Review: When Plague Strikes by James Cross Giblin.

The book was interesting and educational as I am reading while the world is at this time in a virus pandemic (2020). It started in February, 2020 and is still spreading all over the world with enormous deaths to this day January 2021. The book was very informative on the history of plagues of Black Death, Smallpox, and AIDS. The author Giblin informs the readers what types of diseases they are, how they spread, and how people reacted when faced with crises or epidemics. It seems like the population back than is what civilization is going through now.

With modern technology and medicine after a year they have now made vaccines with 90+ percent effectible with little symptoms of an allergic reaction, so far. I have to say know one knows how effective it will be on the long term but that is how medicine is made. Everyone has not got the same anti-bodies or immune system so it is clear the world is trying to stay positive for good results. ( )

I was immediately captured by the cover of this book: a woodcut print that illustrates the three historic periods discussed within. Then, I was immediately put off by the redundancy of the opening sentence: "...the Plague of Athens struck suddenly and without warning" (page 1). I quickly got over that.

Beginning with this prologue that introduces the reader to plagues with the ancient scourge of Athens, the book is arranged chronologically and well-organized within each specific topic while clearly linking the multiple topics to create one cohesive book. The author's unpretentious and information-packed writing style makes for a captivating read. I couldn't put it down; I read it in one sitting. Much of the information presented helped me further understand the broad world around me, especially with his explanations of the etymology of words such as "vaccine." The prologue is mirrored with an afterword that is foreboding, but suiting, and really quite poignant in its call for humanity to unite against our common enemy of disease.

The author was appropriately tender in his address of our modern-day plague, HIV/AIDS. He managed to present this sensitive topic (especially at the time he was writing this book) in a way that felt neutral by making a direct comparison of the various reactions people had to the Black Death and Smallpox to the various reactions people have regarding individuals with HIV/AIDS, providing a perspective that can help students step outside of their modern lives and evaluate emotions held by our ancestors, thus promoting the development of critical thinking skills. Finally, the source notes and bibliography provide much information and solidify this book as an excellent teaching tool and a reminder that such information was still accessible before the golden age of the internet.

The only drawback is that this book was published in 1995 and so much has changed in our medical and social reactions to HIV/AIDS over the last two decades. Importantly, specifically because so much has changed, I feel this early history of the virus includes much information that today largely is forgotten or overshadowed by more recent discoveries. ( )

When Plague Strikes: the Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS by James Cross Giblin; woodcuts by David Frampton
Teen Nonfiction
When Plague Strikes brings together three plagues to provide a continuum and historical perspective leading up to 1995. The juxtaposition of these three plagues shows the evolution not only of the medical establishment but the changing faces and modes of ignorance that will probably always be with us. Informative and well-done, When Plague Strikes also provides a bibliography for further research including Rats, Lice, and History by Hans Zinsser.
Recommended October 2005

A good look about the influences of the effects of major epidemics on the world. It talks about three: the Black Death, Smallpox, and AIDS. Each one is broken down into different chapters that cover the origins of the disease, its scientific background, effect on the world and outcome, as well as a personal story. At the end of the book, a small chapter covers the topic os these diseases still being a threat because of their adaptation to antibiotics. This is a great book to start students off on this topic. It only gives a brief glance at each epidemic, but enough information to get them interested. My favorite parts were the personal sections in the latter parts of the book. Hearing the personal stories of Rock Hudson and Ryan White helps connect us to the past events in a more personal tone. I did wish that such sections were avaliable for first two sections. There are few illustrations, and they are only used to seperate the different sections. This book could be used in a world history class, talking about how these epidemics helped to change the world. ( )

Great non-fiction book fo those interested in major disease throughout history. This book gives an indepth recounting of 3 crippling diseases. For each disease it give specific examples of famous people to have been affected by the plagues. This book is also a great way of looking into medical advances and indentifying possible future medical discoveries and hindrances. This will greatly help pique the interest of the young adult audience. The main downfall is that it is a fair bit out of date to give a full account of the effects of AIDS, but it is a good starting point. It also could have used more images, although that might be a bit morbid. ( )