The Last Kids on Earth

The kids search for a reliable energy source to power and protect their town and home. "Energy Crisis" is a phrase that is often used to describe a lack of energy resources.

The kids hear the voice of other living humans on a radio in a zombie-infested building. It is an allusion to the song title "Video Killed the Radio Star.

Jack holds a sports tournament between humans and monsters, but it is interrupted by a surge of zombies.

The King Wretch gives nightmares to the four kids. "The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King" is the name of the third book in the series.

The kids go to a junkyard to find an antenna for the radio.

Jack travels into the subway tunnels under his town to find the creature who has been putting visions into Jack's mind. It is an allusion to the phrase "tunnel vision" which means "a narrow view.

The kids create devices called "zom-b-gone" torches to keep the zombies away, combining the name "zombie" and "be gone" into one phrase.

Funland is the name of the fun amusement park the kids visit.

Jack discovers the ultimate evil emerging from the stomach/chest of the King Wretch. "In the belly of the beast" is a phrase which means going into a very dangerous situation.

The kids must tune their radio to pick up a message from other survivors and must "stay tuned" listening all night to make sure they don't miss that message.