Blackwell+Virals+Review

//Virals// by Kathy Reichs

Reichs, K. (2010). //‍‍Virals//. ‍‍ New York, NY: Penguin Group. ISBN: 978-1-59514-426-3
 * APA Citation w/ ISBN:**

Tory Brennan, niece of famed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, has recently moved to Morris Island, South Carolina to live with a father she never knew after her mother died in a tragic accident. Morris Island is also home to her best friends: Hi, Ben, and Shelton, whose parents work with Tory’s dad, Kit, at the Loggerhead Research Institute. The four friends, while exploring Loggerhead Island, find a set of dog tags that spark a murder investigation and uncover a set of secret experiments concerning a cross between the canine virus, parvovirus and one that infects humans. In their hunt to uncover the secrets of Loggerhead Island, they not only face men trying to kill them, but become infected with the experimental virus and become able to, in their words, flare. Their senses become heightened and their strength and stamina are unmatched, and they use that new found power to solve a forty year cold case.
 * Brief Summary:**

I am fan of the Temperance Brennan books by Kathy Reichs but didn’t know she has written any young adult novels. I love how smart, determined Tory is, and I love how this book highlights those qualities. I like how it shows that boys and girls can be close friends in that tough high school age. I’m afraid, however, that amount of scientific language would turn off some high school students. I hope that in the age of shows like CSI and Bones that they would be somewhat familiar with the jargon, but at the same I don’t want them to just gloss over those aspects of the text. However, I think it is a good story that young adults would be interested in and would want to read the sequel, //Seizure.//
 * Critique:**
 * Award: 2010-2011 Kentucky Bluegrass Award**
 * Curriculum Connection including grade level and KY Common Core Curriculum:**
 * Writing Grade Level 9-10 Standard 1:** Write an argument to support claims of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
 * Genre:** Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction

Developing Content Area Literacy: Critical Thinking: Strategy 28: Academic Controversy Although this novel is fiction, there are several scientific aspects in the text. There is also animal experimentation. This novel could be used to help students develop effective arguments. In this case, it could for or against animal testing.
 * Classroom Activity Using Developing Content Area Literacy:**

For this strategy, each student would be responsible for creating their own pro/con list related to animal testing. Then, with a partner or small group prepare an outline for both sides of the argument to present and defend to other classmates. Their other classmates ask questions about the argument and take notes regarding it. Afterwards, all students reflect new opinions they developed during the discussion.

This could be a starting point for developing effective written arguments that use appropriate, relevant, and reliable sources to support their claims.

Reference: Antonacci, P.A. & O’Callaghan C. M. (2011). //Developing content area literacy//. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.