Between Breaths - by Abigail Rose-Marie (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In the 1930s, two women defy societal norms and pave the way for a medical breakthrough in a powerful novel of female solidarity and scientific perseverance inspired by an extraordinary true story.

In the midst of the Great Depression, a biology degree does Grace Aller no favors. A schoolteacher who tends to her Idaho sheep farm, she feels helpless against the scourge of whooping cough claiming children's lives across the country. When the chance arises to intern with a seasoned scientist in Michigan, Grace doesn't hesitate.

Pearl Kendall has a storeroom instead of a lab, no top-tier equipment, and constant pushback in a male-dominated field. Haunted by devastating losses of her own, the intractable researcher is dedicated to finding a cure. Now, instead of partnering with an experienced bacteriologist, Pearl gets a northwest farm girl with a pioneering drive to make a difference. As Pearl and Grace confront a tide of prejudice, lack of funding, and medical distrust derailing their efforts, the risks grow greater, threatening to unravel everything they are fighting for.

Unjustly lost to history, the story of these two trailblazing women and their unlikely team who disrupted gender barriers to save lives can break the heart and restore hope in the same breath.

Review Quotes

Praise for Between Breaths

"Between Breaths paints a vivid and fascinating picture of sacrifice and triumph achieved against all odds. Based on true events, this is a story of hard work and perseverance that will inspire you and touch your heart." --Lana Kortchik, USA Today bestselling author

"Truly delightful. You can't fail to love and admire the quirky characters and their determination to find a cure for whooping cough--and the story will stick in your mind like glue." --Deborah Swift, USA Today bestselling author

"As thousands of children die to rampant whooping cough, a small group of women scientists--dismissed, underfunded, and one contending with the additional limits of racism--commit their lives to develop a vaccine. With success in sight, their funding is abruptly cut. Just as failure seems imminent, an unexpected visitor, Eleanor Roosevelt, steps into their storeroom lab, and what she witnesses compels her to bring about the necessary funding. Inspired by true events, this novel reveals how courage, persistence, and one powerful ally helped change the course of American medicine as women move forward in the world." --Diane C. McPhail, USA Today bestselling author