The Virus

Book 5 in an edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure series illustrated in full color that follows a group of children are selected for a mission to save the mankind! Their astonishing journey brings them to the outer reaches of our solar system.

In book 5 of this outer space adventure series, Olivia finally reveals the truth to others, and it’s terrifying. Back on earth, computers are gaining power and they’re already unstoppable. They’re capturing people, their main competition when it comes to energy consumption, and killing them. In order to survive, a viable number of people must escape earth - and Kepler62 is their destination of choice. Unfortunately, the Whisperers are deemed too powerful to exist alongside humans, which means they need to be eliminated before any more people arrive. Joni, who is carrying a virus that shall wipe them out, is chosen to complete the task. But Joni goes into hiding. Meanwhile Ari and Marie also discover that the extra travel capsule on their space craft is now open and empty. Whoever travelled in it is now awake and on Kepler62 . . .

Co-author Bjørn Sortland is an accomplished Norwegian fiction writer and Professor of Creative Writing. Sortland’s books have been published in 28 countries. He has written 68 books to date and his body of work includes children’s and young adult books, novels, picture books, and suspense novels, and he has received numerous Norwegian and international literary awards. His writing often deals with the strange and complex aspects of the children’s universe, infused with warmth, humour, and a sensitivity to the difficulties of growing up, including issues of love, identity, and pain.

Co-author Timo Parvela is a highly regarded Finnish writer known for his ability to capture the minds and imaginations of young readers through humour and a touch of magic. His books have been widely recognized and have been translated into more than 30 languages, with worldwide sales of over 6 million copies. In addition to several adaptations for theatre and film, Parvela’s work is often used in the Finnish school curriculum. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy/Education from Jyväskylä University and worked as a primary school teacher for almost a decade before becoming a full-time writer in 1996. His first published work was the young adult novel ＂About a Boy＂ (Poika) in 1989, and he has written over 100 books in his career thus far. His most popular and enduring series, ＂Ella and Friends,＂ has followed the adventures of a primary school class and their teacher in over 30 books (and counting), which have been translated into over 25 languages. Parvela has written over 100 books and his other successful series include the Finlandia Prize-winning ＂Seesaw Trilogy＂, ＂Purdy & Barker＂ series, and ＂Pete＂ books, as well as the 13-part ＂Kepler62＂ series and his newest ＂Mission Nearly Impossible＂ series and ＂Shadows＂ trilogy. He is married and has two grown children, and lives in Kirkkonummi, in southern Finland.

Pasi Pitkänen is a renowned Finnish illustrator, graphic designer, and published picture book author with a degree in Graphic Design. He has also studied animation, cinema, and astrology, and has previously worked at Rovio Entertainment as an illustrator, character designer, and graphic artist. Pitkänen’s illustrations for Rovio’s Angry Birds books have been published worldwide.

Owen Witesman is a prolific translator of literature from Finnish into English, with dozens of titles to his credit, including novels, children’s books, poetry, graphic novels, and nonfiction. His translations for children include the beloved Tatu and Patu titles such as This is Finland, and This is Helsinki. In addition to translating Owen also teaches advanced Finnish language courses and mentors beginning translators.