Helpful Score: 3
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Tory and her father live on an island reserved for the faculty who work at the remote research facility on a nearby island. She and her friends often explore the research island. One day, she convinces them to break into the facility to use their equipment in rejuvenating a dog tag ID they found in the woods.
While they have no problems cleaning the dog tags, they discover a missing wild puppy locked in a cage. Outraged, they immediately break Coop out and hide him in their secret cavern.
Tory and her friends take turns caring for the puppy while also trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the dog tags. They search the library, where they uncover clues to the identity of the man. Unfortunately, their search triggers a reaction. Someone doesnt want that information uncovered, and theyll do almost anything to keep Tory and her friends from learning and sharing the truth.
Coop is sick, sick with a strand of virus that infects Tory and her friends. Suddenly, theyre having hot flashes, blacking out, and using bursts of adrenaline to execute inhuman feats. These feats occur in times of extreme danger being followed, chased, shot at, or while breaking into secure buildings.
VIRALS is Kathy Reichs' first foray into the young adult world, and she knocks it out of the park. After a slow start, the tension, drama, danger, mystery, and the strange virus pulsing through the characters' bodies make this book extraordinarily hard to put down. Im already waiting for the next book in the series.
Tory and her father live on an island reserved for the faculty who work at the remote research facility on a nearby island. She and her friends often explore the research island. One day, she convinces them to break into the facility to use their equipment in rejuvenating a dog tag ID they found in the woods.
While they have no problems cleaning the dog tags, they discover a missing wild puppy locked in a cage. Outraged, they immediately break Coop out and hide him in their secret cavern.
Tory and her friends take turns caring for the puppy while also trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the dog tags. They search the library, where they uncover clues to the identity of the man. Unfortunately, their search triggers a reaction. Someone doesnt want that information uncovered, and theyll do almost anything to keep Tory and her friends from learning and sharing the truth.
Coop is sick, sick with a strand of virus that infects Tory and her friends. Suddenly, theyre having hot flashes, blacking out, and using bursts of adrenaline to execute inhuman feats. These feats occur in times of extreme danger being followed, chased, shot at, or while breaking into secure buildings.
VIRALS is Kathy Reichs' first foray into the young adult world, and she knocks it out of the park. After a slow start, the tension, drama, danger, mystery, and the strange virus pulsing through the characters' bodies make this book extraordinarily hard to put down. Im already waiting for the next book in the series.
Helpful Score: 1
My first thought when finishing this book was along the lines of "Wow, so much better than I expected!".
Tory is the niece of my beloved Tempe (from Bones) and she's a little mini-version of her. So smart, and so young that it blows your mind. Tory and her crew of friends are all smart in their own areas, and I loved following the adventures of this nerd herd! They live on a remote island, so they really have to come up with their own fun. Tory is obsessed with a pack of wolf-dogs on a remote island, but the pup has been missing. When they break into the lab to clean an old war dog-tag they found they also discover the missing puppy and just can't leave it behind. The mystery of the dog-tag becomes quite an adventure, and saving that puppy will lead them on a path they never could have imagined.
I was so engrossed in this book. I would think I'd been reading for only a few minutes, then I would look up and realize it's been much longer and I'm 1/2 way through the book! The mysteries unfold at a great pace and the action just explodes off of the page. I was drawn into the lives of these kids and didn't want to reemerge. Tory is super smart and so snarky and wonderful, I would have loved to have a best friend like her when I was in high school (even though I would have felt dumb hanging around her). The best friends each have their own qualities that make them a great team and each of them add a great element to the story.
Chance (the uber-jock, son of a senator, prince of the school) and his girlfriend Hannah really added a great twist to the story.
I really recommend this book to any lover of mysteries, Bones, fantasy, or YA. I can't wait for book 2 and where this series can go from here. I also loved that the mystery of this book wrapped up completely by the end. There was no cliff-hanger to leave me ready to throw the book, but the next book could go in so many directions still. I only wish I didn't have to wait so long!
Tory is the niece of my beloved Tempe (from Bones) and she's a little mini-version of her. So smart, and so young that it blows your mind. Tory and her crew of friends are all smart in their own areas, and I loved following the adventures of this nerd herd! They live on a remote island, so they really have to come up with their own fun. Tory is obsessed with a pack of wolf-dogs on a remote island, but the pup has been missing. When they break into the lab to clean an old war dog-tag they found they also discover the missing puppy and just can't leave it behind. The mystery of the dog-tag becomes quite an adventure, and saving that puppy will lead them on a path they never could have imagined.
I was so engrossed in this book. I would think I'd been reading for only a few minutes, then I would look up and realize it's been much longer and I'm 1/2 way through the book! The mysteries unfold at a great pace and the action just explodes off of the page. I was drawn into the lives of these kids and didn't want to reemerge. Tory is super smart and so snarky and wonderful, I would have loved to have a best friend like her when I was in high school (even though I would have felt dumb hanging around her). The best friends each have their own qualities that make them a great team and each of them add a great element to the story.
Chance (the uber-jock, son of a senator, prince of the school) and his girlfriend Hannah really added a great twist to the story.
I really recommend this book to any lover of mysteries, Bones, fantasy, or YA. I can't wait for book 2 and where this series can go from here. I also loved that the mystery of this book wrapped up completely by the end. There was no cliff-hanger to leave me ready to throw the book, but the next book could go in so many directions still. I only wish I didn't have to wait so long!
Good book. Combines mystery, science and action. Lots of intrigue. Would also be good for young readers (teens).
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing start to a new YA series..., November 4, 2010
I was so excited about this release and had high hopes for a YA novel written by Kathy Reichs, the author of the Tempe Brennan forensic anthropology book series for adults but I was very disappointed in this first outing. My focus when buying YA is to please savvy and enthusiastic readers who are high school age teens. The age of the protagonist female (Tory) in this book at 14 really bothered me and I felt was written a bit too "young" for the activities she became engaged in with her cohort of boys from the local prep school they all attended and from the island where they all lived. She was a bit of a "know it all" just like her great aunt seems sometimes to be to me in all of the "Bones" books I've read! Although there were attempts made to educate the readers about the science, it seemed like it was lecture rather than true teen interaction and dialog. Is anyone but me tired of these supposed "brainiac" kids who all happen to be friends and form a little club of sorts to outsmart adults and/or outwit criminals?
The story was somewhat preposterous as she and the boys (so stereotypical as the nerd, the klutz and the quiet, strong type -- Shelton, Hi and Ben) do a lot of breaking and entering and engage in some unbelievable research, snooping, and sleuthing in terms of what their searches find. Of course the parents are absent and clueless about what their offspring are doing. Their fellow students at the high school are also cliche -- the "mean girls", the jock, and the really cute rich guy who flirts with our heroine even though he has a gorgeous girlfriend. I found the suspension of disbelief required to be just too much. Even with their new found powers (derived from what exactly? a supervirus?), the narrative defied my ability to be entertained and mostly irritated me.
The plot moved along at a good pace but the entire story, even though identified as fantasy with paranormal elements, was implausible and predictable. No surprises here. Others have suggested that this book is a sort of science-based Nancy Drew -- but I disagree -- Carolyn Keene wrote a much more believable mystery stories with more finely nuanced characters.
Alas, it could have been a "smart" novel but it devolved into mediocrity and I'm sorry to say I won't be reading any more in what is sure to be a series. Perhaps OK for middle school but too "young" for secondary students or young adults.
I was so excited about this release and had high hopes for a YA novel written by Kathy Reichs, the author of the Tempe Brennan forensic anthropology book series for adults but I was very disappointed in this first outing. My focus when buying YA is to please savvy and enthusiastic readers who are high school age teens. The age of the protagonist female (Tory) in this book at 14 really bothered me and I felt was written a bit too "young" for the activities she became engaged in with her cohort of boys from the local prep school they all attended and from the island where they all lived. She was a bit of a "know it all" just like her great aunt seems sometimes to be to me in all of the "Bones" books I've read! Although there were attempts made to educate the readers about the science, it seemed like it was lecture rather than true teen interaction and dialog. Is anyone but me tired of these supposed "brainiac" kids who all happen to be friends and form a little club of sorts to outsmart adults and/or outwit criminals?
The story was somewhat preposterous as she and the boys (so stereotypical as the nerd, the klutz and the quiet, strong type -- Shelton, Hi and Ben) do a lot of breaking and entering and engage in some unbelievable research, snooping, and sleuthing in terms of what their searches find. Of course the parents are absent and clueless about what their offspring are doing. Their fellow students at the high school are also cliche -- the "mean girls", the jock, and the really cute rich guy who flirts with our heroine even though he has a gorgeous girlfriend. I found the suspension of disbelief required to be just too much. Even with their new found powers (derived from what exactly? a supervirus?), the narrative defied my ability to be entertained and mostly irritated me.
The plot moved along at a good pace but the entire story, even though identified as fantasy with paranormal elements, was implausible and predictable. No surprises here. Others have suggested that this book is a sort of science-based Nancy Drew -- but I disagree -- Carolyn Keene wrote a much more believable mystery stories with more finely nuanced characters.
Alas, it could have been a "smart" novel but it devolved into mediocrity and I'm sorry to say I won't be reading any more in what is sure to be a series. Perhaps OK for middle school but too "young" for secondary students or young adults.
First Line: A gunshot is the loudest sound in the universe.
Tory Brennan is the niece of forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit television series). She's an admitted technology addict and "sci-phile" who loves the excavation tools and other technical gifts her aunt gives her. She and her friends live on a remote island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, and hang out in an old Civil War bunker.
Tory is fond of a small pack of wolf dogs who roam a nearby island, and when she discovers that one of the pups has been caught and is being used for medical testing, she and her friends rescue the canine, not knowing that it carries a contagious new strain of parvovirus. At roughly the same time on the same island, Tory finds a dog tag that sparks her curiosity. As she tries to find out more about the person who wore the tag, she and her friends unearth a skeleton. Things-- and their health-- begin to get seriously weird.
Reichs had me feeling as though I'd crash-landed in a bunch of teenagers that I'd have a blast with-- basically because I'm interested in the same things and had the same "fun" with the popular kids in my own high school. The chapters are short, move quickly, and pack a punch. Even though I'd deduced the identity of one of the villains, I didn't care, because the mystery involving the dog tag and skeleton held my interest so tightly. (The setting was superb as well.)
With Tory and her friends learning how to deal with the aftereffects of this strain of parvovirus, I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Tory Brennan is the niece of forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit television series). She's an admitted technology addict and "sci-phile" who loves the excavation tools and other technical gifts her aunt gives her. She and her friends live on a remote island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, and hang out in an old Civil War bunker.
Tory is fond of a small pack of wolf dogs who roam a nearby island, and when she discovers that one of the pups has been caught and is being used for medical testing, she and her friends rescue the canine, not knowing that it carries a contagious new strain of parvovirus. At roughly the same time on the same island, Tory finds a dog tag that sparks her curiosity. As she tries to find out more about the person who wore the tag, she and her friends unearth a skeleton. Things-- and their health-- begin to get seriously weird.
Reichs had me feeling as though I'd crash-landed in a bunch of teenagers that I'd have a blast with-- basically because I'm interested in the same things and had the same "fun" with the popular kids in my own high school. The chapters are short, move quickly, and pack a punch. Even though I'd deduced the identity of one of the villains, I didn't care, because the mystery involving the dog tag and skeleton held my interest so tightly. (The setting was superb as well.)
With Tory and her friends learning how to deal with the aftereffects of this strain of parvovirus, I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
One of my favorite library patrons raved about Virals and recommended that I read it right away. So I did what any good librarian would do, and I took that baby home. Honestly, I hadn't planned on reading this book and wasn't really sure what to expect from it. I have watched a few episodes of Bones and wasn't overly thrilled with it. As far as the Temperance Brennan series goes, I'll be honest and say that I haven't heard a lot of great things. Fingers crossed, I cracked the spine and hoped that Reichs wasn't as overly detailed as I've heard she is from patrons who have read her adult series. Virals was a pleasant YA read and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. The characters were great but seemed to feel more middle grade than YA.
Virals is a great mystery, with a very small hint of science fiction/paranormal blended in. The mystery itself was great. Tory and her friends work together to find out who killed a young girl years earlier. It all starts when they find some old military dog tags and begin to look into who they belonged to. Soon, Tory is dodging bullets in the woods and running for her life. The kids stop at nothing to find the answers they seek.
From breaking into secure labs, rescuing a caged wolf-dog, finding the remains of a young girl and learning that they have powers, what else could you ask for? Reichs has crafted a well-rounded story with more than enough twists and turns to keep you enthralled in Tory's world. I look forward to seeing where Kathy takes the Virals in the rest of the series. I hope to see a little more use of their Viral powers in the next installment.
Virals is a great mystery, with a very small hint of science fiction/paranormal blended in. The mystery itself was great. Tory and her friends work together to find out who killed a young girl years earlier. It all starts when they find some old military dog tags and begin to look into who they belonged to. Soon, Tory is dodging bullets in the woods and running for her life. The kids stop at nothing to find the answers they seek.
From breaking into secure labs, rescuing a caged wolf-dog, finding the remains of a young girl and learning that they have powers, what else could you ask for? Reichs has crafted a well-rounded story with more than enough twists and turns to keep you enthralled in Tory's world. I look forward to seeing where Kathy takes the Virals in the rest of the series. I hope to see a little more use of their Viral powers in the next installment.
Though the way it's written didn't appeal to me at first, his book is very interesting and entertaining! You really feel what the main characters are feeling(atleast, by the middle of the book)
Tory Brennan is a natural scientist living with her father she just found out she had. They're on an island off the coast of Charleston, SC with a few other families. While wandering the island their parents work on, they discover dogtags & set off to discover the owner. Busting into a supposedly shut down lab to clean the dog tags, they discover a puppy trapped in an animal experiment with a deadly disease. Rescuing the wolf-dog puppy Coop, the four main children's lives are changed forever!
Tory Brennan is a natural scientist living with her father she just found out she had. They're on an island off the coast of Charleston, SC with a few other families. While wandering the island their parents work on, they discover dogtags & set off to discover the owner. Busting into a supposedly shut down lab to clean the dog tags, they discover a puppy trapped in an animal experiment with a deadly disease. Rescuing the wolf-dog puppy Coop, the four main children's lives are changed forever!
