Virals

Kathy Reichs

Razorbill, Penguin; USA: 2010

ISBN: 9780099543947

Genres: action, adventure, science-fiction

Issues: friendship

Fourteen year old Tory Brennan's mother died recently in a car accident. As a result she is living on the tiny Morris Island, South Carolina, with a father she only met after her mother's funeral. Niece of the famous forensic anthropologist, Dr Temperance Brennan, Tory's restless nature and high intelligence make adjusting to the limitations of her new, somewhat isolated life difficult. Thankfully she finds a few like-minded friends amongst the local kids – three boys who are just as interested in Science as she is. But when the group find that the Loggerhead Island Research Institute is doing something shady, Tory incites them to action.

Rescuing a wolfdog pup seems a simple enough plan – until they discover that the pup is ill with a virus deadly to dogs; and unlike the normal parvovirus, this one seems to be able to cross the species divide. Tory and her friends find themselves developing some very odd symptoms – and even stranger new abilities. What is going on? And why does their curiosity about a cold-case murder seem to trigger so much drama and danger?

This transition novel, introducing the teen market to a bestselling writer of adult crime fiction, is an action-packed page-turner that will appeal to many. Virals begins well, building interesting characters and relationships and the idea of a virus that causes a form of lycanthropy is interesting, if familiar. Unfortunately, the novel seems to lack the polished complexity of Reichs' adult titles. The emphasis here seems to be more on adrenaline-driven adventures and escapes than the powerful, concise, understated descriptive passages that make Reichs' adult work so enjoyable. With the emphasis on 'teen speak' there are few opportunities for her detailed scientific explanations.