The Young Adult Reader: Books about Epidemics

ENGAGING PERSPECITVES: THE YOUNG ADULT READER Sue Christian Parsons, Ph.D.

Spring 2020: History, Medical Mystery, and Hope: Books About Epidemics

Covid19 is a novel virus. Human immune systems had never experienced it before so when it appeared, we were relatively defenselessagainst it. As scientists and medical professionals scramble to understand the virus so they can treat the illness, we struggle to adapt as our lives and social systems are affected. This particular virus is new to us but the story unfolding because of it is one humanity knows well. From prehistoric times to now, humans have been sickened by tiny but powerful enemies. Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Plague, Pellagra, Flu—these dread diseases and others have caused great suffering and for many years eluded attempts to vanquish them. There is comfort to be found in history, though. With science and determination as our weapons, we have made it through and will again.

Each book in this collection tells of a real epidemic and shows how humans fought to conquer it. These true-life stories are filled with mystery, suspense, and even gore, aspects that tend to appeal to teen readers. Lively writing and intriguing images draw readers into these deftly researched pieces that bring complex concepts and complicated contexts into clarity. Throughout the set, these truths resound: The first step to defeating a disease is understanding it. Scientific discoveries offer solutions but changes in human behavior informed by those discoveries make the ultimate difference. And Diseases are not easily defeated, but neither are we.

Mur phy and Blank approach this work as a biography, of sorts—a biography of a germ that has been harming humans since prehistoric times and still lives among us today. As early humans drew together into communities, Mycobacterium tuberculosis found ideal conditions to thrive. And thrive it has, sickening people across centuries and around the globe. The authors approach this work from three angles--scientific, medical, and social—so readers get a clear understanding of the relationship between these aspects of disease. Tuberculosis has been known by a variety of names but always recognized as deadly. Over the centuries, doctors tried a wide variety of treatments, from bloodletting to sunshine. Even the touch of a king was touted as treatment in the Middle Ages. But without a clear understanding of the culprit, little progress was made. In 1882, Robert Koch announced his discovery that tuberculosis was caused by a bacterium. In 1889, Dr. Hermann Biggs initiated efforts to track cases by reporting them to the health department. The “germ” had been identified and scientists were in pursuit, but treatment options were still limited until the discovery of antibiotics in the mid 20 th century. Vignettes, quotes, and photographs used liberally throughout the text keep the human experience at the forefront. Scenes from early 20 th century sanitoriums spotlighting the experiences of teen residents may particularly resonate with readers. Unfortunately, tuberculosis is alive and well, still active around the globe. Murphy and Blank address current conditions such as evolution of antibiotic resistant strains, ease of spread across an increasingly connected globe, and decreases in public health budgets that threaten to give Mycobacterium tuberculosis a boost back into action.

Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (2015, HMH Books for Young Readers)

It was a public health mystery, and Dr. George Sober was determined to solve it. Mary Mallon, on the other hand, just wanted to work. In 1906, the wealthy Warren family employed Mary as the cook at theirNew York area summer beach rental. When typhoid fever swept through the family, the Warrens hired sanitary engineer Sober to track down the source of the illness. Noting a pattern of illness in homes where Mary had previously worked, Sober determined that, though asymptomatic, Mary must be the cause. Mary had moved on so he and Dr. Josephine Baker, a Health Department inspector, tried to track her down to test her for typhoid bacteria. Seemingly healthy Mary would have nothing to do with it. The resultingcat and mouse chase endedwith Mary beingarrested and forcibly quarantined in a cabin on North Brother Island for most of the rest of her life. She was subjected to a multitude of experimental treatments, but never clearly educated about her medical situation. Mary was the first “healthy carrier” identified, but she was not the only one. Only Mary, however, an immigrant and a servant, was subjected to such treatment. Mary fought back through legal action and was released temporarily, but eventually died in quarantine. Though Mary was vilified by history, her entire being boiled down to the tag, “Typhoid Mary,” Bartoletti treatsherstory with respect, revealing the tensions between protecting public health and the civil rights of individuals. Thenarration is lively and engrossing, even charming, and the content is well-documented. Readers today will find much of interest and relevance here.

Ga il Jarrow also wrote about “Typhoid Mary,” in Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary. In fact, this former science teacher and multiple award-winning author specialized in writing about serious diseases with a strong focus on how scientific investigation and discovery saves lives. The books in the “deadlydisease trilogy” ( https://forum.teachingbooks.net/2016/01/guestblogger-gail-jarrow/) address three different serious diseases—pellagra, typhoid, and bubonic plague.

Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat (2014, Calkins Creek) Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary (2015, Calkins Creek) Bubonic Panic: When Plague Invaded America (2016, Calkins Creek)

Jarrow tells these true life mysteries in gripping detail, offering perspective through historical context and stories of actual people. The scientific information woven throughout is clear and relevant. In each book, and across the trilogy, critical themes emerge. Diseases have baffled and challenged us throughout history but, again and again, science has found answers and given us

hope. Many practices we take for granted today camefromgreat challenges and resulting solutions. Even when solutions are found, there is often tension between medical knowledge, individuals’ rights and needs, and sociopolitical systems. Disease eradication only worksif the public is educated about causes and treatmentsand systems are put in place to support behavioral changes. Appealingly designed, with a wealth of fascinating primary documents including photographs, posters, cartoons, and records, this collection will fascinate as well as inform.

Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 by Albert Marrin(2018, Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Asthe Covid19 pandemic swept across the globe, parallels were immediately drawn to the 1918 flu pandemic. What lessons could be taken from the terrible period in history that might shed light on how to face this new threat? Marrin starts at the beginning, in Fort Riley, Kansas, where an outbreak of flu spreading through the barracks began the first and mildest of three waves of infection. Marrin cites the grim statisticsto impress upon readersthe horrible scope of this “most deadly disease event in the history of humanity,” then reaches back to explore the broad history of devastating illnesses and human efforts to survive and overcome. He includes the gory details of early medical practicesand describes both significant advancesand the skepticism with which they were met, including the rise of a vehement anti-vaccination society. Addressing the 1918 epidemic directly, Marrin describes how WWI war conditions created the “perfect storm” for spreading disease and offers a clear, thorough explanation of how viruses and bacteria work. Narrating wave after wave of illness and death, Marrincaptures the horrific scope shown in the data but also maintains intimate focus on human suffering. Photographs, charts, public health posters, cartoons, news clips, and even poetry penned in the midst of the pandemic help the reader understand and feel the enormity of the situation. A step-by-step description of the search for solutions leading to breakthroughs that quelled the pandemic is extended to address continuing work to understand, prevent, and treat the ever-morphing, continually dangerous flu virus.

Suzii Parsons believes that books truly matter in the lives of young people. She is the Jacques Munroe Professor of Reading and Literacy at Oklahoma State University. You can contact Dr. Parsons at sue.parsons@okstate.edu.