Tag Archives: Viruses

YA – A Burning in the Bones

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Reintgen, Scott. A Burning in the Bones. Peaceful Society Books, 2025. 979-8-765-43210-9. $18.99. 384 p. Grades 9-12.

Ren Monroe and her bondmate Theo Brood return in the third installment of the Waxways series. With Landwin Brood finally defeated, Ren and Theo prepare to lead one of the most powerful magical families in Kathor. Their path soon crosses with the once-great Tin’Vori family and a gifted magical medical student, Mercy Whitaker. Together, they uncover a conspiracy led by a group called the Makers, who seek to eradicate magic entirely by unleashing a virus that severs magical ability. As the threat escalates, it becomes clear that a darker force is orchestrating events behind the scenes, forcing the magical community of Kathor to unite in a desperate battle for survival.

THOUGHTS: A Burning in the Bones delivers a fast-paced, high-stakes fantasy adventure that wraps up the trilogy with satisfying twists and intense magical battles. The strongest of the three entries, this finale deepens character relationships while expanding the world’s lore. A recommended purchase for collections where the Waxways series is already popular.

YA – All Better Now

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Shusterman, Neal. All Better Now. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025, 978-1-534-43275-8. 528 p. $21.99. Grades 9-12.

In a post-COVID world, a new virus called Crown Royale kills a small percentage of those infected. However, those who do survive are filled with overwhelming happiness and empathy. As the virus spreads, its desirable side effects lead some to seek it out intentionally while others seek to eradicate the disease completely. Mariel Mudroch, who lives in a car with her mother and is naturally immune to the virus, finds her life intertwined with Rón Escobedo, a wealthy teen battling depression who becomes an alpha-spreader after recovering from the illness. Rón and Mariel go on a mission to save humanity by infecting others since Rón sees himself as a force for good. However, 19-year-old Morgan Willmon-Wu, an ambitious girl chosen by the powerful Dame Havilland to inherit her fortune, has a different plan. She is on a mission to destroy Crown Royale forever, as this was a stipulation set by Dame Havilland. If Morgan doesn’t cure the disease, she will lose her inherited billions. Morgan soon discovers that Mariel’s immunity to Crown Royale could be the key to a cure. But destroying a virus that brings happiness is no easy task, and all three teenagers find themselves intertwined in a high-stakes battle between personal freedom, global well-being, and the true meaning of what it means to save (or even change) humanity.

THOUGHTS: Shusterman once again delivers a story concept that is both thought-provoking and emotionally complex. Each of the three teens represents a different worldview (survival, purpose, and control) with their stories, challenging readers to explore ethics, power, and what humanity truly values. High school students will find this especially timely coming off the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Science Fiction

A new virus is causing fear across the planet, and as it spreads and people see its unusual effects, some are eager to be infected. For many this virus is actually a blessing, because it releases survivors from pain and suffering, as if they have become enlightened by their sickness. For those who wish to preserve the world as it is, this is a nightmare scenario. How will the global market endure if nobody cares about making money anymore? For survivors, the virus is a path to a blissful life that they wish everyone could experience. Caught in the middle of this growing tension are two teenagers who find themselves pulled together by tragedy, while also navigating two very different approaches to existence.

THOUGHTS: This is such a fascinating concept that asks us to consider if we would want to be infected by a virus that will leave us without a care in the world. It is a perfect story for a high school book club and will generate very interesting conversations about existential questions. Its length is its only downfall, but in the end the story is enough to pull the reader through the slow parts, and leaves us anxious for the next installment in the Crown Royale series.

Science Fiction

A new pandemic has been bubbling up around the world. Like COVID-19, it causes fevers and coughing. Worse than COVID-19, about 4% of people who catch “Crown Royale” die from it. Unlike any disease we’ve ever experienced, it produces life-long contentment, peacefulness, and a sense of connection to something larger than the survivors themselves. An intriguing thought experiment plays out in which some people see Crown Royale as a force for good in the world and others see it as a dangerous threat to the status quo. In one storyline, we follow Mariel and Tiburon, two teens from completely different worlds thrown together by Crown Royale as they cross the United States on a secret mission. Meanwhile, Morgan Willmon Wu, another teen jetting around the world has been granted control of the Havilland foundation, a massive fund sponsoring a portfolio of projects that are meant to do the right things for all the wrong reasons. When their stories converge, we’re left with a cliffhanger suggesting that competition between germs, like the competition between people and between ideas continues to rage on.

THOUGHTS: Fans of Shusterman’s Scythe series will appreciate this pandemic inspired thought experiment. How would our politics and economics change when millions of people become unusually selfless? What customs and institutions are no longer needed and what new ones could rise in their places? What’s the risk calculation when the outcome could be everlasting bliss, but only if you survive the disease to get there? The action and pacing will keep readers turning the pages. The characters are likeable, although some could be fleshed out a bit better. Readers who are ready to take on pandemic fiction will enjoy this clever adventure.

Science Fiction

YA – Pandemic Report Card: Successes and Failures

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Stefan, Jennifer. Pandemic Report Card: Successes and Failures. Reference Point Press, 2023. 978-1-6782-0346-7 $35.95 64 p. Grades 7-12.

This title covers the early days–from March 2020 to February 2022–of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., and the disorganized responses by the U.S. government.  Drawing from media reports, data, and surveys, the book has largely negative facts to share about the unpreparedness of response, the unequal distribution of aid, and the politicalization of the efforts of masking, unemployment aid, and more. The swiftness of the creation of an effective vaccine is an indisputable accomplishment, but positive aspects of any side of the societal changes due to medical or employment issues are overwhelmed by the negatives.  This decidedly gloomy tone is both realistic but off-putting, considering the ongoing nature of the pandemic and its related challenges and the increased concern with mental health. Various massive governmental aid packages are described as both necessary and insufficient. The effects of remote schooling and remote employment, as well as supply shortages, stay-at-home mandates, mobilization of supplies and vaccines, and vaccine resisters are topics covered in chapters divided into “public health,” “economic,” and “vaccine” successes and failures. The final chapter “Preparing for the Next Pandemic” is helpfully divided into six lessons learned from COVID-19, regarding public trust, need for ongoing research, and the damage of politics and misinformation.

THOUGHTS: An early, negative look at the U.S. response to COVID-19 holds evidence that could bolster our national pride and trust in future public health efforts, but this reporting maligns nearly every outcome save the creation of the vaccine. A useful overview.

614.5 Public Health

Elem. – Getting Sick and Feeling Better

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Brown, Carron. Getting Sick and Feeling Better. Kane Miller, 2022. 978-1-684-64282-3. Unpaged. $12.99. Grades PreK-1.

A new addition to Kane Miller’s Shine-A-Light series, this book covers the basics of germs, illness, hygiene, and staying healthy. These concepts are broken down for young children through the use of simple questions and answers. Readers are able to use a flashlight to see through the pages and find the answer to each question that is posed. This interactive feature, along with the uncomplicated explanations, make this book very relatable and child-friendly. 

THOUGHTS: My kids (ages 6 and 4) LOVE the Shine-A-Light books! They enjoy shining the flashlight through the page to make images magically appear. The educational aspect of the book is an added bonus. This would be a welcome addition to any health or science collection that serves young children.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

YA – A Shot at Normal

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Reichardt, Marisa. A Shot at Normal. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021. 978-0-374-38095-3. 352 p. $17.99. Grades 9-12.

Juniper Jade is the oldest child in a family that grows their own organic foods, homeschools their children, and goes without many of the everyday things others have (plastics, cell phones, and vaccinations). Often passing the local high school, Juniper longs to feel normal, but she respects her family’s values and doesn’t question them (too much) until she contracts the measles and unknowingly passes the virus to others. Then tragedy strikes, and suddenly, Juniper isn’t so sure about her family’s lifestyle. With the help of Nico, a friend who may be more than a friend, Juniper decides she’s going to be vaccinated. Despite her parent’s wishes. She isn’t quite prepared for their reaction, though, and Juniper really has to consider how much she’s willing to risk to get her vaccines.

THOUGHTS: Readers who are looking for a little more independence from the adults in their lives will connect with Juniper. With the vaccine debate at a pinnacle (though this book is not about COVID), A Shot at Normal deserves a place in high school collections.

Realistic Fiction          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

MG – Lion of Mars

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Holmes, Jennifer L. Lion of Mars. Random House, 2021. 978-0-593-12181-8. 259 p. $16.99. Grades 4-6.

Bell has only known life on Mars – the fake sunlight, the painted on windows, the algae. But Bell wants to know more about the other colonies on Mars and why they don’t talk anymore. When an unidentified object lands on the Martian surface, Bell and his “siblings” decide to take a rover to explore. Things go terribly wrong, and Bell discovers that the clash between countries on Earth has apparently followed them to Mars. After being rescued, Bell and the others are banned from traveling to other colonies. Feeling more isolated than ever, the American colony discovers they have a mouse living among them after the last supply drop. Bell names the mouse Muffin, and they keep it as a pet. But when adults start to get sick and the eldest of the colony dies, the kids realize the mouse must have brought a virus and they need help. Using the train system that used to connect colonies, Bell and his brother journey to the French colony for help. The French colony sends medicine and support to the adults in the American colony while hosting the American children in their home. Realizing that they are more alike than different, Bell fights to maintain contact between the two colonies after unearthing an old photo of the American commanding officer.

THOUGHTS: A bit slow to start and focused on setting the futuristic idea of colonization on Mars, Holm picks up the pace when the rover crashes and Bell is hurt. A great story of trust and companionship that will be enjoyed by middle grade readers. This novel had cliff hangers and lots of moments where the reader was cheering for Bell. The out of this world setting makes it a fun read and leaves you wondering, “what if….”.

Science Fiction          Jillian Gasper, Northwestern Lehigh SD

MG – Don’t Stand So Close to Me

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Walters, Eric. Don’t Stand So Close to Me. Orca Book Publishers, 2020. 978-1-459-82787-5. 128 p. $10.95. Grades 6-8.

Eighth Grader Quinn and her friends are surprised when their school principal holds an emergency assembly two days before spring break, announcing that their vacation is extended due to COVID-19. Although she has heard her dad, an emergency room doctor, talk about the virus, she didn’t think it would actually disrupt school. At first Quinn and her friends, Isaac and Reese, look forward to watching Netflix and playing video games all day, but the free time and social distancing gets old quickly, school is closed indefinitely, and the virus gets closer to home. Isaac’s police officer mother is working all day leaving him home alone for hours, Reese’s grandmother is in isolation at the local nursing home, and Quinn’s Dad is living in the basement when not working endless hours treating record amounts of patients. Quinn, Isaac, and Reese realize that although the virus has changed everything about their lives, from the way they go to school to how they hang out with friends, they can still feel connected by supporting themselves and their community.

THOUGHTS: A timely story that many readers will relate to, although it does not depict how the pandemic affected low-income families and those with difficult family conditions. Perhaps a companion novel or sequel can show how the pandemic has affected those in different socioeconomic situations and what life will be like after a vaccine is created.

Realistic Fiction          Jaynie Korzi, South Middleton SD