Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat

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 Jarrow, Gail. Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat. Honesdale, Pennsylvania : Calkins Creek, 2014.

Plot: Starting in the early 1900's, people throughout the United States start showing signs of a dibilitating, deadly disease known as pellagra. No one knows the cause or origin of the illness, but it spreads rapidly. Doctors throughout the country try to counter it, but the government is eventually called in for assistance. With the support of the nation, Dr. Joseph Goldenburg examines the victims, locations, and effects of the disease. He discovers the cause. America's protein-poor diet lead to a deficiency in vitamin B3. Yet, finding the cause is not the same a creating a cure. Bias, economy, and ignorance continued to influence the situation, with deadly results.

Genre: History, Health

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

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Personal Thought: The book shows not only medical history, but human behavior. Even though Goldenburg found the answer to the disease, it was not instantly eradicated. People resisted change, questioned the science, and ignored the facts. As a result, the sickness continued to claim many lives. This taps into an issue facing many tweens. Most people in the United States will never face a deficiency disease. However, they will need to decide what they do with knowledge. Will they acknowledge it? Ignore it? History is a great way of learning, and the title offers a great opportunity.