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2023 Nominee

Fred & Marjorie: A Doctor, a Dog, and the Discovery of Insulin

Written by Deborah Kerbel. Illustrated by Angela Poon.
Published in 2021 by Owlkids.

Published in the 100th year since the discovery of insulin in 1921, Fred & Marjorie is a delightful graphic novel biography of Frederick Banting’s central role in the discovery of insulin and the part that dogs played in the research. Officially known as Dog 33, Marjorie was the one dog that Banting insisted on giving a name to, and she was the last dog used to prove the efficacy of the insulin extract prior to moving on to human trials. Near the end of January, 1922, Marjorie had survived 70 days without a pancreas but receiving treatment with the new discovery. The extract called insulin was too precious to continue using it to keep her alive when so many young human patients with type 1 or juvenile diabetes were literally dying from the disease. Euthanasia was Marjorie’s final end, but she was an important part of this successful scientific research endeavor.

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11 thoughts on “Fred & Marjorie: A Doctor, a Dog, and the Discovery of Insulin

  1. st.paul Elementary

    Well I gave it 10/10. It was very detailed and exiting too read.I also like the layout on graphic novels too.There one of my favorite type of books.Also the pictures were very descriptive and nice too.

  2. St. Paul elementary school

    I think it was a really good book but I thought it was really sad towards the end because lots of dogs died and I really like dogs. But otherwise I thought the book was really good.

  3. Wildwood School

    The book was a sad but still a good story. It’s about somone discovering insulin. They start to test it on dogs but they start to die but then it finally works. Without that we would not be here today. I would rate it four and a half stars out of five stars.

  4. Wildwood

    It is very sad I almost cried that’s how sad it is. although I love graphic novels and the way they’re made. the concept was good in the story. I thought testing on the dogs was brutal and wrong. I thought in the end it was not worth it to kill all the dogs 😵😵💔

  5. Wildwood elementary

    This was a wonderful Canadian story and although short it was not lacking in emotion and power leaving you in tears at the end (especially because it was dogs) a truly beautiful story that makes you think about what the canine species has done for humans it is no doubt something that you should read

  6. Spring Glen Junior High

    It’s a sad story about dogs being tested for diabetes. They are trying to find a cure. The scientist is very attached to the dog (most of them were strays) and it was sad but hopeful that they could figure out how to help people with diabetes.

  7. Spring Glen Junior High

    I didn’t like that the dogs had to die. It seems like animal abuse. But I loved the book. It was good that they could save people’s lives.

  8. wildwood school

    This is an amazing book about a dog named Marjorie that finds a man named Fred. Then he falls in love with Marjorie so Fred adopts Marjorie. Every day they would hang out .


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