Module 10: Historical Fiction

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. H. (2000). Fever 1793. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Summary

Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this book covers the yellow fever epidemic that ravaged the city the summer of 1793. Mattie Cook is a typical adolescent girl trying to show her mother that she is growing up and capable of taking on more responsibility in the running of their busy coffee shop. Her relationship with her mother has always been strained and she feels like she can never please her. When their serving girl dies suddenly from a fever and others begin to fall prey as well, it becomes clear that an epidemic is taking over the city. The coffee shop is closed and Mattie's family flees to the country. However, Mattie is separated from her mother and forced to go back to the shop and try to fend on her own in a city that has collapsed around itself . As Mattie does her best to survive in the chaos and remain alive she grows up quickly and learns about her own strength.

My Thoughts

The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 is a fascinating story because of its sheer power and effect on the city of Philadelphia. Mattie's story of growth and self-discovery in the face of great challenges and fear is a fantastic presentation of a summer that changed Philadelphia and its inhabitants. Readers cannot help but love Mattie for her strength and perseverance. She seeks to prove herself to her mother, but with the onset of the epidemic she ends up showing herself what she is capable of. I found this book interesting, engaging and moving. Anderson did a great job telling the story of a girl in a frightening and unknown situation. I loved her take on the epidemic and her ability to make it personal for the reader through Mattie. When I read this book, one of the first things I thought was that this would be an excellent read for a history/social studies class in school. Although it focuses on such a specific event in history, it is an interesting and accurate look at life in early America. Disease was a very real part of life. Also, I think the female character would still appeal to both genders because the plot itself is so interesting.

Review

Adventures unfold in this coming-of-age historical novel as 14-year-old Mattie finds herself in the middle of the epidemic that claimed a tenth of Philadelphia's population within a three-month period. Anderson's narrative skillfully evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of this 18th-century city. There is also mention of a few prominent figures and groups, including Dr. Benjamin Rush and the work of the Free African Society. Wooten, D. School Library Journal, 2004.