“‘We allowed publicity experts at a philanthropy to take over our responsibilities. We let an ambitious promoter assume leadership in our affairs.’ ‘We did,’ said Dr. Enders. ‘And that is our cross to bear. We must never again allow decisions about essentially scientific matters to be made for us by people without training or insight. That lesson must be learned and remembered.’” 🫣

This book was absolutely fascinating. Wow.
I saw an iron lung in the lab during school, but never on a patient. I simply cannot imagine a whole hospital ward full of them.

As a female healthcare worker, I have experienced being overlooked by a physician for a man’s opinion. But the polio epidemic? That was SO important and I cannot even imagine the strength of these women, in particular Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, who stayed true to the science and refused to get lost in ego and just get. It. Done. And THE MALE EGOS. Ugh. I know that liberties were taken in the writing of this story but…the egos man. I can’t.

Women have always been there. Paving the way. Making strides. Finding cures. And this book brings to light just how integral a part women play in history. This book was meticulously researched and, in light of our own recent pandemic, such an import story to tell.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Over six feet tall, and one of the strongest, female protagonist I have read in a long time. In fact, if not fighting for the vaccine for the polio virus, Dorothy Horstmann had to fight against people who do not take what she did seriously. All they see is her height, her past, and the fact that she is a woman, often the only woman in the room.

But Dorothy puts her life, her fears, her desires, all behind her with a single goal in mind. Not only does she want to find the vaccine to stop the polio virus, but she wants to beat her colleagues, most notably, all whom are male. There is one scene in this book that made me appreciate how hard Dorothy had to fight. There was a meeting of the minds when they were getting close to a vaccine and one of the doctors turned to her and said “Dorothy, is there coffee”? How demeaning!

Dorothy was much more than a doctor, however, she was a brilliant scientist, one who really sensed where polio was hiding in the human body. Will she be the first one to create the vaccine or will she have to support one of her male counterparts? Then it becomes a question of does it really matter who is first, as long as countless children stop dying or suffering unspeakable injuries to their little bodies?

Considering where we are in the stream of time with Covid not being completely wiped off of the map, especially with people still suffering with different types of Covid, including Long Covid, reading a book about stopping a pandemic took my breath away more than once.

It should come to no surprise that there were two very noticeable names in this book, those of Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin. Anyone like me who remembers science from school will remember those names. It was very interesting to see their roles in this book alongside Dorothy in her fight for what she knew would only be a vaccine and not a cure. Time after time, history places women in the background, making them rather invisible when they are meeting the same achievements as their male coworkers, and that was truly the case with Dorothy Horstmann.

I love that Lynn Cullen showed her tremendous research into the life of the real-life epidemiologist and pediatrician who fought for the discovery of the vaccine. She was a stellar historical figure whom this author has given great attention to in this amazing book. I would like to offer this link that shows how extensive Ms. Cullen’s research was for this book, https://lithub.com/research-id-rather...

While this may be a fictional story, the fact that it is based on a real life historical figure, and the amazing work she did, it goes a long way to give credit to successful women like Dorothy Horstmann. While Covid has taken the lives of millions, the numbers do not match with polio. However, at the time when polio was most rampant, during the 1940s and 1950s when its peak hit hard, and hit suddenly, the devastating effect on the lives of children and their parents made discovering a vaccine incredibly necessary. How can we not be reminded of the fight to find effective vaccines for Covid today?

This amazing book has had a powerful impact on me, and makes me want to look up more women in history, whether medical, space, aviation, or other vocations, where they get pushed behind the accolades of men. Kudos to Lynn Cullen for placing this magnificent book in the hands of its readers.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

An interesting and linear accounting of the life of a Dorothy Horstmann and the obstacles she faced as a (tall) woman doing research on a cure for polio. This is a fictional account based on her true story and this is where it gets muddy for me. I think it might have worked better as nonfiction since as fiction we really feel the gaps in the story and it gets choppy in places and a little muddled as to which men she is attracted to and vice versa. Though the author offers an explanation at the end of the book, I feel like I don't really know what is fiction and what is not.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's quite interesting to read about Dorothy and her fight for recognition.

I always love historical fiction novels on topics I don’t know much about. The race to find a polio vaccine as it ravages the world combined with a woman trying to find her place in a male-dominated field, The Woman With the Cure kept me hooked from beginning to end. While I know historically that Salk was involved in the vaccine process, as I grew up in La Jolla, California, where the Salk Institute is located, I had no clue of any details so that was interesting to read about. The romantic elements were nice, but also didn’t take away from the true historical aspect. A great novel!

In 1940s and 1950s America, polio is destroying lives, causing paralysis and death, especially to children. Some of the world’s best researchers are racing to find a cure and the scientific glory that comes with that. This is the story of one of those researchers, who happens to be a woman. Dorothy Horstmann, unlike the others, is not concerned with fame or glory. She is an epidemiologist who just wants to find a cure. Her race to prove that the polio virus exists in the blood will be an important step in finding that cure.

Told from the points of view of Dorothy and other underappreciated women in this fight, such as a nurse, a secretary, a mother, and a wife, this novel looks at Dorothy’s efforts in a unique way. The way the top male scientists are portrayed is shocking, as many are not only looking for a cure, but for money and celebrity. The opportunity to follow Dorothy’s work and her travels to various polio hotspots is fascinating. Dorothy herself is such an intriguing study. She truly wants a cure and knows as a woman she is not going to get accolades anyway. Her fight to be heard in a career field that dismissed women at that time is inspiring. The inside look at all of the science and politics involved in developing a vaccine is still relevant in the present time. This is a well-written, captivating look at a woman who would help find a polio vaccine and would eventually be the first tenured female professor at the Yale School of Medicine. Fans of science, history, and women’s fiction will love this fictional look at a real-life, underappreciated figure in medical and scientific history.

My review is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.

I received a free copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Clinical epidemiologist Dorothy Horstmann is determined to create a vaccine for polio.

I was fascinated by this true story based on the life of Dorothy Horstmann as she and her colleagues traveled around the world to study polio and find a cure. There was so much interesting information presented in this historical fiction novel, ranging from the immense seriousness of polio, iron lung machines, and strep to the origins of penicillin and the classic Candy Land board game. There was a touch of romance too with Arne who was kind and hilarious and quickly became one of my favorite characters. And, of course, a novel set in the 1940-60s wouldn't be complete without a bit of misogynism. Early in her work, Dorothy had a hunch that polio could be found in the bloodstream, but yet again like so many women before and after her, she was dismissed and undervalued by her male colleagues. I, however, was inspired by her grit and dedication to her work. After reading this, I feel thankful and grateful that creating a vaccine for COVID-19 didn't drag on for decades like it did for polio!

Lastly, if you enjoyed this book about a pandemic, then I would highly recommend the following:
• Wish You Were Here (5 stars) by Jodi Picoult (COVID-19)
• The Stolen Marriage (4 stars) by Diane Chamberlain (polio)
• As Bright as Heaven (4 stars) by Susan Meissner (1918 Spanish Flu)
• The Orphan Collector (4 stars) by Ellen Marie Wiseman (1918 Spanish Flu)

Location: Tennessee (Nashville), Connecticut (New Haven), Georgia (Warm Springs), North Carolina (Hickory), California (San Francisco), New Jersey (Paterson), New York City, Queen Mary, Denmark (Copenhagen), Pennsylvania (Hershey), Michigan (Detroit), Ohio (Cincinnati), and USSR (Moscow)

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was so good. We have all heard of Dr Jonas Salk and his polio vaccine. This book digs deeper into the science and the behind the scenes people who actually worked to find a vaccine that worked.

Short synopsis: The story of finding the cure for polio, and the hidden genius women who provided vital insight into finding a cure.

My thoughts: I knew little to nothing about the vaccine and it’s origination, and I was so pleasantly surprised that many of the discoveries were made by women. I love seeing women doing amazing things, but am still so disappointed in the sexism in not providing them the credit they deserve.

This story is a fictionalized account of the real woman behind the cure for polio. Dorothy Horstmann gave up her life to save the lives of millions of children worldwide. What an amazing woman!

The authors note at the end just helped drive the story for me. I kept thinking of the recent outbreak of a particular virus and the effects that had on our world, and I kept thinking of the genius minds at work to create a cure for us so we could resume a more normal life again.

This did somewhat drag on in the middle, but the beginning and ending were compelling. I’d definitely recommend this if you love seeing a strong female character.

Read if you love:
* Historical fiction based off real people
* Women in STEM
* Learning something new
* Famous women in history
* Hard work for the greater good

Thank you to Berkley for this free e-book! Publication date was Feb 21, 2023 so it’s out now!

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

Women’s fiction fans are likely familiar with Lynn Cullen’s work. (See my previous reviews of Mrs. Poe and Twain’s End.) Her latest release is the compelling novel of the race to create a vaccine for polio, The Woman with the Cure.

Polio is now all but eradicated (thanks to vaccines) so it is difficult, in the 21st century, to wrap our minds around what a devastating disease it was. With today’s improved therapies, we no longer think of the horror of the “iron lung.” The recent race for a Covid vaccine and the debates about Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson call to mind the competition between Salk and Sabin. But my knowledge of polio and its vaccine was of a telescoped history. I thought of it as a couple of years of closed pools and movie theaters sometime in the 1950s – and then the miraculous vaccine. This couldn’t be more wrong.

The Woman with the Cure begins in 1940, and polio is already a scourge bringing seasonal epidemics of paralysis and death, primarily to children. Dorothy Horstmann is a young resident physician at Vanderbilt, who only got the position by applying as D.M. Horstmann to disguise her sex. Despite rampant sexism, she succeeds in immersing herself in work in the polio ward and also gets involved in research. Early in her career, she has a chance meeting with Dr. Albert Sabin which sets her on her life’s course: determining how patients are infected, how the infection travels to the nervous system, and, if the disease cannot be cured, determining how to prevent it.

The novel is told with a chronological series of incidents that demonstrate the slow progress of medical research, the intense competition between the various laboratories (especially between Sabin and Salk), the egotism of the men (which got in the way of the exchange of information and often prevented progress), and the horrible discrimination, both overt and insidious, that Dorothy contended with every day of her life

Although Dorothy is the protagonist, the novel is peopled by all the great (American) names in polio research. The majority of the researchers are men, and they suck up all the oxygen in the room. Most of the chapters are Dorothy’s, but other women (nurses, secretaries, laboratory technicians, wives, and mothers) are also presented in small slices of life. In contrast to the men, who care about finding a vaccine so that they can be the ones celebrated in the press, the ones to secure funding, the ones winning the Nobel Prizes, the women want a vaccine to save lives. The men compete; the (few) women collaborate. While the novel may overstate this case, it does present a convincing picture of male egos run amok.

It was not until 1960 that a safe, effective polio vaccine was made widely available. The race was a slow one. The novel puts into perspective the rather miraculous state of vaccine research and development today.

Cullen does a superb job (again) of bringing the varied characters in her story into focus. Dorothy Horstmann is a real historical figure whose research was fundamental in understanding polio and critical to the development of the vaccine. She deserves to be rediscovered in Cullen’s story.

The Woman with the Cure was so insightful and it brought yet another lesser known, remarkable woman to light. Her research on polio and believing it started in the blood was naysayed by her fellow male colleagues. Her writing in this book is her best yet.

Formal review and link coming soon.
4.5 stars

Thank you @netgalley, @berkleypub, @letstalkbookspromo, and @lynncullenauthor for the gifted copy of The Woman With A Cure!

What it’s about?:
A powerful and compelling novel based on the true story of a woman who stopped the outbreak of a pandemic in the 1940s and 1950. The disease in question: polio. As the virus spreads, American cities go into a lockdown. It is amidst this public and global health crisis, we meet Dorothy Horstmann who wants to find a cure for the disease. As she enters the medical field, she is met with patriarchal and misogynistic attitudes that often label her as incompetent or incapable of becoming part of the field. She further faces more challenges as the daughter of immigrants. Eventually, as she gets closer to finding the cure for polio, she faces severe competition by a rival who wants to claim his success at this time.

Thoughts 💭: This novel contributes to the emerging new field of health humanities emerges, and the fact that we are still experiencing the consequences of COVID. As someone who studies and teaches about trauma literary theory, it does make sense that Dorothy’s story may not have come to light until the most recent pandemic hit. Perhaps, what I love about this novel is that it highlights the discriminatory attitudes that women had to face as she chose to explore careers other than teachers and secretaries, which was pretty common at the time when the novel is set. Moreover, this particular novel reminded me of books such as Take My Hand and Hidden Figures. If you enjoy stories about strong 💪 and determined women, this one would be for you and also, if you are historical fiction nut like me, you won’t be able to put it down!

The Woman With the Cure is a fictionalized biography of Dorothy Horstmann who made great sacrifices to develop a vaccine for polio.

In the 1940s and 1950s, America (and the world) is battling Polio, and the best scientists are in a race to find a vaccine. While her male colleagues are in a race to be first, Dorothy Horstmann is deeply concerned for the children who are suffering. She has her own suspicions and ideas of where the virus lurks, but the men overlook her. The Woman With the Cure highlights the scientist who sacrificed and worked relentlessly for the cure but didn’t receive recognition.

Through the efforts of historical fiction authors, women who have been unrecognized for their contributions are receiving attention. I love this about histfic and I admire the authors who are committed to purposeful and informative stories like this one based on real women. (I have a post highlighting similar books coming in March)

The process of developing a polio vaccine is interesting content in light of our recent success in the development of a vaccine for COVID-19 (please, no political comments!). My mother tells stories of the fear of contracting polio for years when she was young. I’m old enough to remember going down to the local school to get my sugar cubes! It’s always interesting to read about times that you and/or your parents have experienced. At the same time, it’s also disconcerting that my childhood is now considered historical fiction! LOL

At a time when women had difficulty gaining acceptance to medical school, Dorothy Horstmann would not be deterred. The story highlights her journey to become a doctor and the first female professor at Yale School of Medicine as well as her important contributions in vaccine development. Yet she was basically invisible. It’s interesting that such a tall, brilliant woman would be invisible! Her name should have been listed on articles along with the men (or even ahead of the men). Very few men listened to her unique idea that the polio virus lurked in the blood.

Yes, there’s a great deal of science in this story. Some might find it dry for that reason and others might find it fascinating and informative. I admit skimming over some of the technical parts; yet, I found her story inspiring and intriguing.

I Wish…Strictly a personal opinion here….I wish authors could restrain themselves from imposing modern day feminist thought on the past. In this story, Cullen goes out of her way to place Horstmann in Times Square when the iconic picture is taken of a soldier kissing a stranger on V-J Day. Of course, Horstmann interprets this as the aggressive action of a man kissing a woman without consent. *Insert eye-roll here*

This is a story I appreciate for its historical content, and I recommend it for readers interested in science, medicine, and public health. Fans of stories about strong women breaking barriers will also enjoy this. Books clubs will find this highly discussable.

Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkelyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary e ARC of #TheWomanWithTheCure upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Author Lynn Cullen has penned a number of historical fiction novels, but I think the one she is best known for is Mrs Poe. I love Poe so naturally I wanted to read Mrs Poe when it came out. I loved it and was so excited to see what other books Cullen put out. Since I read that book, she had come out with a number of other novels, but I think that Mrs Poe remains her most well known book.

I love how well researched Cullen’s novels are and she often takes the untold, behind the scenes stories of unknown figures in famous people’s lives and brings them out of the shadows and into the light. She has written books not only about Poe, but also about Mark Twain, Rembrandt, and Michelangelo all from the perspective of characters in their orbit. If you are a fan of historical fiction, there is no doubt Lynn Cullen is on your radar already but if for some reason you haven’t heard of her then you need to check out her books!

When this one came across my desk for review, I couldn’t pass on it. It just sounded too good! Plus while it might be a piece of historical fiction, it could also have modern relevance as this book features a pandemic. I mean how much more relatable can you get with that? I have never actually heard of Dorothy Horstmann, so I was eager to read more about this woman and see how she impacted the world with her knowledge and research.

Summary
She gave up everything— and changed the world.

A riveting novel based on the true story of the woman who stopped a pandemic, from the bestselling author of Mrs. Poe.

In 1940s and ’50s America, polio is as dreaded as the atomic bomb. No one’s life is untouched by this disease that kills or paralyzes its victims, particularly children. Outbreaks of the virus across the country regularly put American cities in lockdown. Some of the world’s best minds are engaged in the race to find a vaccine. The man who succeeds will be a god.

But Dorothy Horstmann is not focused on beating her colleagues to the vaccine. She just wants the world to have a cure. Applying the same determination that lifted her from a humble background as the daughter of immigrants, to becoming a doctor –often the only woman in the room–she hunts down the monster where it lurks: in the blood.

This discovery of hers, and an error by a competitor, catapults her closest colleague to a lead in the race. When his chance to win comes on a worldwide scale, she is asked to sink or validate his vaccine—and to decide what is forgivable, and how much should be sacrificed, in pursuit of the cure. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This book was excellent. Part of me had some reservations. I am not a huge science person and I was worried that some terms or figures might go over my head. I had similar fears with the film, Hidden Figures, which I ended up loving, while I had some reservations they were unfounded. Cullen does a great job presenting the story of a brilliant scientist and doctor who developed a cure for polio, a complex virus. I didn’t know much about polio so learning about it through an approachable medium was really beneficial and helpful for me. I loved how presentable all the history and science was in this book. It wasn’t overwhelming and it was all very interesting, this is one of the reasons I love reading, you get to learn something new with every book!

I also loved the story and message this book sent. Dorothy Horstmann was a woman ahead of her time. She worked hard and was focused solely on patient care and how to cure sick people. She didn’t get caught up in her ego or the politics of science. She was a woman breaking barriers and the mould for what a woman ‘should be’ and I thought her story would really resonate with modern readers. Especially with the STEM angle. There have been a lot of books in recent years about STEM (STEM romances, STEM mysteries etc) all of the books note how hard it is for women in science. I really loved how this book showed that historically women struggled in STEM fields but for those pioneers, they never gave up. This was an excellent read and modern readers will find a kindred spirit in Dorothy Horstmann.

Sometimes it can be difficult to balance historical fiction with research, character development, and pacing. Cullen flawlessly weaves them all together. The book has great pacing and presents well researched facts without feeling like a history book. And getting to know the characters and their own individual stories worked seamlessly in the story. Dorothy Horstmann is a character readers can look up to and cheer for. I adored reading this story and I cannot wait for more of Cullen’s books. In fact I downloaded two others! So far this is one of my favorite books of 2023 and it shouldn’t be missed. Don’t let the STEM portion intimidate you, Cullen is a master storyteller and you will not be disappointed!

Book Info and Rating
Format: 400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication: February 21, 2023 by Berkley Books

ISBN: 9780593438060 (ISBN10: 059343806X)

Free review copy provided by publisher,. Berkley Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating; 5 stars

Genre: historical fiction

See full review in THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION:

“The Woman with the Cure” by Atlanta author Lynn Cullen is an educational work of fiction following the life of historical figure Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, a scientist whose groundbreaking polio research in the 1940s and ‘50s paved the way for the disease-eradicating vaccine. By shining a spotlight on the contributions women have made to the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math), Cullen gives voice to a cadre of forgotten females who helped halt a virus that gripped the world for decades.

Cullen details in the acknowledgments how she adheres to history to tell the bigger, “albeit fictitious,” story of the women who appear in the record books of polio extermination. Without the work of Dr. Horstmann and Dr. Isabel Morgan, the accomplishments credited to the famed Drs. Salk and Sabin wouldn’t have been possible. Focusing on the struggle of Horstmann, a German immigrant who dedicates her life to pinpointing how poliovirus travels from the stomach to the nerves, Cullen has created a vibrant and driven portrait of a woman who refuses to be defined by convention...

https://www.ajc.com/life/arts-culture/book-review-woman-with-the-cure-explores-sexism-in-the-sciences/YD7FESWIG5GSXIRKC7V7AZBLA4/

When I first saw this book I knew it checked all the boxes for a book I would love! I was right!

Read this book if you love:

✅ Historical fiction
✅ Medical background
✅ Strong female character
✅ Women in Science
✅ 1940’s to 1950’s
✅ Fantastic Writing

See, this book has it all! As a nurse I loved reading about Dorothy and her part in the quest to cure Polio. This book felt so relevant for today, and I recommend it for any lover of historical fiction!

Overall, I liked this look at the world when polio raged and affected children and families forever.
It was a poignant reminder that COVID isn’t the only pandemic, and it won’t be the last.

I don’t have one scientific bone in my body, so I am amazed at the strong women involved in the race to find a vaccine. All this took place during a time when women were expected to be homemakers and mothers. Dorothy stands out as a true hero whose focus is finding a cure and not just trying to beat her colleagues to a vaccine.

Dorothy is a real figure from history and her story is fascinating. There are several other characters in this book that are not as well developed and play a very minor role in this story. I think this led to some cohesiveness issues. However, Dorothy’s story is so compelling, the choppiness of some of the storytelling is not a major issue for me.

If you enjoy reading about important women in history or like science-related historical fiction, this is the book for you!

As shared on my Instagram:

🩺 𝗣𝗨𝗕 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🩺

Thank you #berkleypartner @berkleypub for the gifted physical and eARC. #BerkleyIG #penguinrandomhousepartner

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗲
𝗕𝘆 𝗟𝘆𝗻𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻
𝟰𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
𝗣𝘂𝗯: 𝟮/𝟮𝟭/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

"𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 - 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅!"

👉🏻 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
•Full Synopsis
•Photos of Dr. Dorothy Horstmann

Bonnie Garmus meets Marie Benedict in this riveting novel, based on the true story of the woman who stopped a pandemic.

📖 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
Set during the 1940s and 50s, against the backdrop of WWII and its aftermath, polio is waging its own war in the United States. Dr. Dorothy "Dot" Horstmann is among the scientists working closely to develop a vaccine to stop polio in its tracks. Yet as a woman in the 40s and 50s, her expertise and ideas are not always taken seriously. Dot must work that much harder - and make that many more sacrifices - to see this through.

💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I LOVE historical fiction -- especially when it's based on true events. We get the escapism of fiction, combined with the education of learning about history.

This book has it all! An intriguing, based-on-a-true-story plot, great pacing, a loveable MC you can't help but root for, the drama of the politics of science, and a sweet romance. Yet it also has difficult themes of sexism, oppression, war, heartbreak, and of course, the horrific details of the polio pandemic.

Dorothy is such an admirable character, full of so much compassion, integrity and determination. I won't soon forget her or her story. ❤️

I listened to the last half of this on audiobook, narrated by Hillary Huber. Huber is a master at her craft, delivering a stellar performance of a large cast of characters, each with a distinct voice. Her masculine voice is 🤌🏻 *chef's kiss*.

I definitely recommend this book!
.
.
.

Reading historical fiction based on fact has always fascinated me. I love what I can learn from reading it. Historical fiction has definitely improved in that aspect. The writing gets more realistic and filled with facts all the time.
In the 40’s and 50’s polio was a dreaded disease so many people got it, many becoming paralyzed and some spending their time in an iron lung. In the 50’s and sixties there were several scientists and researchers, several listed in the book who were in a race against the clock to formulate the vaccination for polio before another outbreak that killed many. The book focuses on several of these developers of the vaccination including a woman by the name of Dorothy Horstman. She tirelessly worked, not getting the acclaim she deserved for her discoveries. Dorothy had a theory, that if listened to by the male scientists could have saved many lives but it went against the theory the scientific community thought at the time was correct. It took over ten years and much more painstaking research for her hypothesis to be proven correct and she had to share the credit with a man, David Bodian who came up with this information years after she did.
Back in those days women were not expected to be researchers or scientists.
I am so thankful for the advances in the medical field even though we have a long way to go still especially in advances in the brain and the treatments of Alzheimer’s.
I enjoy reading books that show the strength of women and how they are empowered. My hats off to the developments women have contributed to the medical field.

Pub Date 21 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

In this captivating and moving historical novel, Lynn Cullen masterfully brings Dorothy's story to the forefront, depicting a courageous woman whose achievements far surpassed those of her male counterparts and ultimately saved a generation of children. The sheer amount of research that must have gone into this novel is astounding, yet Cullen skillfully weaves it together with the finesse of a master storyteller. I was rooting for Dorothy every step of the way. Her journey will undoubtedly inspire readers and remain in their hearts long after the last page is turned.

A fascinating story about the race for a polio vaccine with a kick ass woman protagonist.

This amazing story follows Dr. Dorothy Horstmann for over 20 years from the early 1940s to the 1960s. She was brilliant and resilient, so dedicated to her research to fight polio.

I am always in awe of the courageous women of our past who had to fight their way to be successful in a man's world. Although inequities remain, we are blessed to be able to work while being married with or without children. The lack of respect for women in the professional world in years past always leaves me speechless.

I personally didn't know much about polio, and I'm embarrassed to say I didn't realize it was plaguing our nation during WWII. Seriously, how did people emotionally survive with the war going on while being petrified of a virus. I really think we couldn't handle that as a nation, or even a world, today.

The author's note was a great final touch.

Although the main characters were based on real people, their stories were a work of fiction. I do wish the character development was a bit more robust. Although not a biography, it reads more like a biography than fiction. Written to share facts more than to entertain.