Zoe, Undead
GENRE
THRILLER.
Core Theme
SURVIVAL.
TIME PERIOD
Contemporary
COMPARABLE TITLES
DAWN OF THE DEAD, 28 DAYS LATER, WORLD WAR Z
CHARACTER LIST
ZOE: 17. AUTISTIC. INQUISITIVE. COMPASSIONATE. COURAGEOUS. INTELLIGENT.
FATHER. 40S.
MOTHER. 40S.
BROTHER. 15.
ZACHARY. 18. ALLY.
SERGEANT MORRIS. 50S. ALLY.
Logline
Zoe is only seventeen. She is autistic, and alone. And infected. However, the virus that has made most of humanity into a population of mindless, murdering zombies was unable to rewrite her autistic brain. And now, Zoe may just hold the key to the survival of the human race.
Target Audiences
Age: 13-17,18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Undisclosed city, U.S.A.
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: KDP
Year Published: 2012
Starting Description
Zoe's family is in a rush to flee their home and their city ahead of the zombie onslaught. She is only told they are going on a trip. As she is helping her brother load the van, the zombies arrive and she is bitten, and sent to hide in the garden shed as the family tries to fend off the zombies.
Ending Description
Now a cognitive zombie, Zoe finds a place among the Zombie Response Team, and finds herself at the center of their efforts to take the city back from the zombies.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
1478323280
Mature Audience Themes
Information not completed
Plot - Other Elements
Coming of Age,Happy Ending,Meaningful Message,Twist
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Other,Tragedy
Main Character Details
Name: Zoe Rebecca Templeton
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Charming,Clumsy,Complex,Desperate,Engaging,Faithful,Insecure,Naive,Underdog,Selfless,Funny,Strong Moral Code
Additional Character Details
Name: Sergeant William Morris
Age: 28-30
Gender: Male
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Badass,Aggressive,Charming,Confident,Decisive,Engaging,Faithful,Heartthrob,Heroic,Honorable,Leader,Masculine,Patriotic,Selfless,Skillful,Strong Moral Code,Unapologetic
Additional Character Details
Name: Doctor Rachel Caswell
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Charming,Complex,Confident,Empathetic,Selfless,Engaging,Faithful,Gracious,Sophisticated,Educated,Leader
Additional Character Details
Name: Colonel Halstead
Age: 55-60
Gender: Male
Role: mentor
Key Traits: Adventurous,Aspiring,Masculine,Badass,Aggressive,Complex,Confident,Patriotic,Decisive,Blunt,Selfless,Engaging,Outspoken,Skillful,Funny,Heroic,Honorable,Leader,Strong Moral Code
Genre
ACTION, THRILLER
Brief
When a zombie outbreak occurs, 17-year-old autistic Zoe is bitten and ends up hiding in a mall until a Zombie Response Team offers hope for her salvation.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: GOOD
Premise: FAIR
Structure: FAIR
Theme: FAIR
Accuracy of Book Profile
It is accurate.
Draw of Story
ZOE UNDEAD offers an interesting spin on the zombie movie through its protagonist Zoe and the Asperger’s Syndrome which affects her daily life (formerly called Asperger’s Syndrome, this condition today is known as Autism Spectrum Disorder). This condition is relatively unexplored in film and TV today despite the huge number of people worldwide who also live with this condition (as many as 1 in 44 children in the U.S., according to the CDC). Although the zombie element to this story, which is the bulk of the story, has been done a thousand times, this is the first story this reader is aware of which puts an exploration of autism at the front of such a story, and this is by far this story’s greatest attribute, particularly because such an exploration is done here in so authentic-feeling a manner.
Possible Drawbacks
Aside from the autism element, this story is otherwise one we have seen a thousand times as a zombie outbreak sends America hurtling toward apocalypse while the protagonist and others attempt to survive by hiding out in building such as shopping malls and battle zombies. The quality of the writing shows room for improvement, with lots of repetition in action and dialogue, while the characters often sound the same when they speak, lacking distinct identities. The biggest issue is the story’s reliance on cliche, contrived events, and overly familiar tropes.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The hook is that the protagonist, a 17-year-old girl, lives and often struggles with the condition of autism spectrum disorder while a zombie outbreak plunges America into apocalypse.
Fanbase Potential
A film which compassionately and authentically explores autism could acquire a dedicated fanbase of people with, or close to others living with, this condition while the story, appealing to a wide audience, could result in a large fanbase as well.
Awards Potential
Not particularly; the awards community tends to overlook genre fare. However, films which compassionately and authentically explore conditions such as autism often do well at awards season.
Envisioned Budget
LARGE BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
DAWN OF THE DEAD, 28 DAYS LATER, WORLD WAR Z
What’s New About the Story
The only thing truly original about this story is its compassionate and authentic exploration of autism. Otherwise, we’ve seen every other element a thousand times. The story could be more unique by replacing the zombie outbreak with a new, more original crisis plunging America into apocalypse. Zombies have been done so much at this point that almost any other crisis would arguably stand out more in the marketplace.
Lead Characters
Zoe stands out as she struggles with autism in an increasingly chaotic world. The other characters bleed together.
Uniqueness of Story
No; it requires improvement across all areas.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Indie, Streaming TV Series: Network, Cable, Limited Run / Mini-Series, Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
The story and most of its elements we have seen many, many times.
Tips for Improvement
More originality in terms of plot and character is required in order for this story to be considered.
Brief
When a zombie outbreak occurs, 17-year-old autistic Zoe is bitten and ends up hiding in a mall until a Zombie Response Team offers hope for her salvation.
What We Liked
ZOE UNDEAD offers an interesting spin on the zombie movie through its protagonist Zoe and the Asperger’s Syndrome which affects her daily life (formerly called Asperger’s Syndrome, this condition today is known as Autism Spectrum Disorder). This condition is relatively unexplored in film and TV today despite the huge number of people worldwide who also live with this condition (as many as 1 in 44 children in the U.S., according to the CDC). For this reason, a film exploring this condition in the authentic manner this story does would be a welcome addition to the marketplace, and could use this element as a hook for marketing purposes. The inclusion of this condition in the
story enhances Zoe’s arc in the story as she grows throughout the story from a more naive 17-year-old living safely with her family to an independent young woman who fights for her life, independently. In this way, ZOE UNDEAD is a clever coming-of-age tale which explores simultaneously autism and the breakdown of American society in the wake of an existential crisis, bolstered by a thrilling, twisty plot and fast pace.
Film: Film is the ideal format for adaptation of ZOE UNDEAD. The novel follows the classic three-act structure and could be adapted easily into a feature-film format for this reason, while the content of the story is ideal for a summer blockbuster-type movie release that could be a huge hit theatrically or on a streamer. A film adaptation of this story would have something for everyone in the audience, and therefore could draw a large viewership.
TV: ZOE UNDEAD could be adapted effectively into a TV series because, as seen with THE WALKING DEAD, the setting and world-building of an America consumed by a zombie apocalypse offer potentially unlimited avenues for plotlines and character arcs to explore throughout the course of the show, and as that aforementioned TV show has made obvious, there is a massive audience for such a show. A bonus for this story is how it explores autism spectrum disorder—something a TV could explore with creativity over many seasons, which would help to make this show unique.
Key points:
1) Authentically and compassionately explores autism spectrum disorder.
2) Entertaining blend of action, thrills, and drama.
3) Has something for everyone, drawing a universal audience.
4) Well paced.
5) A coming-of-age story wrapped inside a zombie apocalypse story which also explores
autism.
Synopsis
Life seems constant for 17-year-old Zoe as she is watching a television show. She has Asperger’s syndrome and is fixated on maintaining her general routine, which means that at the moment, she is free to watch her favorite TV show. A zombie outbreak occurs and Zoe gets bitten by a zombie. Her skin turns grey but she does not turn into a full zombie, and her life is spared by a Zombie Response Team fighting back against the horde. Later, a Zombie Response Team rescues Zoe and some others and they go to a hospital base.
Peace is restored for a while until the zombies find the hospital base and rally in large numbers to attack it. The team gains the support of another Zombie Rescue Team that had tankers. As such, they are able to secure the hospital base and retain its services. Since they have more personnel and weapons, they are in a better position to defend the whole region.