Michaels, Rune

PERSONAL:

Born in Iceland; married. Education: Studied psychology at University of Iceland and University of Copenhagen.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Reykjavik, Iceland. E-mail—rune@runemichaels.com.

CAREER:

Writer.

WRITINGS:

Genesis Alpha, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2007.

The Reminder, Atheneum Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2008.

SIDELIGHTS:

With Genesis Alpha, Icelandic writer Rune Michaels treats readers to a murder mystery with deep philosophical underpinnings. Josh and Max are brothers, but their bond is deeper than that shared by most siblings. Josh was conceived and born specifically to provide the stem cells that could cure Max's terminal cancer. Max survives, and even after he moves away the brothers continue to be close, communicating via the computer game Genesis Alpha. When Max is arrested and accused of a brutal murder of a young woman, Josh tries to piece together what his older brother might have done, and this search leads him to a troubling question: If Josh had never been born and Max had not been cured, would the murdered girl still be alive? Josh also asks himself what role the online game played in the sequence of events in the real world, especially after he discovers that Max met his victim through her interaction in the game.

According to Kliatt contributor Michele Winship, Genesis Alpha "takes risks by addressing several challenging themes and issues of morality." Some reviewers cited Michaels' ability to address issues related to the power of modern technology in her tightly plotted whodunit. Although School Library Journal critic Anthony C. Doyle found the story to be "unbelievable in several places," a Kirkus Reviews contributor dubbed Genesis Alpha a "fascinating and realistic page-turner" that is "virtually impossible to put down." In Booklist, Francis Bradburn called Genesis Alpha a "fascinating, troubling thriller."

In her second novel, The Reminder, Michaels tells a more conventional story about a teenaged orphan named Daisy—or "Daze"—as the girl's life veers into the paranormal. When she begins hearing her dead mother's voice, Daze is compelled to act on the late woman's behalf, even as she struggles with her own doubts about the supernatural and how her grief might be affecting her subconscious.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, May 1, 2007, Frances Bradburn, review of Genesis Alpha, p. 44.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September, 2007, April Spisak, review of Genesis Alpha, p. 41.

Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2007, review of Genesis Alpha.

Kliatt, May, 2007, Michele Winship, review of Genesis Alpha, p. 16.

School Library Journal, July, 2007, Anthony C. Doyle, review of Genesis Alpha, p. 106.

Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 2007, Michele Winship, review of Genesis Alpha, p. 165.

ONLINE

Rune Michaels Home Page,http://www.runemichaels.com (November 7, 2008).

Simon & Schuster Web site,http://www.simonsays.com/ (November 7, 2008), "Rune Michaels."