Vaccines Change the World

August 15, 2022
From variolation to today's mRNA vaccines, the story of one of modern medicine's great triumphs over viral diseases. King-Cargile begins and ends with smallpox as a case study in how to eradicate a viral scourge and in between retraces a triumphal march of medical research that--notwithstanding choruses of skeptics from the 18th century on--resulted in millions of lives being saved. In clear, simple language, King-Cargile describes many types of vaccines and how they work, but her focus is on the human and historical sides of their stories (Maurice Hilleman's development of vaccines for measles and other maladies, the rivalry between Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin)--until the end, at least, where she covers the rise of Covid-19. Here, she suddenly stops naming names and offers more generalized accounts of the Pfizer and other vaccines and the CRISPR techniques that made their quick production possible. In keeping with the positive tone of her message, she acknowledges but downplays the ominous way many viruses continually adapt to antiviral measures and, by cutting off her narrative at the end of 2020, leaves readers to look elsewhere for information about Covid variants, more recent vaccines, and ongoing anti-vax arguments and disruptions. Still, if her account is more Eurocentric than Don Brown's A Shot in the Arm! (2021), it does offer both strong encouragement to "use your shot" and warm tributes to the dedication of researchers from Edward Jenner on. Sonke's cartoon illustrations are more decorative than informative; group scenes include some racial diversity. Solid background on what has become, for better or worse, a hot topic. (glossary, recommended reading) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

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October 1, 2022
Grades 4-6 King-Cargile introduces readers to the history and science behind these lifesaving medical innovations. Beginning with a discussion of Chinese folk remedies for smallpox and observations about cowpox, she explains how Edward Jenner developed the first smallpox vaccine and how Louis Pasteur's embrace of germ theory led to pasteurization and vaccines for chicken cholera, anthrax, and rabies. She also details immunizations for cholera, plague, tetanus, diphtheria, influenza, polio (including the work of Salk and Sabin), and innovations by Maurice Hilleman, who developed vaccines for mumps, measles, rubella, chicken pox, pneumonia, adenovirus, and Hepatitis B. Offering details of recent health crises (Ebola and SARS, among others) and their related inoculation developments, she pays particular attention to COVID-19 and the 1918 influenza pandemic. Sonke's illustrations are colorful and help to break up the text, but their cartoon style (featuring childlike medical professionals and smiling test animals) doesn't quite match the serious tone of the text. Numerous sidebars, archival photos, maps, and diagrams are more effective. Happily, King-Cargile's engaging prose and solid, up-to-date information make this a worthy purchase for most school and public libraries.

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