Contagion

This is a compelling science fiction story about a deadly epidemic that threatens to spread quickly. Shay sees a flyer with a picture of a girl she has seen before. Kai is desperately searching for his sister, Callie. She has been kidnapped and experimented on and “cured” of a terrifying illness that has changed her forever. As Kai and Shay join forces to find Callie, they uncover a project designed to unleash a potential biological weapon and inadvertently end up trying to find a cure. The book is well developed and well written in clear language that makes the story seem very real and moves at a good pace. The chapters are narrated from different perspectives which also helps us get to know the characters better. A few ideas are not fully developed or explained but otherwise, the story is well told. The teen characters, Callie, Kai and Shay are likable, believable and seem “real” unlike many characters in books that always appear to be a bit too “good.” There are strong relationships, secrets, action and except for an unnecessary romance, all the elements of a good young adult book. This is an enjoyable and well-done story that anyone over the age of fifteen could appreciate.