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Terrible Typhoid Mary by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

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Terrible Typhoid Mary

A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America

Susan Campbell Bartoletti

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · August 1, 2023

Reading lane: Diseases & Illnesses

In a riveting biography that reads like a crime novel, Sibert medalist and Newbery Honor winner Susan Campbell Bartoletti uncovers the true story of Mary Mallon, a.k.a.

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Beyond the Scandal

A crime-novel-like biography opens questions of reputation, public health, and Mary Mallon’s rights.

Come here for

  • A true story that reads with the pull of a crime novel
  • The human and constitutional questions behind a notorious name

Expect

  • Archival photographs and primary sources
  • A closer look at disease, public health, and enduring misconceptions

Book Details

Authors
Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
August 1, 2023
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Diseases & Illnesses · Illness & Injury
Reading lane
Diseases & Illnesses

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • Social Themes for Teens

  • Lives in History

  • Activist Biographies

  • Family

Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Diseases & Illnesses

  • 19th Century America for Teens

  • 20th Century America for Teens

  • Law & Crime for Teens

About This Book

In a riveting biography that reads like a crime novel, Sibert medalist and Newbery Honor winner Susan Campbell Bartoletti uncovers the true story of Mary Mallon, a.k.a. Typhoid Mary, one of the most misunderstood women in American history. With archival photographs and text, among other primary sources, this riveting biography looks beyond the tabloid scandal of Mary's controversial life. How she was treated by medical and legal officials reveals a lesser-known story of huma...

Read full description

In a riveting biography that reads like a crime novel, Sibert medalist and Newbery Honor winner Susan Campbell Bartoletti uncovers the true story of Mary Mallon, a.k.a. Typhoid Mary, one of the most misunderstood women in American history. With archival photographs and text, among other primary sources, this riveting biography looks beyond the tabloid scandal of Mary's controversial life. How she was treated by medical and legal officials reveals a lesser-known story of human and constitutional rights, entangled with the science of pathology and enduring questions about who Mary Mallon really was. How did her name become synonymous with deadly disease? What happens when a person's reputation has been forever damaged? And who is really responsible for the lasting legacy of Typhoid Mary? Terrible Typhoid Mary also examines extreme public health measures at the time and public misconceptions around disease. Includes an author's note, timeline, annotated source notes, and bibliography.

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