: Fiction; Science fiction, horror
• Originally Published: 2006
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 960L; Grades 10 and up
• Structure/Length: Divided into interviews and accounts; approximately 342 pages; approximately 6 hours on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel is presented as a collection of oral histories from survivors of a global zombie apocalypse. Through various first-person accounts, the book explores the outbreak, the government’s response, and the aftermath of the war against the undead. The central conflict revolves around humanity’s struggle for survival in the face of a devastating and unprecedented threat, as well as the geopolitical and social implications of the worldwide crisis.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of violence; horror elements; global disaster; mass casualties

Max Brooks, Author

• Bio: Born 1972; American author and screenwriter; Known for his works in zombie fiction and disaster scenarios; “World War Z” is one of his most notable works, praised for its unique approach to the zombie genre and its exploration of sociopolitical themes; Brooks has a background in comedy writing and has contributed to various television programs; Has also written for graphic novels and lectured on zombie survival; Recognized for his influence on the zombie subculture
• Other Works: “The Zombie Survival Guide” (2003); “The Harlem Hellfighters” (2014); “Minecraft: The Island” (2017); “Devolution” (2020); also contributed to various anthologies and graphic novels