Virals (Virals Series #1)

by Kathy Reichs

Overview

Adventure is in Tory Brennan's blood. After all, she’s the grandniece of world-famous forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Always up for a challenge, Tory and her science-geek friends spend their time exploring the marshlands of Loggerhead Island, home to the very off-limits Loggerhead Island Research Institute, where something strange is going on. After rescuing a stray wolfdog pup from a top-secret lab, Tory and her friends are exposed to a rare strain of canine parvovirus, changing them--and their DNA--forever. Now they are more than friends. They are a pack. They are Virals. And they're dangerous to the core. But are they unstoppable enough to catch a cold-blooded murderer?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101475065
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	11/02/2010
Series:	Virals Series , #1
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	480
Sales rank:	101,403
Lexile:	480L (what's this?)
File size:	785 KB
Age Range:	12 - 14 Years

About the Author

Kathy Reichs (www.kathyreichs.com), like her iconic character Dr. Temperance Brennan, is a board-certified forensic anthropologist, and creator of the Fox television hit Bones, now in its eighth season. Reichs has written fourteen books in the Temperance Brennan series, all New York Times bestsellers. Virals is her first of three novel for young readers (www.viralstheseries.com).

Brendan Reichs (www.brendanreichs.com) was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 2000 and The George Washington University School of Law in 2006. After three long years working as a litigation attorney, he abandoned the trade to co-write the Virals series. He lives in Charlotte with his wife, Emily, daughter, Alice, and son, Henry. He plans to keep writing novels until they drag him from his desk.

Hometown:

Charlotte, North Carolina and Montreal, Québec

Place of Birth:

Chicago, Illinois

Education:

B.A., American University, 1971; M.A., Ph.D., Northwestern University

Website:

http://kathyreichs.com/

What People are Saying About This

James Patterson

“If you like the TV show Bones (I do) or Maximum Ride, you’ll love Virals.” James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the MAXIMUM RIDE series

Anthony Horowitz

“Reichs gets it dead right with sharp writing and a plot that throws real teens into a deadly adult world.” - Anthony Horowitz, New York Times bestselling author of the ALEX RIDER series

Editorial Reviews

Reichs makes a solid YA debut with this spinoff of her Bones series, following 14-year-old Tory Brennan--niece of famed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan--and her friends as they uncover a decades-old murder and a contemporary scientific conspiracy. Along with friends Hi, Shelton, and Ben, Tory--who lives largely unsupervised with her newfound father on an island off the coast of Charleston, S.C.--discovers a secret laboratory and rescues a dog. When an experimental parvovirus from the canine transfers to the teenagers, they are imbued with superhuman physical and mental powers and become the target of a group of killers. This intertwines with the story of a long-buried body, as well as teen drama surrounding the local debutante scene, into which Tory has been unwillingly thrust. Reichs juggles the large cast and layered story well, although the revelations at the end get a little silly. Still, the action en route is exciting, and the forensic science and research is as vital as in Reichs's adult novels, even in the more science-fictional setting. Ages 12–up. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 6–10—Tory Brennan, 14, lives on an island off the coast of South Carolina. Her newly discovered father works in science research for the University of Charleston, which is why she and her friends with similar pedigrees attend the ritzy prep school in town with the local aristocracy. Tory and her three friends, all boys, are science geeks and love to explore the outer islands where monkeys and other wildlife abound. While exploring a supposedly deserted lab complex, they discover the caged offspring of a wolf and German shepherd that has been diagnosed with parvovirus. Tory's concern leads the group to rescue the pup with the notion of curing and saving it from science experiments. Tory knows that parvo cannot infect humans, but once the treatment begins the four teens start to experience symptoms that make them doubt her initial belief. Along the way, they also stumble upon a murder mystery dating back to the Vietnam War era that quickly becomes linked to the mysterious science experiments that are being kept hidden on the islands. What starts as a science mystery thriller takes a sharp right turn into the realm of science fiction with genetically altered DNA and superhuman senses that may cause more savvy readers to scoff. However, the fast-paced thrills, cool science, and great characters will create a flood of fans waiting for the next installment.—Jake Pettit, Thompson Valley High School, Loveland, CO

School Library Journal

Tory Brennan, the smarty-pants niece of forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, is living on an island off the coast of South Carolina with her father, a marine biologist, following the death of her mother. Cristin Milioti’s strong, clear narration is perfectly suited for the energetic voices of Tory and those involved in this science-fiction murder mystery. Tory and her friends, all science geeks, rescue a dog being used for medical testing, exposing themselves in the process to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus, which tremendously heightens their senses and reflexes. Milioti engages listeners in the fast-paced adventure and adds realism with her matter-of-fact delivery. Appropriate music adds drama to the tense pivotal scenes. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2010 - AudioFile

From the opening sentence to the last word, readers will be absorbed in Tory Brennan's world. Tory (the niece of Temperance Brennan, the star of the author's Bones series for adults) has just moved in with the father she never knew she had. It isn't easy adjusting, but Tory's "sci-phile" friends provide plenty of support. They swim, fish, pal around and explore the islands just off the coast of Charleston, S.C. When Tory finds a dog tag that's been buried for decades, it triggers an adventure that leads to hidden experiments, a stolen wolf-dog hybrid puppy and a long-unsolved murder. But Tory can't give up—not even after she and her friends succumb to a mysterious infection that twists their senses and gives them uncontrollable new talents. When the only doctor who might cure them is murdered, they are on their own. Reichs has found a pitch-perfect voice for Tory that will ring true with today's teens, capturing an entirely new audience. Do we really have to wait until summer of 2011 for the next one? (Science fiction/thriller. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews