A great book that is so very timely, both in its subject matter (the search for the cure for polio) and for its actual writing. Cullen says at the very end of this book that she began it the day that Chinese scientists announced an outbreak of a new, respiratory-centered virus, and only found the coincidence months later.

The book centers on the life of Dorothy Horstman, daughter of German immigrants, who earns her college degree in science because she uses her first two initials. Barely allowed even a fellowship appointment in the 1940's, she has become drawn into fighting the horrors of polio and its attack on the nervous system. And the way it robs people of all ages of their full lives.

Dr. Horstman is competing not just with a narrow-minded group of colleagues, but also the famous Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, the former of whom is credited with finding the cure. Except he didn't. And his race to get the grant resulted in rushed inoculations with the dead, not the live, virus, combined with shoddy work at the laboratory. Both of these mistakes resulted in another mass outbreak of polio, though they also brought about stricter controls on labs that manufacture vaccines.

The great thing about this book is the way in which I felt drawn into the race, into rooting for Dorothy and her successes, the deft way in which she handles both the egos and the medicine, and her compassion for those doomed to live their entire lives in an iron lung.

One aspect that seemed a little forced was the way in which other noted women who worked around polio patients were introduced to the story, and then shuffled to the side. Granted, this is Dorothy's story, but a bit more interaction or fleshing out of the Australian nurse Sister Elizabeth Kenny, who placed hot, wet wool on patients' limbs, or Barbara Johnson, the research assistant who developed polio due to interacting with the live virus in her work, would have helped the larger story.

Still, this is a timely story that needs to be told, in the way that Lynn Cullen has made women's histories come back from obscurity with her books. ( )

As a polio survivor, I was intrigued by this story of a little-known crusader in the battle against polio, Dr. Dorothy Horstmann. While Salk and Sabin were at the forefront of discovering a vaccine, Dr. Horstman and many other unsung heroes worked behind the scenes enhancing their discoveries without benefit of March of Dimes funding. Many were women, whose place in science was novel, and they never received the credit they were due.

Historical fiction is interesting. It led me to learn more about Dr. Horstmann. While some passages were undoubtedly added to increase interest in the story, there were also some well-known truths such as the battle between Salk and Sabin. This is a well-researched look at a woman who would aid in finding a cure for this cruel disease. She was an epidemiologist, a pediatrician and a professor at the prestigious Yale School of Medicine, who came from a humble background unlike many of her medical contemporaries. She is depicted in this book as
bringing compassion and caring to her extensive expertise.

I am forever grateful that no more children and adults are confined to iron lungs and are able to walk without leg braces and crutches. ( )

In the 1940s and 50s, perhaps nothing was so feared by parents as threat of their children contracting polio. At best, if they contracted the disease, it could rob their children of the ability to breathe and to walk. At worst, it was fatal. It was not known how it spread, only that once it struck, it moved quickly, and a healthy child one day was a very ill one the next. Research doctors were in a race to find the right vaccine that would halt the spread, and no one was more dedicated to that quest than Dr. Dorothy Horstmann. Her life was an uphill battle, first to go medical school, and then to be accepted by male doctors who dominated the field. This novel is one of historical fiction, but it accurately represents many of the aspects of that time. The race between Dr. Salk and Dr. Sabin to perfect the best and safest vaccine, the acceptance of credible research, the fear that gripped the population, and the determination of Dr. Horstmann whose only goal was to save children are all present in this novel. Well-written and gripping, the novel relates what was gained and what was sacrificed in the race to find a cure. ( )

First sentence: Arlene would never get over the empty swimming pools.

Premise/plot: What should you know before picking this one up? Spans a little over two decades. Follows a half dozen (or so) people in a semi-shallow way for those decades. Multiple points of view. The main character is Dr. Horstmann--Dr. Dorothy Horstmann. She's a doctor on a mission--one of MANY--who is dedicated/committed to polio research. How to prevent it, how to treat it, how to cure it. It's a hit or miss research field with more unknowns than knowns. Doctors and scientists want answers so they can save lives, save families. There are many bumps and disappointments along the way.

For those who want a story about the race to create a polio vaccine, this would be a good fit. What moves the plot forward is this--dedication, diligence, perseverance of doctors and scientists. Chapters serve as snapshots or vignettes of that journey.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I wanted to read it. I didn't find the characters or the storytelling super-engaging. But I was interested in this history. If you are reading this because you just love historical fiction in general, this may not be the main fit. You have to care about the polio element of this one to find it engaging. In my opinion. ( )

Polio, now a disease of myth, once paralyzed and killed children in epic proportions. During the 1940's and 50's teams of dedicated scientists worked ceaselessly to find a vaccine and save lives. Dorothy Horstmann, an up and coming scientists, has some unique ideas about how Polio is transmitted throughout the body. However, as a woman, she must fight for her voice and ideas to be heard.

I thought this was an interesting and well written book. I love reading about women in male dominated fields. Dorothy's strength and intelligence shined throughout the book. I also learned a lot about polio, vaccines, and scientific advancements. Overall, highly recommended! ( )