GENRE: Realistic Fiction
HONORS: None
REVIEW: Mitty is your average slacker. He hates homework, he just goes to school so he won't miss out on the social aspect, and he knows he is a disappointment to his parents and teachers. While away for the weekend, he realizes he forgot to get the required books for a research project on a disease. Fortunately, he finds several old books at the cottage. While looking through the books he finds an envelope with smallpox scabs from 1902. Curious, he takes the scabs out which disintegrate in his hands. Mitty takes the envelope with the scab remains and the books home and continues his research on smallpox. The more he learns the more he worries that he may now be infected with smallpox and could infect others with the deadly disease. He is unsure of who to tell and what to do. Finally, he sends out some e-mails in an attempt to get some information. Unfortunately, his e-mails are forwarded to other interested parties and Mitty ends up being kidnapped. Will Mitty get smallpox? Why would anyone kidnap him? You will just have to read and find out.
OPINION: I really enjoyed this book. As soon as Mitty finds the scabs and inhales the dust the reader is left wondering if he will get smallpox. Caroline Cooney does a good job of keeping the suspense going and there are a lot of good twists, turns, and cliffhangers. As we get farther from the events of 9/11, it may be harder for students to see the urgency and how Mitty reacts to the situation.
IDEAS: This would be a fun book to read while studying diseases in health or discussing terrorism in social studies. I would definitely recommend this book to reluctant readers.
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