Something has happened, something so terrible that there’s no explanation for. Is it the Apocalypse? An outbreak? Some sort of government WMD gone awry? Nobody knows. The only thing Brian Blake, his brother Philip, and their friends Nick and Bobby know is that they have to stay alive and they have to protect Philip’s 7 year old daughter, Penny, at all costs. Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor By Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga Thomas Dunne Books October 2011 Brian and Philip Blake have never really been close; Philip- the younger brother- has always been the leader. Brian has been the lifelong screw-up. Now, since the ‘change’ has come on, and everyone has either been turned or…eaten, they have to come together with Philips 2 buddies Nick and Bobby to make their way to Atlanta where the rumor is that there is a safe zone there where uninfected people can go. They have to keep on their toes and be ever watchful in their journey and they have to remember they are also trying to protect a traumatized little girl who is becoming more and more disconnected. As they make their way toward Atlanta, the encounter pockets of other refugees and try to settle into a routine in these locations, however something is gnawing at Philip and he can’t stay put for very long. It seems that every time they find a place where they can give Penny some semblance of normalcy, they suddenly have to flee just when they think it will be ok. Then things change. And nothing will ever be the same for the Blake boys again. I began this book with a preconceived notion that it was going to be yet another zombie story that would be exactly the same as all of the other ones I have ever read. Much to my surprise, it was different…..way different. The characters are real. Their struggles are legitimate and the way their tale is told makes this one of the best zombie stories I have ever read. (and that says a lot)