“Werlin is a mistress of intelligent, imaginative mystery writing for the YA crowd, and Double Helix is as good as anything she’s done.”
—Elizabeth Ward, The Washington Post
“Mesmerizing … appeals to reason and love for humanity without resorting to easy answers. Brisk, intelligent and suspenseful all the way.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review, February, 2004
“A riveting story with sharply etched characters and complex relationships that will stick with readers long after the book is closed. An essential purchase for YA collections.”
—School Library Journal, starred review, March, 2004
“With Killer’s Cousin (1998), Black Mirror (2001), and now this exciting book to her credit, Werlin has proved herself to be one of the best youth thriller writers working today.” —ALA Booklist, starred review, February, 2004
“A suspenseful exploration of love and bioethics…. Thought-provoking, powerful, and rich in character.”
—Kirkus Reviews, January, 2004
“A tense medical thriller [that] raises fascinating ethical questions.”
—The Horn Book Magazine, May/June 2004
“Mesmerizing … much more than a mystery.”
—The Sacramento Bee
“The pace here is fast and the problems ethically complicated. Likely to spark discussion.”
—The Chicago Tribune
“Even if the only thing you know about DNA is that it’s used to catch criminals on CSI, you must pick up this book.”
—com
- A School Library Journal Best Book of 2004
- An ALA Booklist Editor’s Choice for 2004
- An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2005.
- An ALA Booklist Top Ten Mystery for Teens, 2004.
- An ALA Booklist Top Ten Science Fiction/Fantasy for Teens, 2004.
- A Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award nominee for 2005-2006.
- A Virginia Young Readers list selection for 2005-2006.
- A Texas Tayshas list selection for 2005-2006.
- A Capitol Choice list selection for 2005.
- Missouri Library Association Best of the Best list for 2004.
- Michigan Thumbs Up Award finalist for 2005.
- Indiana Eliot Rosewater High School Book Award list for 2005-2006.
- Rhode Island Teen Book award list, high school division, for 2006.
- Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers list, 2005-2006.
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award, Grades 9-12 Master List, 2006.
- Pennsylvania State Library Association Young Adult Top Forty Book List, 2004-2005: “Best science fiction mystery on genetic engineering in the tradition of Michael Crichton.”
- Maine “Cream of the Crop” List (Maine Regional Library System’s Reading Round-Up Conference), 2005.
- Missouri Gateway Readers Award, 2006-2007.
- Michigan Reading Association “Great Lakes, Great Books” readers choice award finalist for 2007, grades 9-12.
- Washington State Evergreen YA book award finalist, 2006-2007.
- Vermont Green Mountain book award finalist, 2006-2007.
- South Dakota Young Adult Reading Program recommended reading list, 2006.
- An ALA Popular Paperback selection for 2006.
- A New York Public Library 2005 Book for the Teen Age.
- A Chicago Public Library “Best of the Best – Books for Teens” list selection for 2004.
- A Junior Library Guild selection.
- A Horn Book summer 2004 reading list selection.