ValHamster

Being the greatest zombie fighter of all time is a lot for one animal, but Emmy’s the perfect hamster for the job. Fire, rage, and fury are her weapons of choice and woe to the undead human who crosses her path. That is, until the mammals she lives with invite a weasel, of all creatures, to join their camp. This unthinkable betrayal reminds Emmy that letting friends into your heart is always a mistake.

A lone warrior at her core, Emmy takes this opportunity to leave on a solo mission to rid the world of zombies once and for all. But, to her dismay, she seems to attract every helpless animal possible — humans, rabbits, dogs, bears, you name it. When Emmy finally shakes her companions, she discovers that being alone and unloved is a fate worse than death. Maybe loving those animals is what gave her the courage to fight zombies in the first place.

ANGELA MISRI is an award-winning journalist, author and educator. She is best known for her detective series, The Portia Adams Adventures, and her middle grade series, Tales from the Apocalypse. Pickles vs the Zombies won the 2021 Hackmatack Award for fiction. Trip of the Dead is up for the 2023 Red Cedar Award. Angela teaches journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University.