One of the best known microbiologists, Salk is celebrated mainly for his discovery of the polio vaccine. In the early twentieth century, polio became a menacing disease. It struck hundreds of thousands of children and young adults. The virus didn"t just spread disease. It also spread fear. Since polio struck mainly in the summer, warm weather and vacations were looked upon with dread. Families no longer went to the beach. Mothers kept their children indoors on warm, sunny days. For a long time, it looked like the summers of fear were going to be a part of American life. Jonas Salk changed all that. He would solve the riddle to one of the most tragic mysteries in the last one hundred years. Born to immigrant parents with little money, he was the first in his family to go to college. He would grow up to challenge some of the brightest men of his time. He would confront doctors and scientists who doubted his methods, questioned his ability and ridiculed his results. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine is part of the series, Unlocking the Secrets of Science. This series profiles the achievers of the 20th century in the fields of science, medicine, and technology. Written especially for young adult readers, the series helps place each significant invention, discovery, or development in historical perspective while exploring the life of the person responsible for each breakthrough. No science fiction story even approximates the mystery and suspense contained in these true science biographies.