Plagues

July 1, 2018
In this volume of a continuing series exploring science topics via graphic-novel format, readers learn about plagues, their causes, and how they spread. A scientist communicates with different disease cells (pictured as a blobby face and appendages); this humorous artistic choice lightens a difficult topic. Behind the book's silly premise there's lots to learn from the detailed scientific discussions. Reading list, timeline. Glos.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 15, 2017
Medicine joins our immune systems in squaring off against microbial invaders.Using what amounts to an anatomical holodeck, white-coated, olive-skinned Elena squires two dim-bulb bacilli, Bubonic Plague and Yellow Fever, through a thymus gland and other tissues while lecturing on the causes and treatments of infectious diseases and trying to enlist them as vaccines in the fight against their own deadly kind. Along the way readers come face to face--literally, as all the cells in the cartoon panels are anthropomorphic--with a large cast of common disease bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa on one side and on the other, six kinds of tough-guy leukocytes ("Git yer flu antibodies ready, y'all!") the body produces in defense. In laying out a general history of plagues and medical advances, accompanied sometimes by thrillingly gruesome illustrations, Koch covers highlights and lows, such as how smallpox was used as a bioweapon in the French and Indian War, but avoids mention of the various means of transmission in the spread of HIV and leaves other STDs out of the picture entirely. Still, she injects heady doses of both history and histology into the tour, lightens the load with humor (of a sort: "Ha! Jenner put a lot of pus in that kid!"), and hints at promising new directions in medical research. A reassuring picture of ever more stout defenses ranged against a scary, invisible world. (glossary, timeline, endnotes, bibliography) (Graphic nonfiction. 11-14)

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October 1, 2017

Gr 4-8-With bold and colorful graphics, Koch tackles the complex world of germs and the human body's incredible immune system, which is designed to combat them. In this title that's reminiscent of the "Magic School Bus" series, scientist Elena uses a futuristic interactive technology that enables her to verbally communicate with viruses, bacteria, and leukocytes. Elena is able to simulate situations involving pathogens and the human body to explain to readers how the two interact as well as call forth various historically significant incidents involving disease (such as the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of 1793). Readers learn about the different types of germs (protozoa, fungi, bacteria, and viruses), the role of vectors in the spread of disease, and how leukocytes (white blood cells) fight germs. Initially the narrative is somewhat confusing to follow. However, it soon becomes clear that Elena's goal is to convince a yellow fever virus and a bubonic plague bacteria (both anthropomorphized) to join forces with scientists to create vaccines and potentially combat other deadly germs. VERDICT This useful introduction to the topic of disease and immunity is recommended for graphic novel enthusiasts or as a companion text in science classes.-Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn

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