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Outbreak!

Plagues That Changed History

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available
“An engrossing introduction for young adult readers to the chillingly topical subject of man vs. microbe.” —The Wall Street Journal
 
Did the Black Death destroy medieval Europe? Did cholera pave the way for modern Manhattan? Did yellow fever help end the slave trade? Remarkably, the answer to all of these questions is yes. Time and again, diseases have impacted the course of human history in surprisingly powerful ways. From influenza to smallpox, from tuberculosis to yellow fever, Bryn Barnard describes the symptoms and paths of the world’s worst diseases—and how the epidemics they spawned have changed history forever.
 
Filled with fascinating, often gory details about disease and history, Outbreak! is a wonderful combination of science and history.
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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from June 2, 2014
      Morton (Starting Out in the Evening) offers up a fascinating family presided over by the irascible Florence Gordon, a 75-year-old New York City intellectual and feminist activist who likes to surprise, argue, and criticize. Florence never sought public adoration during her long career committed to women’s empowerment, but, now that she has been touted as “an American classic” by her young new editor, she finds she likes the attention. Her pending memoir will be her crowning literary achievement, but her family’s temporary relocation to New York from Seattle interferes with her process: she considers it an unwelcome intrusion into her well-established routine. Florence’s son, Daniel, is a Seattle policeman, an apparently disappointing career choice for the son of a famous feminist, and she cannot understand why she feels so little affection for him. She thinks his wife, Janine, is a vacuous suck-up and also has a difficult time connecting with her inquisitive teenage granddaughter, Emily, although the two eventually develop a tentative rapport. Florence never sees the disaster looming in her son’s marriage after an unexpected, life-altering medical diagnosis causes her to make two fateful decisions about her own future. As a strong-willed, independent woman, Florence is comfortable with herself and the manner in which she deals with others—“one of the fine things in life is the difference between what goes on inside you and what you show to the world.” Morton’s characters are sharply drawn, vivid in temperament and behavior, and his prose smartly reveals Florence’s strength and dignity.

    • School Library Journal

      February 1, 2006
      Gr 5-8 -This well-written volume explores specific plagues that have impacted society. Barnard begins with an introduction to microbes and the positive and negative effects that they can have on humans. A history of the study of microorganisms follows. The bulk of the book then focuses on specific plagues with a chapter devoted to each, including the Black Death, smallpox, yellow fever, cholera, tuberculosis, and influenza. The final chapter discusses the modern struggle against disease. A thorough glossary and a detailed list of sources are included. The evocative paintings help to clarify the text. Browsers and report writers alike will find this to be a fascinating and informative resource." -Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Library, UT"

      Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • The Horn Book

      July 1, 2006
      Rather than simply exploring the biological and epidemiological aspects of six diseases, Barnard looks at the effects of these diseases on world history. He then clearly shows that humankind's efforts to obliterate infectious disease have failed because of drug-resistant bacteria, new diseases, changing ecologies, and human complacency. Full- and half-page paintings add drama and historical context. Bib., glos.

      (Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

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Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:8.9
  • Lexile® Measure:1080
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:7-9

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