Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat

Feeling well?

 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

Similar Titles: Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Wedding, Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Deadliest Weapon, Pure Grit: How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific

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.

AIDS

Maybe I shouldn't have taken a picture of a white book 

on a white background...

Sonenklar, Carol. AIDS. Minneapolis : Twenty-First Century Books, 2011.

Plot: Despite their infamy, HIV and AIDS remain little understood by the general public. The title seeks to enlighten readers by offering a study of the natural history, politics, causes, and symptoms of the diseases. Articles from USA Today supplement the book's chapters. Sonenklar also includes the stories of three victims of the disease and their responses, treatments, and acceptance of it.

Genre: Science, Health

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: STDs, Depression

Personal Thoughts: The understanding of AIDS and HIV changed a lot since I was a tween. While some transformations improve the situation for victims by providing prevention, treatment, and support, a worrying large amount of misinformation abounds. The title highlights how social bias still prevents many potential victims from seeking the help when they need it. It also limits the amount of support non-victims offer HIV positive individuals. Like so many diseases, knowledge leads to prevention. As much as parents, teachers, guardians, and librarians wish for the contrary, many tweens engage in behaviors making them vulnerable to HIV. Warning young readers with facts instead of scare tactics can protect them.

My Health: Dyslexia

Silverstein, Alvin, Virginia Silverstein, and Laura Silverstein Nunn. My Health: Dyslexia. New York: Franklin Watts, 2002.

Plot: The book reviews some of the basic symptoms, such as reading difficulties and behavior problems, of dyslexia. It also describes treatments, including training methods. While dyslexic students are often labeled as "stupid" or "ADD," they can often be creative and very intelligent. However, they suffer from difficulties with reading and verbal expressions. The book manages to cover fairly complex concepts in an easily-understood manner.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Reading Level: 9-12

Similar Titles: I Have Dyslexia. What Does That Mean?, The Alphabet War: A Story of Dyslexia

Personal Thoughts: I was a little disappointed in the book. True, dyslexia is not the easiest topic to write about. Some aspects, such as the causes of dyslexia, remain uncertain and extremely controversial. However, most of the book reads like a textbook and does not engage the reader effectively. In addition, some of the descriptions of dyslexia symptoms could easily lead to the "psychologist student syndrome," where the reader fears he or she is suffering from the discussed condition. Still, the book does make a solid attempt to fully explain what dyslexia is and how it is treated. Also, I like the list of famous dyslexics on page, which includes Walt Disney, Agatha Christie, and Leonardo da Vinci.