THE GREAT INFLUENZA

An updated young readers’ adaptation of the 2004 adult bestseller by the same name.

This holistic approach to the influenza pandemic that ravaged the planet just over a century ago starts with the development of modern medical institutions in the U.S., documenting the fight for academic rigor and the effort it took for clinicians to implement the scientific method. These scientists met their crucible when a scary new flu mutation arose among World War I soldiers. The volume does a remarkable job of concisely explaining the biology at play (both in the disease and the scientists’ attempts at solving the crisis), the geopolitics of the time, and the role of wartime propaganda in spreading misinformation (such as how the “Spanish flu” misnomer came to be). Throughout, SARS-CoV-2 is used as a relatable touchpoint for readers familiar with the Covid-19 pandemic through the use of hard facts, such as the numbers of people infected and killed and the impact of dangerous mutant swarms of RNA viruses. The engaging text highlights women’s roles in various capacities, though only a few are mentioned by name; the revolutionary scientists were “an exclusive group that included very few women.” The meticulously researched book also mentions factors—both socioeconomic (crowded living spaces) and biological (a population’s previous exposure to influenza)—that resulted in the virus hitting some ethnic groups harder than others.

A strong, multifaceted narrative sure to create enthusiasts of science and geopolitics.