The Deadliest Diseases Then and Now

October 11, 2021
Hopkinson (We Had to Be Brave: Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport) instructs the reader to imagine a deadly disease racing through their city: the streets are deserted, and one’s mother refuses to let one leave the house. It may bear contemporary parallels, but Hopkinson is describing the bubonic plague, which ravaged Europe, Asia, and Africa in 1347. Known as the “Great Mortality,” it’s estimated to have killed nearly half the population of Europe. Endorsing primary sources, the narrative shares written testimony about sailors’ stopovers emulating the loosing of “evil spirits”: “Every settlement, every place was poisoned by the contagious pestilence, and their inhabitants, both men and women, died suddenly.” Quoting medical historians and epidemiologists, Hopkinson shows that plague was spread by Mongol sieges through the Black Sea region and beyond. Where raiders went, so did rats, whose fleas spread disease, which incited mob violence and political instability. The second half of the book covers other lethal outbreaks, including influenza, cholera, and Covid-19. Augmented by A.L. Tarter’s striking 1940s pen-and-ink illustrations, this series starter offers skilled narration and concise explanations of complex scientific terms and ideas. A timely take on historical pandemics. Back matter includes a glossary, source notes, a bibliography, knowledge-testing games, and instructions to create your own plague chronicle. Ages 7–10.

November 1, 2021

Gr 6-9-The first in a new series has a timely topic. The bulk of the volume focuses on the bubonic plague from the 14th century to the 1910s, alternating historical and science chapters, and frequently debunking established theories. The author's chummy use of the first person "we" lets readers learn alongside her as she reveals information gleaned from experts, transforming her writing into the style of one of the Middle Ages plague chroniclers she frequently quotes. Additional chapters on the 1918 influenza and COVID-19 pandemics add context to understanding how far medicine has come in handling contagious diseases. Informative captioned photographs alternate with evocative pen-and-ink illustrations. Bold vocabulary words are explained contextually as well as defined in the corresponding glossary. Supplemental materials include two fun quizzes and a call to be "a Twenty-First Century Chronicler" of COVID-19, as well as further reading and a selected bibliography. Source notes, which the author describes as analogous to "evidence that a detective collects to make a case," and a comprehensive index also support researchers. VERDICT Good for budding middle school epidemiologists and history buffs who can't resist a book about diseases.-Courtney Lewis, St. Catherine's Sch., Richmond, VA

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