Code Orange

Code Orange

• Genre: Young Adult Fiction; Thriller; Medical Drama
• Originally Published: 2005
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 850L; Young Adult
• Structure/Length: Novel divided into 19 chapters; approx. 200 pages; approx. 4 hours and 51 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Code Orange is a young adult thriller by Caroline B. Cooney. The central conflict revolves around Mitty Blake, a high school student in New York City who stumbles upon an old and potentially deadly smallpox scab in a book he borrowed from the library. As he becomes obsessed with the possibility of having contracted a deadly disease, Mitty’s life takes a dangerous turn. The novel explores themes of fear, responsibility, and the consequences of one’s actions.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes related to disease outbreaks, fear, and ethical dilemmas, references to suicide and the positives of death

Caroline B. Cooney, Author

• Bio: Born 1947; American author acclaimed for her young adult novels; has written over 100 books in various genres, from thrillers to romance; known for her engaging storytelling and thought-provoking narratives.
• Other Works: Safe as the Grave (1979); Fog (1989); The Face on the Milk Carton (1990); Both Sides of Time (1995); Hit the Road (2006); Three Black Swans (2010); The Wrong Good Deed (2023)
• Awards: Young Adults’ Choices (2007)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Terrorism: Pre- and Post-9/11
• The Existence of Evil
• The Hero’s Journey
• The Resiliency of Cities, Particularly New York City

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and literary contexts regarding the effect of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks (9/11) on the threat of bioterrorism on US soil, which affects Mitty’s decision to protect his community from a possible smallpox outbreak.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Terrorism: Pre- and Post-9/11, The Existence of Evil, The Hero’s Journey, and The Resiliency of Cities, Particularly New York City.
• Draft and share a research paper on an infectious disease to demonstrate an understanding of both the central assignment of the plot and the steps of writing a research paper, based on text details.