KATHY REICHS
VIRALS
NOVEMBER 2, 2010
"Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.
As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.
Fortunately, they are now more than friends they're a pack. They are Virals."
Written from the perspective of a witty and brilliant fourteen year old, this book is very hard to put down. As a huge science nerd, I loved all of the science involved in the mystery, but you don't have to be a nerd to enjoy the implications of the discoveries and the path of the story, as the main character explains it all very well. As far as I know, the science is all correct and Kathy Reichs is extremely creative with combining fact and theory to create a scenario that is quite believable.
The storyline was unpredictable and left the reader guessing until the end. The ending was a surprise, and tied up all of the loose ends that were revealed throughout the story. This is a wonderful book for young adult readers.
rmk
11/2/2010