First book review. Constructive criticism/ideas/suggestions are appreciated.

This book reminds me of a joke I heard on Futurama, in which an army with no particular emotions at all raise their terror alert to ‘Code Beish’ because a ship is coming towards their planet.

But although the book has a bit of amusement, there is little hysteria that involves things like typhoid fever and smallpox. Graphic diseases are talked about in the book, and despite the fact that many have evaporated thanks to ingenious and/or lucky cures, there are many disgusting sicknesses out there, such as STD’s, flu’s, and fevers inhabiting cells and systems in any part of the body. The science projects of three high schoolers, Mitty, Derek & Olivia, intertwine simply with the causes and effects of many repulsion-causing diseases.

Mitty hates wimps, which is said in the parts of the book where his character is more uneasy, but he’s commited to victory and heroism, with his favorite song’s apparent title being “Heroes.” Music is shown throughout the pages of the book, through references to iPods. He has few cares, and creates certain methods to make sure his teachers believe he’s listening to what’s being taught, instead of listening to Widespread Panic. Olivia is the second-to-main character, Mitty’s friend who can become tense and irritated – yet still seems pretty, intellectual, and playful. The relationship is foreshadowed thanks to their attitudes toward each other, and she’s unsurprisingly excitable when discussing Valentine’s Day in a certain part of the book. Derek is a peculiar friend, occasionally able to help out both Olivia and Mitty – and like all three of them, becomes constantly obsessed with his project involving diseases, involving bioterrorism.

Mitty gains Olivia’s help and knowledge when researching smallpox, and the problem is automatically presumed by the reader as soon as he finds a bag of smallpox in an old library book. Without considering consequences, he looks at the scabs and disregards danger. He e-mails many scientists about his problem, and realizes that many are very curious and interested in obtaining the smallpox and finding out certain effects and diagnosis’. Physicians in differing wordly locations are forwarded a worrisome e-mail involving scabs, and although Mitty wants to get rid of the disease, he's somewhat tense about having to work with strange scientists who want to use the particles of the sickness. Eventually, every day slows his normally relaxed mindset through paranoia, and it affects his way of communication to many scientists inhabiting the city, surprised and fearful of the possible repercussions of the decision of using the smallpox.

Caroline Cooney is the writer of Code Orange, and during the middle of the story examines desperation and exasperation. The book is imaginative, and even if you want to understand what happens with Mitty’s disease, his relationship that forms with Olivia helps make the book more than one-dimensional. I can't always understand the emotions and attitudes, such as when Derek is irritated by Olivia, and the book is occasionally tedious and focused too much on diseases. And although Mitty’s misfortune is obviously done away with with a repetitive excuse, however it’s still interesting how Cooney describes things like this.

The streets are safe from dancing in Code Orange and the characters signify the interesting coincidences that can make many tense. Despite how the stories on the side aren’t ended correctly, and sometimes the characters’ thoughts and attitude are redundant – it’s a good book that involves the story and keeps it noticeable.

snik1

Recommended: Yes