Happy Town - by Greg Van Eekhout (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Keegan knows there's something off about Happy Town. The isolated, high-tech company town is too perfect--with a dome keeping out bad weather and self-driving vehicles rumbling throughout the town delivering residents to work and school. Still, Keegan is excited to grow his art skills at Happy Town's ultra-modern middle school, even if he has less time to see his mom and stepdad because of their new jobs. But when the two become obsessed with working and eating Happy Corp Meat Cramwich (the Microwaveable Sandwich Crammed with Meat) and Keegan gets sentenced to Mandatory Work Opportunities for refusing to follow Happy Town's shady rules, he discovers a dangerous glitch in the system that's turning the town's happy residents into zombies"--

Book Synopsis

Stay calm and remain HAPPY. Help is on the way.

Perfect for fans of Gordon Korman and Jennifer L. Holm, this adventure-packed middle grade story, set in a world not too far from our own, follows a family that moves to a remote company town that seems perfect on the surface....

Keegan knows there's something off about Happy Town.

The isolated, high-tech company town is too perfect--with a dome keeping out bad weather and self-driving vehicles rumbling throughout the town delivering residents to work and school. Still, Keegan is excited to grow his art skills at Happy Town's ultra-modern middle school, even if he has less time to see his mom and stepdad because of their new jobs.

But when the two become obsessed with working and eating Happy Corp Meat Cramwich (the Microwaveable Sandwich Crammed with Meat) and Keegan gets sentenced to Mandatory Work Opportunities for refusing to follow Happy Town's shady rules, he discovers a dangerous glitch in the system that's turning the town's happy residents into zombies. Carnivorous, meat-craving, literal zombies. With his new friends Gloriana and Tank by his side, he'll need to find a way to destroy Happy Town's happy system--before there's nothing left.

• Dystopian for Kids: Welcome to a perfect town under a dome where the weather is always great, the self-driving cars are always on time, and the adults are slowly losing their minds.
• Kids vs. Adults: When the grown-ups become obsessed with a disgusting microwave sandwich and start acting like zombies, it's up to Keegan and his new friends to save the day.
• A Secret Conspiracy: Keegan, an artist who just wants to go with the flow, gets detention for not following the rules and uncovers the creepy truth behind Happy Town's perfect smile.
• Found Family: An artist, a rebel who loves to break things, and a gentle giant who reads romance novels team up to take down a sinister corporation.

Review Quotes

"Van Eekhout delivers a winner here for readers who enjoy sinking their teeth into a zombie apocalypse low on explicit gore but well seasoned with satiric tweaks and twists." - Booklist

"The humor is sharp-edged in a way that savvy young readers who are just beginning to understand capitalist cogs will likely find immensely satisfying... Dystopias for the middle grade set are relatively rare, and this clever novel is a worthy addition to the mix." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A wonderfully silly and gross page-turner, sure to resonate with Goosebumps fans... this tale will delight genre fans with its skillfully wrought intersection of social commentary and horror." - Kirkus Reviews

"In this Rick Riordan-esque epic, modern and ancient worlds collide in a vividly sketched adventure that begs to be adapted for the screen. Thrilling and touching in equal measure." - Kirkus Reviews

"Exciting and intriguing twist on science-fiction tropes. A standout SF adventure." - Kirkus Reviews

"A crackling page-turner about courage and wonder, full of warmth and heart and characters who jump off the page. It's my favorite book of the year." - Rae Carson, New York Times bestselling author of the Girl of Fire & Thorns series

"Dogs in space? Who knew we needed that? But Greg van Eekhout proves we did! Voyage of the Dogs is a delight, and kids are going to love it." - Spencer Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of Woof

Praise for Weird Kid: "Impeccably toned middle school humor, paired with action-packed hijinks and a poignant extended metaphor about finding one's identity, results in a heartfelt, pitch-perfect middle grade novel." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for Fenris & Mott: "Van Eekhout gives readers both a redoubtable human protagonist who shows hidden depths of courage and resilience on the way to an ingenious resolution, and a canine one who is at once irresistibly winsome and terrifyingly destructive (not unlike many nonmythical dogs)." - Booklist (starred review)

"Readers will relish every outlandish detail." - Horn Book Magazine

"Dog-lovers and space enthusiasts will gravitate to Van Eekhout's riveting book." - Booklist

Praise for Cog: "A page-turning novel of friendship, family, and standing up for what's right." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A wacky, witty, action-packed alien adventure with a poignant message about being your best self." - John David Anderson, author of Posted

"Greg van Eekhout brings magic, mystery, humor, and weird science to his wonderful WEIRD KID! Devious and fun -and highly recommended!" - Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Rot & Ruin

"No one mixes gonzo with heartfelt like Greg van Eekhout. Amid wacky aliens, secret organizations, and larger-than-life guitar solos, is one kid just trying to figure out who he is. I was rooting for Jake on every page, and you will be, too!" - Jenn Reese, author of A Game of Fox & Squirrels

"Who's a good boy? Lopside and the canine crew of the starship Laika! This dogs in space romp will make you sit up and beg for more." - Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

"Van Eekhout brings considerable heart and wisdom to this coming-of-age tale. A thought-provoking tale for younger readers about hubris and what it means to be human." - Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Voyage of the Dogs: "Fast-moving, funny, and suspenseful. A deep-space furry adventure with heart and humor." - Kirkus Reviews

Zenith's candidly funny first-person narrative applies a light, portmanteau-riddled touch to themes of death and grief, while the protagonists' close relationships and powers offer up sheer spectral fun. - Publishers Weekly

"Van Eekhout applies a deft touch to Mott's difficult ethical dilemma, imbuing the quickly paced story with tenderness and genuine surprises." - Publishers Weekly

In this latest caper from the ingenious Van Eekhout, readers will enjoy the banter as much as the topsy-turvy action. - Booklist

"Cog is a gem of a robot, and his robotic observations are comedic gold. Readers will be charmed by this sci-fi tale of free choice, hot dogs, and fun word problems." - Booklist