G6_Zombie Apocalypse__02-Grade level

Dwaine is finally done with his science homework. He doesn’t mind doing it as he enjoys learning about science. However, he would much rather be reading a good science fiction novel. He finishes up his science homework and pushes it aside, then he grabs his newest book. It is titled “Zombie Apocalypse”.

This science fiction thriller details the adventures of Maximillian Trudeau. Maximillian (Max) is an ex-army ranger who now works as an epidemiologist. An epidemiologist is a scientist who studies how contagious diseases spread through populations. Epidemiologists think like detectives trying to solve a crime. They must identify the origin of the disease and track its movement across distance, the way a detective follows the movement of a serial killer. Like most science fiction novels, this author mixes in a lot of real cutting-edge science into the fictional storyline. This is exactly why Dwaine enjoys reading them.

The story begins with a mysterious illness that wipes out an entire village in North Africa. The epidemic quickly sweeps across Northern Africa and travels into Europe. Max is hard at work in his lab. He first must identify the disease that is making people sick and dangerous. He furiously runs tests in petri dishes and test tubes. He quickly realizes that no test is going to confirm the disease in his lab. Using his government contacts, he gains access to a military flight into Northern Africa to locate patient zero, the first known victim.