The No-Brainer's Guide to Decomposition

by Adrianna Cuevas

Overview

In Pura Belpré Honor–winning author Adrianna Cuevas's new spooky middle grade novel. Frani must fight to stop the undead from rising in her father’s body-farm laboratory—that is, if she can embrace the true nature of her brain and its ADHD. 

No one has ever called Frani Gonzalez squeamish. Seriously, whether it’s guts (no big deal), bugs (move aside, she’s got this), or anything else that you might find at the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, to her and her dad, the university’s body farm is just home.

Having bodies buried in her backyard doesn’t exactly make Frani the most popular kid in school, and the imaginary spider that lives in a web in her brain isn’t helping either. Arañita’s always to blame for the distracted thoughts weaving through Frani’s mind. But when a hand reaches out of the ground and grabs her ankle, Frani realizes that she’s got bigger problems.

Not everything is as it seems at the body farm, and now Frani must help the teenage zombie that crawled out of the dirt…before he gets too hungry. But as more and more zombies begin to appear—and they seem to get less and less friendly—can Frani embrace the true nature of her brain and count on new friendships to solve the body farm's mystery before it's overrun with the undead? 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063285545
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/24/2024
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	620,906
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.83(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Adrianna Cuevas is the author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, Cuba in My Pocket, The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto, and Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo. She is a first-generation Cuban American originally from Miami, Florida. A former Spanish and ESOL teacher, Adrianna currently resides outside of Austin, Texas, with her husband and son. When not working with TOEFL students, wrangling multiple pets including an axolotl, and practicing fencing with her son, she is writing her next middle grade novel.

Editorial Reviews

07/08/2024

The summer before seventh grade deviates from Frani Gonzalez’s expectations in this distinctively eerie adventure by Cuevas (Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo). Frani—who lives on a “body farm” with her forensic anthropology professor papi and older sister and calls her ADHD brain Arañita, or little spider—is assisting her father with his research over the summer. When strange things start happening, such as corpses rising out of the ground and wandering the property, Frani’s new friend Benji proposes theories from horror movies. The actual cause eludes them—until they befriend “Definitely Undead Dude” Santiago, a perpetually 16-year-old former foster kid whose disappearance and death went uninvestigated. Thorough forensics research, as explained in back matter, provides clinical facts about decomposition that add heft to numerous gross-out moments in this genre-bending tag-team horror adventure. The focus on Frani’s attempts to better understand her brain and how it works—and how to use it to her advantage—offers a unique perspective to the numerous supernatural and interpersonal challenges she encounters throughout. Frani and Santiago are Latinx; Benji reads as Japanese American. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Heartfelt, humorous, and fast-paced. This book will make you fall in love with zombies!” — Daka Hermon, author of Hide and Seeker and Nightmare King

“Maggot’s nostrils! Prepare to be entertained, grossed out, and educated all at once. This is the zombie STEM book you never knew you needed, and won’t be able to put down.” — Shakirah Bourne, author of Josephine Against the Sea and Nightmare Island

“Get ready for some ghoulish good times! This book is going to make your starving brain salivate and you’ll scarf down every page!” — Guadalupe García McCall, Pura Belpré Award–winning author

"Numerous gross-out moments in this genre-bending tag-team horror adventure." — Publishers Weekly

"With its mix of forensics, ADHD representation, and suspense, this novel offers a unique read for those who enjoy spooky science fiction and heartfelt storytelling. A story with plenty of heart—and other body parts." — Kirkus Reviews

"This funny, affirming work injects a perfect dose of ick into the fast-paced action. Readers of this tweenage romp will unearth a playful yet authentic exploration of body and brain science with an abundance of heart." 
— Booklist

"Offering this book to children who love adventure and a bit of horror is a no-brainer." — Horn Book Magazine

From the Publisher

2024-07-19
The days are bound to be interesting when your backyard is a body farm, as 12-year-old Francisca Mirabel Gonzalez well knows.

Frani relishes the decomposition science her father studies at Central Texas University’s Forensic Anthropology Research Facility. Far from squeamish, she helps her dad prepare cadavers for their placement in the field so he can record data on how bodies decompose under different conditions. Frani, who struggles with ADHD, worries that Benji Tanaka, a new scientist’s son, will find her interest weird. But Benji, who’s also 12, surprises her by sharing her fascination. After several of the cadavers turn up missing, Benji and Frani come face-to-face with a reanimated corpse. Befriending the teenage zombie, they try to discover his identity before the other missing bodies wreak havoc on campus. Gruesome—and scientifically accurate—details about the dead bodies will enthrall readers with strong stomachs. Cuevas, who also has ADHD, presents the realistic reactions Frani receives to her condition: Her sister is hypercritical, but her dad is supportive, using strategies to help her stay focused. Frani progresses from self-criticism to self-acceptance, recognizing her neurodivergence as a strength as she helps the team round up the walking dead. With its mix of forensics, ADHD representation, and suspense, this novel offers a unique read for those who enjoy spooky science fiction and heartfelt storytelling. Frani and her family read Latine, while Benji and his dad are cued Japanese American.

A story with plenty of heart—and other body parts. (author’s note)(Paranormal. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews