June Almeida, Virus Detective!

January 1, 2021
Profiles a virologist who was among the first to photograph and identify the coronavirus family. Almeida's own family has a significant presence in this account of her career and discoveries. Slade begins with her Glasgow-born subject's early love of science and the death of her little brother, continues through marriage, divorce, and single parenting to track her growing reputation for expertise in microphotography and electron microscopy, then highlights the watershed human coronavirus paper she co-authored in 1967. A specific description of how she used "negative staining" to prepare her coronavirus specimens adds a laudatory glimpse of technical detail to the plain-language explanations of her discoveries. Incorporating memories and material supplied by the researcher's daughter, the author of A Computer Called Katherine (illustrated by Veronica Miller Jameson, 2019) presents another underrecognized woman scientist as a role model. In this case, Almeida is not seen as a crusader breaking down barriers of race (she was White) and sexism but more generally as a smart, hard worker doing her best in both private and professional lives. If her character remains hard to pin down, a bit of verse preceding the expansive afterword ("Virus, Virus, shining bright / In the phosphotungstic night") hints at a sense of humor. Single scientists of color in two group scenes are the only non-White figures in Paganelli's clean, precisely drawn cartoon illustrations. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 77% of actual size.) This indisputably timely book makes a solid case for greater recognition. (timeline, adult bibliography.) (Picture book/biography. 8-10)

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April 1, 2021

Gr 1-4-This narrative biography examines the life of June Almeida (1930-2007), the Scottish virologist who discovered the first human coronavirus. When she was 10, her younger brother Harry became ill and died. As she grew older, Almeida kept memories of Harry close to her heart and dreamed of studying science at a university. However, her family's financial situation required her to leave school at 16 and find a job. She found employment at a nearby hospital, where she worked in the lab and learned how to use a microscope to study cells from sick people. A lifelong photographer, Almeida was able to utilize her technical skills with the powerful electron microscope, which captured the first images of a new virus. Almeida and doctors described the virus as resembling a crown; they named it coronavirus, after the Latin word corona. Slade adeptly documents the personal and professional journey of this lesser-known scientist. Almeida is depicted as focused, driven, and passionate. A bibliography, time line, photographs of Almeida, and additional information are included in the back matter. An author's acknowledgment precedes the main text, which details Slade's correspondence with Almeida's daughter to ensure the accuracy of the work. VERDICT A relevant and timely addition to most biography collections.-Jamie Jensen, Wayne Cox Elem. Sch., Roanoke, TX

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
Almeida, who grew up in Scotland in the 1930s and 40s, "dreamed of studying science at a university." She had to quit school at sixteen, however, to help her family financially. She found a job in a hospital lab and went on to make significant contributions to virology at labs in Canada and London. Slade focuses on Almeida's work, mentioning life challenges (including divorce and single parenthood) but not dwelling on them. Paganelli's illustrations are a mixture of reflecting the text and fancifully expanding it. "More About June" includes three black-and-white photos. A timeline and bibliography are appended.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

June 1, 2021
Grades 2-5 As a little girl in Scotland, June Almeida loved school, especially science classes, but her cozy family life was upended when her little brother died. "Sadness swallowed the family like a deep, dark hole," leaving Almeida with the desire to help others beat illnesses. Though her family had no money for college, Almeida built on her high-school science and love of photography to develop images that helped distinguish between cells and viruses and, eventually, discovered the first coronavirus. As well as describing an accomplished woman scientist, Slade (Swish!, 2020) notes when her subject got married, had a baby, and divorced, showing readers that scientists can have families and be successful. The book also offers valuable details about electron microscopes and viruses, including, in a detailed afterword, information about the one that causes COVID-19. Upbeat blue, green, and sepia-toned illustrations of Almeida's life and work nicely complement the narrative. Some facts are left undeveloped, such as when Slade mentions that Almeida's work helped doctors but doesn't elaborate on how, but this is still a worthy addition to biography shelves.

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