Book Brief - Fever 1793

Fever 1793
Laurie Halse Anderson
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (March 1, 2002)

During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook helps her widowed mother and grandfather run the family coffee shop. Mattie dreams of turning the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. An epidemic of yellow fever changes her course.

According to the author, "The yellow fever outbreak that struck Philadelphia in 1793 was one of the worst epidemics in United States history. In three months it killed nearly five thousand people, ten percent of the city's population."

As in the "great" plague of Europe the true heroes of this story drew their motivation from the leaders and the teaching of their church.

A well written, praiseworthy book which will lead you to thankfulness to God for our era of medical insight and historical curiosity about the books era of medical "trial and error".

"Its good you have each other, " said Mrs. Bowles in the same placid voice. "But you should not leave your house once you arrive. The streets of Philadelphia are more dangerous than your darkest nightmare. Fever victims lay in the gutters, thieves and wild men lurk on every corner. The markets have little food. You can't wander. If you are determined to return home with your grandfather, then you must stay there until the fever abates."

Rating: Paperback