Chasing Orion

This story was an interesting snapshot in time, seen through the eyes of eleven-year-old Georgie Mason. It is a hot, dry summer of 1952 in a quiet suburban area of Indianapolis, Indiana. Georgie's family has just moved into the area from the other end of town and Georgie is moping about having to move away from all of her friends, starting a new school in September and upset that her favorite summer pastime, swimming, has been banned by her parents because of the polio outbreak in the state. Georgie has an almost morbid fascination with following the daily news reports of the polio outbreak, but this interest takes on a personal meaning when she meets the teenage girl next door, Phyllis Keller. Phyllis has polio and lives at home in an show more iron lung.

The story is a coming-of-age story of young Georgie trying to understand the disease, treatments, people's perceptions of the disease and how the disease impacts the lives of its sufferers, like Phyllis, and their families and friends. As Georgie's friendship with Phyllis, grows she finds herself grappling with issues that adults have difficulties comprehending.

What I really liked about the story is that Georgie is not presented as overly precocious - she is a believable eleven-year-old, along with her nerdy friend Evelyn, her athletic older brother Emmett, and Phyllis. I found the adults in the book to be lacking in character development. They come off just a little too perfect, a little too condescending, a little too two-dimensional for the topic at hand. I don't know how realistic the idea of Phyllis living at home in an iron lung in 1952 is considering most hospitals in the 1950's had limited access to iron lungs for patients unable to breath without mechanical assistance, but it enables the story to play out as it does.

An interesting story about a time period and a disease that for many is merely a mention in the pages of a history book. show less

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and flowed smoothly. A very quick read. I learned a lot that I didn't know and also enjoyed getting to know the characters. I gave four stars instead of five because I would have liked to see a but more wrap up between Georgie, Emmett and Phyllis. Their relationship ended very abruptly and I would have liked to see a bit more. Other than that a great read that brought the horrors of the polio epidemic to life.

Set in the 1950s during the polio epidemics, this is a many layered story. I am not sure how students today would handle this book. I think it would best be left to girls to find it on their own.

Georgie is at a loose end. They have recently moved across town, away from her friends, and she isn’t allowed to go swimming or to the movies because of the polio epidemic. Initially repelled by the thought of the teenage girl in an iron lung who lives next door, Georgie eventually befriends Phyllis and encourages her romance with Emmet (Georgie’s brother). However Georgie comes to realise that Phyllis has more in mind than just romance and she starts to worry about her brother.
Set in America in the 1950s, this book is an enjoyable read that tackles some tough issues. Recommended for teen girls who enjoy historical, true-to-life stories.