Book Review: Breakthrough

 NONFICTION: Breakthrough! How Three People Saved “Blue Babies” and Changed Medicine Forever

 

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Murphy, Jim. 2015. BREAKTHROUGH: HOW THREE PEOPLE SAVED “BLUE BABIES” AND CHANGED MEDICINE FOREVER. Clarion Books. ISBN 978-0547821832

 

 

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This medical history book is told with so much heart tugging in the emotions of the human experience. It highlights the struggles of the time and how much adversity these medical professionals went through to make advancements and attempt to save their patients. A surprising highlight of this book is how the experiences of women and people of color are featured in this historical event. Without these people, the advancements made regarding open heart surgery would not have been possible. This book is intriguing and makes you wonder more about this time and how the people involved had the courage to make remarkable strides toward advancement in medicine.

 

 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This books flows as you read it. It creates building interest and anticipation to where you can’t put it down. The author makes it apparently clear how dangerous and unknown this surgery is. You have to keep reading to find out what happens. An amazing aspect of this book is how it highlights the people involved in the surgery. They aren’t people that are necessarily successful in society at this time, but they are necessary to make this procedure successful. Because of these different aspects contributing to this medical history book, it is a book that must be read.   

 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Winner, Notable Books for a Global Society * Horn Book Fanfare List * A Booklist Best Young Adult Book

"Murphy assembles a complicated set of facts, strip away the inessentials, and tells a memorable, moving story." —Booklist, STARRED review  

"Murphy’s dramatic nonfiction narrative recounting of one of the first open heart surgeries ever performed is not to be missed..." —School Library Journal, STARRED review.  

"Murphy masterfully interweaves discussions of discrimination, the controversy over animal testing, and the background of each protagonist into the main narrative, building tension as he leads up to the surgery itself." —Publishers Weekly, STARRED review  

"A gripping look at a major medical breakthrough." —Kirkus  

“[T]he book’s clear and concise account offers a compelling picture of all that goes into medical — and societal — advances.” —Washington Post —

 

5. CONNECTIONS

- This book could be paired up with research about early medical advances or congenital heart defects

- Compare how congenital heart defects are handled medically now in comparison to how they were handled when these medical advances were discovered

 

Based on a review by Barbara Jean Thompson