BookFronter
When Plague Strikes by James Cross Giblin

When Plague Strikes

The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS

James Cross Giblin

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · April 11, 1997

Compassionate and arresting, this exploration of three major diseases that have changed the course of history—the bubonic plague, smallpox, and AIDS—chronicles their fearsome death toll, their lasting social, economic, and political implications, and how medical knowledge and treatments have advanced as a result of the crises they have occasioned.

Illness & InjuryModern History for Kidshealthgirls
Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
Trace how plague, smallpox, and AIDS reshaped societies and medical knowledge.
Themes
Epidemics and disease, Disease's social and political impact, Medical knowledge and treatments
Genres
Illness & Injury, Modern History for Kids

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved. Most of these share its genre: Illness & Injury.

  1. Plague-busters!Lindsey Fitzharris, Adrian Teal73% match
  2. The Deadliest Diseases Then and Now (the Deadliest #1, Scholastic Focus)Deborah Hopkinson72% match
  3. What Was the Plague?Roberta Edwards69% match
  4. History Smashers: Plagues and PandemicsKate Messner, Falynn Koch65% match
  5. I Survived the Black Death, 1348 (i Survived #24)Lauren Tarshis65% match
  6. Bubonic PanicGail Jarrow65% match
  7. New York Times Deadly InvadersDenise Grady62% match
  8. American Plague, anJim Murphy61% match

For older readers: A Plague Upon Humanity, The Demon in the Freezer, The Panic Virus

Start with three books, and this one can be the first.

Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.

Start with this book

About this book

Compassionate and arresting, this exploration of three major diseases that have changed the course of history—the bubonic plague, smallpox, and AIDS—chronicles their fearsome death toll, their lasting social, economic, and political implications, and how medical knowledge and treatments have advanced as a result of the crises they have occasioned. "A book that would serve well for reports, but it is also a fascinating read."—SLJ.

Continue reading

Best Books of 1995 (SLJ) Notable Children's Trade Books in Social Studies 1996 (NCSS/CBC) 1995 Young Adult Editors’ Choices (BL) 1995 Top of the List Non Fiction (BL) 1996 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA) Notable Children’s Books of 1996 (ALA)

Disease and Change

Trace how plague, smallpox, and AIDS reshaped societies and medical knowledge.

Come here for

  • A clear-eyed look at three diseases with outsized historical consequences
  • The human and political stakes of infectious disease

Expect

  • Attention to social, economic, and political effects
  • A compassionate account of death tolls and medical advances

Where it sits

Illness & Injury95%
Modern History for Kids66%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Animal Facts
  • Girls & Young Women
  • Illness & Injury
  • Physical Disabilities
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • History
  • Ancient History for Kids
  • Holocaust for Kids
  • School & Education
Authors
James Cross Giblin
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
April 11, 1997
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Epidemics and disease · Disease's social and political impact · Medical knowledge and treatments
Reading lane
Animal Facts