Code Orange

Cool YA fiction about a kid that finds a 100 year old medical envelope with small pox scabs in an old book while doing research- he sneezes...now there is a day by day count down until the incubation period ends and he is at risk for spreading this absolutely disgusting and terrifying disease to the millions and millions of people packed into every city block of Manhattan. I loved all of the gruesome descriptions of what happens to a person's body, as well as the 90's band references.

Takes place and was written soon after 9/11, so there are some reference there too. if you like any of these things in a book, you might like this one:
-medical history
-suspense
-grossness
-the '90s
-music
-romance stories with a 3rd wheel that is a jerk and show more hates the friend's -girlfriend.

Note to librarians: Great for any middle grades and lower High School just for fun. show less

This book was nothing like I expected. Honestly, I didn't even read the book blurb because I have read books by this author before and enjoyed them. For a book with so much about smallpox, I really enjoyed it. I never thought this topic would hold my interest but the author really did a wonderful job with this book. I read the book straight thru without putting it down. Using a term paper assigned at school, the author really brings the smallpox epidemic to life for the reader. Mitty becomes obsessed with his paper and the possibility of contracting smallpox. All because he decided to do his homework for a change. I love how Mitty blames doing his homework for his predicament but it is the knowledge he obtained from said homework that show more ultimately saves him in the end. This is definitely worth the read. show less

Mitty Blake is a talented but underachieving student in advanced biology at a New York City private high school. He is more interested in his friend Olivia than in completing his infectious-disease report, which could keep him from flunking. When he discovers a smallpox scab in an envelope in an old medical book, his research takes a somewhat urgent turn as he tries to determine whether he has contracted the disease. Searching for information on the Internet (thankfully, the high-achieving Olivia knows how to use a library), he inadvertently alerts a terrorist group to his situation. They kidnap Mitty with the intention of using him as a human biological weapon against the people of New York. The book does pull a reader into finishing show more it so there is appeal. It is certainly not the characters which are underdeveloped and unlikeable. It is not patriotism or action as there is not much. Same for the dialogue. The terrorist characters are comical stereotypes and the book feels more like it is written out of vengeful, ignorant exploitation of 9/11 than anything. The end was particularly a letdown. I don’t know what makes one go to the end but that characteristic, however appealing, can’t save this book. show less

CODE ORANGE by Carolyn B Cooney
Mitty is a typical slacker high schooler with a crush on the school brainiac. Mitty and Olivia need to research a biology paper. Olivia chooses typhoid fever, Mitty chooses smallpox. In his research Mitty happens on old envelope that says it contains smallpox scabs. Mitty, of course, opens and then smells and crumbles the scabs. Is he infected? Will he infect others? Who else is interested in smallpox, a disease that no longer exists – or does it?
Mitty is well developed as is Olivia. The other characters are less well developed and are incidental to the plot. The plot is intricate and after a slow start is heart poundingly detailed. Good information on smallpox is given and is necessary for plot show more development. Teens will love this novel by a noted writer of YA books. Adults (and teens) will remember their high school days and identify with either Mitty or Olivia.
5 of 5 stars show less

Mitty is a bit of a slacker. He is not really interested in school, but he is oddly transformed at times by his fascination with his infectious disease project and even his exploration on Beowulf - once he finally gets around to reading it. He finds an envelope marked 1902 and in it some small pox scabs. As he dives more deeply into his research, he wonders if he has gotten infected by breathing in the scabs. He doesn't tell anyone for a long time. After posting a message on the Internet, suddenly everyone is looking for Mitty - the FBI, CDC, and even some terrorist seeming types.
I found this novel to be a bit pedantic. It hits you over the head with its American patriotism and admiration for American heroes. Although it definitely show more kept me turning the pages, I thought the novel tried to do too much, and I don't know if I believed the ability of Mitty to get out of the situation he found himself in at the end of the book. show less

The sort of book you have to keep reading, if only because you want to know if a smallpox pandemic will hit the world. The plot is engaging, even if it's not great writing, but the clichés of the evil Arab terrorists and good, brave American lad are rather cringe-worthy. The neo-conservative, xenophobic message is clear. The quickly moving plot, the only redeeming feature of the novel, starts to fall apart at the end; I wasn't quite sure what happened, when Cooney tried to tie it up all nicely without answering any of the obvious questions. Not a book I would read again.

Mitt is a loveable slacker who only cares about his advanced biology research paper because of his crush on the studious Olivia. Mitt is concerned he has been infected with smallpox after handling scabs left behind in a turn of the century medical book. His fear leads him to make some less than thoughtful e-mails, which make him a target of terrorists hoping he has the virus and that they could use it as a weapon. The plot is far fetched and some characters fall a little flat, but over all this novel is acceptable for a suspenseful thriller. Cooney's author's note and bibliography show that she did exemplary research, which is admirable. This book is a reasonable addition to large collections or collections with Cooney fans, but is not show more necessary. show less