Alexander Fleming: By Richard Hantula

Children's Literature

The "Trailblazers of the Modern World" series brings readers another in-depth look at the challenges and life of someone who has made a great contribution to the world. Alexander Fleming, through his many years of studying bacteria, eventually discovered penicillin thereby opening a new era in the world of medicine. Before this discovery, many people died from illnesses and infections that can easily be treated today. This discovery earned him and his colleagues the 1945 Nobel Prize. Alec, as he was called by his family, grew up on a Scottish farm and he was a good student. At age sixteen he obtained his first job and began wearing a bow tie, a habit he would keep the rest of his life. Not finding his work stimulating, Alec decided to enter medical school at age twenty. While in medical school he participated in several extracurricular activities such as water polo, debate team, the drama society and rifle club. Having joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, he contributed to advances in the techniques of blood transfusions during the war. Also during the war he married a nurse who was quite his opposite and they later had a son. Alexander Fleming's medical discoveries have saved millions of people from death and disease. A timeline, glossary, index, and bibliography including Web sites are also included. 2003, World Almanac Library,
— Michele Wilbur

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-This biography describes the bacteriologist's many contributions to medicine and his honors, including a 1945 Nobel Prize. The text begins with Fleming's birth on a Scottish farm in 1881 and ends with his death in 1955. Plenty of anecdotal information is provided to pique readers' interest. Also, Hantula does a good job of explaining the importance of his subject's discoveries. Supplemental scientific topics and quotes from the scientist are highlighted in boxes. In addition, photos and reproductions, mainly in black and white, appear on almost every spread and include pictures of bacteria and of penicillin crystals. The large graphics supplement the text nicely, and the book's colorful layout will appeal to students.-Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, WA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.