Synopses & Reviews
Winner of the Magnolia Award
and#160;
HP Newquist takes young readers on an engaging tour of the world of blood, from
ancient history to modern scienceand#8212;with an occasional trip to the very strange side of
the most important tissue in our bodies. Oddly enough, scientists began to understand
this fascinating fluid only within the past one hundred years and how its microscopic
components nourish the entire body.
Whether the tales of vampires, medieval medical practices, and Mayan sacrificial
rites captivate or terrify, this comprehensive investigation into bloodand#8217;s past and present
will surely enthrall. And if this account is a little bloodcurdling, well, thatand#8217;s half the
fun!
Review
"A thorough and humorous exploration of our relationship with blood."and#8212;
VOYA"This transfusion of information offers a rewarding experience to readers whether they're after the specific differences between blood types and other biological data or just gore's icky lore."and#8212;Kirkus
"Blood-spattered pages play into the subject matter's potential for ickiness, even while Newquist makes it clear that blood is worthy of fascination, not fear."and#8212;Publisher's Weekly
"The conversational tone and the faux blood-spattered pages, replete with sidebars, color photos, archival drawings, and medical illustrations, are sure to pull readers in."and#8212;School Library Journal
"Newquist's prose is smooth enough that several chapters could actually function as nonfiction readalouds."and#8212;Bulletin
Review
"With plenty of gory details . . .and#160; Even reluctant readers will respond to the gruesome descriptions of the disease and of brave volunteers . . . Quotations from the doctorsand#8217; letters and later accounts by other participants gives the story an immediacy heightened by conversational writing full of questions and cliffhangers . . .and#160; powerful exploration of a disease that killed 100,000 U.S. citizens in the 1800s."--Kirkus Reviews
Review
andquot;A gripping look at a major medical breakthrough.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus
Synopsis
In 1944 an unprecedented surgical procedure repaired the heart of a child with blue baby syndromeand#8212;lack of blood oxygen caused by a congenital defect. This landmark operation opened the way for all types of open heart surgery.and#160;The team that developed it included a cardiologist and a surgeon, but most of the actual work was done by Vivien Thomas, an African American lab assistant who was frequently mistaken for a janitor.and#160;
Synopsis
Murphy's dramatic nonfiction narrative recounting of one of the first open heart surgeries ever performed is not to be missed. --School Library Journal (starred review)
In 1944, a groundbreaking operation repaired the congenital heart defect known as blue baby syndrome. The operation's success brought the surgeon Alfred Blalock international fame and paved the way for open-heart surgery. But the technique had been painstakingly developed by Vivien Thomas, Blalock's African American lab assistant, who stood behind Blalock in the operating room to give him step-by-step instructions.
The stories of this medical and social breakthrough and the lives of Thomas, Blalock, and their colleague Dr. Helen Taussig are intertwined in this compelling nonfiction narrative.
Winner, Notable Books for a Global Society * Horn Book Fanfare List * A Booklist Best Young Adult Book
Synopsis
In 1944 a groundbreaking operation repaired the congenital heart defect known as blue baby syndrome. The operationand#39;s success brought the surgeon Alfred Blalock international fame and paved the way for open-heart surgery. But the technique had been painstakingly developed by Vivien Thomas, Blalockand#39;s African American lab assistant, who stood behind Blalock in the operating room to give him step-by-step instructions.and#160;and#160;The stories of this medical and social breakthrough and the lives of Thomas, Blalock, and their colleague Dr. Helen Taussig are intertwined in this compelling nonfiction narrative.
Synopsis
A thrilling and lively tour of the world of blood, from ancient history to modern science, to dark and often gruesome legends of vampires and plague, this book informs readers about the most important tissue in the body.
Synopsis
Red oozes from the patient's gums. He has a rushing headache and the whites of his eyes look like lemons. He will likely die within days.
Here is the true story of how four Americans and one Cuban tracked down a killer, one of the word's most vicious plagues: yellow fever. Set in fever-stricken Cuba, the reader feels the heavy air, smell the stench of disease, hear the whine of mosquitoes biting human volunteers during the surreal experiments. Exploring themes of courage, cooperation, and the ethics of human experimentation, this gripping account is ultimately a story of the triumph of science.
About the Author
To research this book, Suzanne Jurmain used primary sources of memoirs, medical log books and documents from the doctors who were actually involved in the conquest of yellow fever. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles and has two adult children - and one large golden retriever.