I'm going to go a little backwards here, as I normally go with a topic and then lead into the book. But in this case, it seems that introducing the book works a little better. So first, I have found a interview with author Kathy Reichs.
As Ms. Reichs mentioned, she is the author of the Bones series. Before Bones was a series on Fox, it was a book series, that is still in publication. In fact, she has another Bones book coming out in August. As much as I enjoy the television series (when I can actually watch normal adult programming), I haven't had a chance to read any of the books. Maybe I will have to add them to my list.
Ok, Virals, is based on Temperance Brennan's great niece Tory Brennan. The book does explain that she doesn't get the name Brennan from her father's side, but from her mother's side, even though she is related to Dr. Brennan through her father. Talk about family issues. Tori lives with her father, who she has only recently met, after her mother is killed by a drunk driver. Her father is a Marine Biologist studying marine life on a remote island on the outskirts of Charleston, South Carolina. When Tori and her friends decide to track down some information at her father's lab, they find a lost wolfdog cub and decide to take the wolfdog cub with them. From there, their lives change forever.
Why was the wolfdog cub at the lab? The story tends to revolve around the Canine Parvovirus. A flu-like virus that attacks wild and domesticated (the type you may have at home) and causes high fever, vomiting, diarrea, chills, loss of energy, loss of appetite, and a few other things. Not very pleasant and can lead to death. There is a vaccine for this virus and as long as the animal has been vaccinated, they usually should escape the virus. Or so my vet tells me when I have to get my dog vaccinated for different things each year.
Those of my students who enjoy some aspect of science will really get into this book, as many different scientific ideas come up throughout the book. It also makes for a nice crime investigation book. So a little science, a little crime fighting, oh and some mean girls (can't have a teen book without those). This makes for a well rounded story.
And a good place for my little green post-it note to get retired...
As always, let me know what you think and hopefully you have read enough of the Truman Nominees to be able to vote this coming Spring. Who will you vote for? Well, that is up to you...
Works Cited
"Follow Us On Twitter @ExploreCHS." Charleston, SC. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://www.charlestoncvb.com/>.
"Kathy Reichs | Welcome To Kathy Reichs." Kathy Reichs | Welcome To Kathy Reichs. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://kathyreichs.com/>.
"Kathy Reichs Discusses Virals Series." YouTube. YouTube, 29 Dec. 2010. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UhfdBZyTvE>.
"Marine Careers :: Marine Biology." Marine Careers :: Marine Biology. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://marinecareers.net/field_marinebiology.php>.
"An Overview of Canine Parvovirus." Http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/. Cornell University, 2007. Web. 30 June 2012. <http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/animalhealth/page.php?id=1089>.
In anticipation for next week, I think you should do a podcast/blog instead of a textual one. :) I would love to hear you talk about a book. See you next week.
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