April 15, 2024
Grades 4-7 Having tackled such human behavior as living in cities, building walls, and having fun, the Orca Timeline series continues with a look at why humans need vaccines to help fight infectious diseases. Ten chapters use a strong noun (e.g., curiosity, cleverness) to focus each topic, which is then presented in a chronological manner that considers its future. While the author does explain the history of pathogens that have plagued humans over the centuries, the development of vaccines (including the groundbreaking work of Edward Jenner and Louis Pasteur), and how vaccines work, she also covers related thought-provoking and even controversial issues. For instance, Rae addresses the long (and not always perfect) road to testing vaccine safety, the negative effects of vaccine hesitancy, and disparities in access to vaccines. She blends personal stories with engaging nonfiction to create an accessible narrative, made more interesting by colorful illustrations and infographics, period reproductions and photographs, and short profiles of current diverse scientists in the field. A timely narrative for young readers living in the aftermath of COVID-19.

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April 15, 2024
The story of vaccines and why it's vital to get them. In her introduction, Rae notes that she was motivated by a desire to understand not only how vaccines have been developed and tested, but also the reasons why people refuse to get them. She briefly covers philosophical and religious motivations for not getting vaccinated, and while she acknowledges that vaccines sometimes have unexpected side effects, she stresses that they are extremely rare. Retracing well-traveled territory, particularly since the onset of Covid-19, Rae offers young audiences a detailed but standard-issue account of the historical development of biological counters to diseases and epidemics from smallpox and polio to recent advances against malaria. Throughout, she makes equally familiar appeals to logic based on comparative death-rate statistics and like scientific studies. Along with nods to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Louis Pasteur, and other notable figures of the past, she briefly profiles a dozen racially diverse modern medical workers and researchers. Before closing by urging readers to become "vaccine ambassadors," she also discusses basic ways to identify misinformation and disinformation on the web and elsewhere. Dark-skinned figures are generously represented in the mix of children and scientists who appear in the paintings and photos. Injects a little fresh content but likely to be lost in the crowd. (resources, index) (Nonfiction. 11-13)

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Starred review from September 6, 2024

Gr 6 Up-A thoroughly researched and accessible work for students interested in medicine and vaccines. Rae provides all the information readers want to know about vaccines: how diseases spread, how vaccines were created, how they work, what we can do to help keep our communities safe, and much more. Each chapter is presented in chronological order and features an "On the Job" section in which readers will discover how this information is used out in the world. Rae skillfully broaches the topic of anti-vaccination, highlighting the roles of misinformation, social media, and the misconception that a Google search can substitute for rigorous scientific research. This chapter concludes with a page on evaluating resources with the "5 Ws," which can connect to almost any subject area. Photographs and illustrations are featured throughout, as well as many graphs with information from the CDC, making this title visually pleasing for readers. More resources include a table of contents, glossary, index, and further reading. VERDICT An engaging and informative nonfiction text with all the facts about vaccinations. A must-have for middle school libraries.-Lisa Buffi

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