Review by Booklist Review
Patricia's Vision joins the rising tide of books related to the contributions of women, particularly women of color, to STEM professions by featuring the many accomplishments of Dr. Patricia Bath, a pioneering Black ophthalmologist, who patented groundbreaking laser-eye-surgery technology. The storytelling touches on events throughout her life, including incidents of sexism and racism, her profound focus on issues of health equity for the people in her low-income Harlem neighborhood, and how she developed the laser device that would revolutionize cataract surgery. The accessible language does not minimize her triumphs, though that, combined with the fairly simplistic artwork, make this seem like it's intended for an audience slightly too young to appreciate the importance of her achievements in ophthalmology. Nevertheless, attention to a lesser-known STEM figure is always welcome, and the images of eye anatomy and how Bath's procedure works add very useful context. Recommended for larger children's biography collections.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Patricia Bath "saw possibility where others couldn't." In this biography of a little-known African-American innovator, Lord relates Bath's story, from her childhood in 1940s Harlem to her success as an ophthalmologist, inventor, and philanthropist. Her signature achievement was the Laserphaco Probe, a laser tool for eye surgeries (a supplementary timeline notes that she was "the first African American female doctor to receive a medical patent"). Lord's clear and direct text--"Dr. Bath spent many sleepless nights, tossing and turning, wondering how to help. One night, she had an idea! A laser"--is matched by the stylized realism of Harris's digital illustrations. Direct quotes from Bath, rendered in cursive, offer encouragement: "Remember that the limits of science are not the limits of your imagination." Supplemental information, including a timeline, further contextualizes Bath's achievements. Ages 5--up. (Jan.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--5--By the time she was six years old, Patricia Bath demonstrated a passion for all things scientific and medical. As a college student, she was hungry for knowledge despite being told that education was wasted on women. She enrolled in medical school, then completed a residency in ophthalmology (the first African American to do so) and immediately began to help the blind community in her Harlem neighborhood. Many treatments involved surgery to replace corneas, but she soon discovered that a thin membrane, or cataract, usually grew over the affected eyes, causing her patients to lose their sight once again. Bath wanted to use a laser beam to remove the tissue. She traveled to Europe to develop her invention, as that was where she could experiment with the best lasers. Her xenon fluoride laser proved to be the answer; her patent for the Laserphaco probe was approved in 1988. Bath pushed through many cultural and social barriers, becoming a "first" in numerous ways. She died in May 2019, but her legacy is invaluable. The text begs to be read aloud; the reader will find onomatopoeia, stylish repetition, and short sentences that add a zippy cadence to the story's rhythm. Harris's rich illustrations depict important moments in Bath's life and include interesting details: medical equipment, an eyeball or two, and a schematic of her invention. VERDICT An inspirational story of a woman who worked hard and never gave up on her dream to rid the world of blindness. A book all children should hear or read.--Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
At age six, Patricia Bath (1942â€"2019) declared: â€~I want to be a doctor!â€TM Though she faced obstacles because of her gender, race, and socioeconomic status, she succeeded, breaking boundaries in many arenas including becoming the first African American female doctor granted a medical patent. Quotes from Dr. Bath appear throughout, and colorful digital illustrations reflect her curiosity and compassion. Reading list, timeline. Bib. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The inspiring story of Dr. Patricia Bath, an African American eye surgeon who made significant contributions in the field of ophthalmology.Growing up in the late 1940s in Harlem, young Patricia first became curious about sight and sightlessness when she noticed a beggar with cloudy eyes. While her friends played nurse, Patricia wanted to be a doctor, and her working-class parents encouraged her love of science. Patricia honed her eye-hand coordination skills by sewing up and mending her dolls, a skill that would come in handy in her career. As a young ophthalmologist, Dr. Bath began working in Harlem before moving across the country to the prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute in California. The discriminatory treatment Dr. Bath received at her new workspace didn't keep her from taking the high road and seeking justice and triumph. Where other doctors saw the impossible, Dr. Bath saw opportunities for miracles, going on to perform a series of groundbreaking surgeries that restored or improved sight for her patients and eventually pioneering the use of lasers in cataract surgery. The lively illustrations complement this motivational text with detail and emotion, from early depictions of Patricia practicing medicine on her toys to the granting of her first patent and her later humanitarian work in Tanzania.A great tribute to a beautiful life and an important spotlight on a little-known part of American medical history. (timeline, author's note, biographical note, works cited, further reading) (Picture book/biography. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
