Focusing on seven specific diseases, Farrell, a medical student with considerable experience with her topic, presents a scientist's view of these scourges. The anecdotal style is accessible; the tone, conversational; the whole, informative, with ample documentation to ensure credibility for her presentation. Never pedantic, the book complements and extends James Cross Giblin's When Plague Strikes, which has a similar theme in its analysis of the ways in which such diseases have inflicted social stigmas on the afflicted, increasing their sufferings while inhibiting the search for effective treatment and cure. The copious use of illustrative material, ranging from historical drawings to photographs, gives the book the appearance of a documentary in contrast to Giblin's reliance on narrative interpreted by dramatic woodcuts. Farrell includes diseases such as cholera, leprosy, malaria, and tuberculosis which, despite devastating effects in particular areas and among certain populations, lack the epidemic or pandemic proportions of the other diseases she discusses, Black Death, smallpox, and AIDS, which are also presented by Giblin. Her approach differs from Giblin's because of her particular orientation emphasizing the pathology of the disease as well as its social consequences. The details, while sometimes gruesome, are leavened by an emphasis on the need for research and rational responses rather than uninformed reactions. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the chapter on leprosy, a disease feared and abhorred throughout history, causing the afflicted to endure isolation, persecution, and sometimes execution for what was considered an unclean state (see review of Mette Newth's The Dark Light on page 493). That it is difficult to transmit and that laboratory animals, except for the armadillo, are impervious to its ravages, exemplify the selection of illustrative detail found in each chapter. And while many of the mysteries surrounding these diseases may never be fully unraveled, certainly this book will increase understanding by helping the reader "to face the tricks the microbe world has to offer and to discover...the ways of the human spirit."
As exciting as any work of fiction . . . Filled with fascinating facts, the text is written in a crisp and lucid style that makes the most complex matters understandable.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“[An] absorbing and immensely readable account of humankind’s age-old battle with the mighty microorganisms that have changed history . . . Farrell explains the science vividly and clearly but also spins a good yarn, peppering her accounts with enticingly bizarre or creepy tidbits . . . Farrell’s sense of drama and habit of crediting some of the unsung (and often involuntary) heroes of medical history gives her approach a fresh and involving slant.” —The Bulletin, 1998 edition, starred review
“The anecdotal style is accessible; the tone, conversational; the whole, informative, with ample documentation to ensure credibility for her presentation.” —Horn Book, 1998 edition
“Superb. The author has an amazing ability to combine exciting storytelling and accurate scientific explanation to captivate students . . . The lively stories are certain to entice even the most reluctant of readers. This book is as valuable for history and current issues as for science.” —VOYA, 2005 edition, starred review
“Illustrates the hope and confusion, the logic and paranoia that humankind has experienced when confronting terrifying diseases . . . What makes this book particularly powerful is Farrell's gift for capturing the small moments that expose humanity's best and worst side . . . Fascinating reading as well as a revealing look at the intersection of science and social studies.” —Booklist
