The Great Influenza by John M. Barry - ADVISABLE

The Great Influenza: The True Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, Young Readers Edition by John M. Barry, 230 pages. NON-FICTION Viking (Penguin), 2024. $18 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

World War 1 involved a huge loss of life, but was compounded when history's deadliest outbreak of the influenza virus spread worldwide through troop transports. The virus exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. 

The Great Influenza looks at the virus, the military camps, and the race to find a cure. It took me awhile to get into this book. I wish there would have been pictures to make it more accessible. The writing is good and the subject matter is compelling, especially since the outbreak of Covid. I found the information about the camps and how the politics of patriotism interfered with getting the truth of the virus out to people and may even have contributed to WWII. It's a cautionary tale that is applicable to today. 

Michelle in the Middle