Breakthrough!: How three people saved "Blue Babies" and changed medicine forever

 Module 4: Book Review 1

Bibliography

Murphy, J. (2015). Breakthrough!: How three people saved "Blue Babies" and changed medicine forever. Clarion Books.

ISBN: 9780547821832

Plot Summary

 Breakthrough! Tells the true story of a medical breakthrough and miracle in the 1940s that changed the future of heart surgery. There are three people who brought this medical procedure to life. Dr. Alfred Blalock, a white surgeon, Vivien Thomas, a black lab technician with no medical degree, and Dr. Helen Taussig, a pediatric cardiologist. These three worked together to help solve the medical problem called “Blue Babies.” Blue Babies is the term for infants born with a congenital heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot, meaning there are low oxygen levels in the blood, making their skin look blueish and leading to early death. This technique to save these children was developed by Vivien Thomas, and he stood behind Dr. Blalock in the operating room to give step-by-step directions. This nonfiction narrative gives readers a step into the medical world of the time and the lives of the three colleagues.

Critical Analysis

Jim Murphy’s  Breakthrough is a nonfiction narrative that can bring medical history with social commentary to allow young readers into the world of science and history. The book is for an age range of 10-12, which I found hard to believe. This is not a book that I would see many 5th graders pull. I would have thought high school at a minimum. When reading the book, I felt the lack of medical background knowledge I had, but I could keep up with segregation and gender bias because I have done more research on those. Murphy wants the readers to see that even through racism and gender bias of the time that these three could come together to help save the “Blue Babies.” When looking up this book, I noticed that depending on the website, it would have a focus character summary. Woman woman-themed website summary would focus on Dr. Helen Taussig being a pioneer female cardiologist. Black History page summaries focused on Mr. Vivian Thomas' racial segregation and how he was not given credit because he is black and had no medical training. After the reading, I took away that Dr. Taussig had the idea for the surgical solution, Dr. Blalock had the authority to attempt it, and Mr. Thomas designed and perfected the surgical technique through lots of trial-and-error experiments on animals. During the surgery, Mr. Thomas had to stand behind Dr. Blalock and guide him on how to do the procedure. By the end of the story, it was referred to as the Blalock-Taussig shunt. I did look this up as to why it did not include Mr. Thomas’ name. Viven Thomas' contributions were overlooked and uncredited because of the racial biases, because he was a lab assistant and did not have a medical degree, combined with racism, he did not receive recognition. In the lab reports, his name was also not included. Overall, I did like the format of the book, and I could read it a little easier than one that is strictly facts. The pictures made it engaging and a little easier to follow, to help the reader see exactly how it would have been.

Review Excerpts

VERDICT Murphy’s dramatic nonfiction narrative recounting of one of the first open heart surgeries ever performed is not to be missed- even reluctant readers will be hook. - Ragan O’Malley, Saint Ann’s School, Brooklyn, NY

Awards and Recognitions

• Sibert Medal: Awarded for the most distinguished informational book for children. 

• Newbery Honors: Awarded to distinguished contributions to American literature for children. 

• Orbis Pictus Award: Awarded by the National Council of Teachers of English for outstanding nonfiction for children. 

• Junior Library Guild Selection: Indicates the book is highly recommended for libraries. 

• Notable Books for a Global Society: Selection for its contribution to global understanding. 

• CCBC Choices: Selection by the Cooperative Children's Book Center.

Connections

• This book would be a great example to show how race played a role during this time.

• Famous African American: Viven Thomas- research more on his accomplishments.

• Woman Pioneer: Helen Taussig- research more on her accomplishments.