The Mysterious Life of Dr Barry

This was a fun book to read. I had never heard of Dr. Barry, although she/he sounds like quite a fellow....lady...whatever.

I really enjoyed this short book. It tells the story of Dr James Barry, who was born Margaret Anne Bulkey and wanted to become a doctor. Women were not allowed to go to medical school in the early 1800s. Margaret decided, with the help of her mother and some family friends, to dress as a man and become a doctor, Doctor James Barry. On numerous occasions, James' secret is almost revealed but he is fortunate that his secret is kept.

I really enjoyed learning about Dr James Barry and his incredible achievements and know that this book will appeal to many if the children at school. I also like the look of some of the other books in the series.

James Barry was an astonishingly good doctor, with a career in the military and a track record for being horrible to his peers, while taking great care of his patients and improving conditions for patients everywhere he went. He was also born a woman.

"The Mysterious Life of Dr Barry" is a simple, straightforward, exciting recounting of his life for kids. As far as I can tell, it's careful not to stray too far from reality, with the exception of a few lines of dialogue and some private thoughts that are probably deduced from conjecture, and which make this a <i>story</i>.

The focus is mostly on Barry's early life and personal struggles, and the second half seems rushed, but do you know what? It's an enjoyable book and Dr Barry's life is fun to learn about.

Fascinating bio about quite a unique person. A great read for young and old, but the illustrations leave a little to desire.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.