I read lots of books over summer vacation. My favorite was Bugged: How Insects Changed the World by Sarah Albee.

Why did I love this book so much? Thanks to the pacing, the voice, and all the fascinating information, I just couldn’t put it down.

I learned lots of specific facts about insects and disease, but the book’s take away message was also something brand new to me—the idea that diseases transmitted by bugs influenced the outcome of wars, determined where civilizations developed, and shape the world we live in. Wow!