Publishers Weekly
★ 06/10/2024
In this thrilling work, Cherrix (Eye of the Storm) breaks down the fascinating careers of scientists employed in the Epidemic Intelligence Service, “the world’s most elite squads of epidemiologists” in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using cheeky, approachable text, the author compares EIS officers tracking down the source of an outbreak clue by clue to “Sherlock Holmes with a microscope in place of a magnifying glass.” Covering early disease investigators like John Snow (1813–1858)—the first to understand data gathering and mapping to locate the source of a cholera outbreak in 1854—and the CDC chief epidemiologist who laid the foundation for the EIS, Cherrix details instances of scientists identifying, tracking, and working to eradicate pandemic viruses as one would an Indiana Jones adventure. Each selection culminates in this highly educational work that reads like a gripping and timely whodunit. Other events discussed include how, in the 1970s, investigators hunted down every known case of smallpox to completely eradicate a disease for the first time in history, as well as the scientists who worked to develop the Covid vaccine in 2021. Includes ample back matter. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
"In this thrilling work, [...] Cherrix details instances of scientists identifying, tracking, and working to eradicate pandemic viruses as one would an Indiana Jones adventure. Each selection culminates in this highly educational work that reads like a gripping and timely whodunit." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Optimistic, informative, and inspiring for future scientists." — Kirkus Reviews
“Written with the intensity of the best true crime, Virus Hunters proves what we've suspected all along... scientists ARE action heroes. Readers won't be able to put it down.” — Candace Fleming, Award-winning author of The Enigma Girls
“Virus Hunters reads like a face-paced action novel—I couldn’t put it down! From cholera to Covid-19, meet the disease detectives behind historic outbreaks and learn how these unsung heroes use science and perseverance to eradicate illness and create life-saving vaccines. Highly engaging and important in a time when misinformation also spreads like a virus. A must-read for future doctors and scientists.” — Lori Alexander, Sibert Honor-winning author of All in a Drop: How Antony VanLeeuwenhoek Discovered an Invisible World
PRAISE FOR IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON: “A well-researched, detailed account of two leading engineers in the space race that raises questions about the human costs of war and propaganda…. Engrossing and painfully relevant.” — Kirkus Reviews
PRAISE FOR IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON: “This comprehensive narrative nonfiction chronicle reveals the personalities and machinations behind the space race.… This rousing history testifies to both the romance and cost of technological advancement.” — Publishers Weekly
PRAISE FOR IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON: “A book that reads, at times, like a Cold War spy novel…. Cherrix, who uses formerly classified documents as sources, excels in placing each advancement in its historical context, from the 1930s through the Apollo program…. This account reveals important truths in a style that will captivate teen readers.” — Booklist
PRAISE FOR IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON: “The cherchez les hommes approach used so successfully by Steve Sheinkin in Bomb works just as effectively here, offering readers a brightly defined trail to follow through the morass of historical machination. YA history readers frustrated by an information gap between the race for the bomb and the race to the moon will find this the essential—and thrilling—infill they’ve missed.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
PRAISE FOR IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON: “The text adds depth to the history of the space race, with thoughtful, ethical discussions of the U.S. concealing von Braun’s history to further its agenda…. An engaging, fast-paced narrative that will delight readers of history and space technology.” — School Library Journal
PRAISE FOR IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON: “An explosive exposé on the scandals and lies behind the race to the moon! I learned so much I didn't know. This exciting, fact-filled page-turner will have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about the heroes and villains of the Soviet-American Space Race.” — Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Allies and Refugee
PRAISE FOR IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON: “This is a fascinating and complex story I knew nothing about! I learned so much, and I know readers will, too.” — Deborah Heiligman, award-winning author of Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship”
School Library Journal
09/01/2024
Gr 6 Up—A fascinating dive into the history of epidemiology. Using cornerstone cases, Cherrix explores the origins of the study of viruses and how scientists track down outbreaks and try to prevent global catastrophes. Members of the Epidemic Intelligence Service investigate a rodent-transmitted disease that largely impacted the Navajo community in the Four Corners region of the United States in 1993. A doctor and a minister hunt down the source of a cholera outbreak in 1854, and their investigation process lays down the foundation for modern-day virus hunters. The book also covers the 1918 Spanish Flu and a scientist's quest to resurrect it; the HIV/AIDS epidemic and how medical activism brought awareness to the public, which resulted in life-changing action; and of course, COVID-19. The narrative can be dry at times, but the sidebars, diagrams, and photos help sustain interest. Most impacting are the individual stories of the many people whose lives were tragically changed because of once-unknown diseases. Cherrix emphasizes how pinpointing the source of these epidemics was often achieved through the group effort of scientists, doctors, spiritual leaders, and communities. She also reminds readers that many of these viruses flourish in places that have been severely impacted by climate change. Warmer environments, population density, and changes in animal migrations all factor into how diseases spread. Back matter includes bibliography, end notes, and an index. VERDICT An extensive, accessible, and relevant exploration of viruses and the people whose life's work to study them have changed the course of humanity.—Shelley M. Diaz
Kirkus Reviews
2024-07-19
Explains how scientists study—and learn how to predict and counter—disease outbreaks.
In six parts, Cherrix frames six different outbreaks as compelling mysteries to be solved. “The Case of the No-Name Virus” takes readers to the U.S. Southwest of the 1990s, where observations by dendrochronologists who learned from A:shiwi people and medical data from the Korean War enable an “elite corps of epidemiologists at the CDC” to crack the case and prevent further spread of the hantavirus. Next, readers travel back to the filthy London of the mid-1800s to follow John Snow as he tracks a cholera outbreak to its source, pioneering techniques that are still used today. After giving historical background on the 1918 flu, the text follows scientists over many subsequent decades as they try to learn enough about the outbreak to prevent such a pandemic from happening again. The next section covers the globally coordinated effort (by both scientists and laypeople) to defeat the “ancient enemy” smallpox. Community involvement takes center stage in the documentation of the role activists played in raising awareness and even shaping drug trials during the HIV/AIDS outbreak of the 1980s and ’90s. The final section chronicles how the unprecedentedly fast development of the Covid-19 vaccine came about thanks to years of earlier work. The straightforward language (including impressive scientific explanations) and human-focused narrative structure make for a readable book, bolstered by sidebars and extensive backmatter for credibility.
Optimistic, informative, and inspiring for future scientists. (bibliography, endnotes, index)(Nonfiction. 10-18)
