- Paperback: 252 pages
- Publisher: Scholastic Prof Book Div; Reprint edition (Jun 30 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0439355257
- ISBN-13: 978-0439355254
- Product Dimensions: 18.8 x 12.7 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 159 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (118 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
On the heels of her acclaimed contemporary teen novel Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson surprises her fans with a riveting and well-researched historical fiction. Fever 1793 is based on an actual epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia that wiped out 5,000 people--or 10 percent of the city's population--in three months. At the close of the 18th century, Philadelphia was the bustling capital of the United States, with Washington and Jefferson in residence. During the hot mosquito-infested summer of 1793, the dreaded yellow fever spread like wildfire, killing people overnight. Like specters from the Middle Ages, gravediggers drew carts through the streets crying "Bring out your dead!" The rich fled to the country, abandoning the city to looters, forsaken corpses, and frightened survivors.
In the foreground of this story is 16-year-old Mattie Cook, whose mother and grandfather own a popular coffee house on High Street. Mattie's comfortable and interesting life is shattered by the epidemic, as her mother is felled and the girl and her grandfather must flee for their lives. Later, after much hardship and terror, they return to the deserted town to find their former cook, a freed slave, working with the African Free Society, an actual group who undertook to visit and assist the sick and saved many lives. As first frost arrives and the epidemic ends, Mattie's sufferings have changed her from a willful child to a strong, capable young woman able to manage her family's business on her own. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
The opening scene of Anderson's ambitious novel about the yellow fever epidemic that ravaged Philadelphia in the late 18th century shows a hint of the gallows humor and insight of her previous novel, Speak. Sixteen-year-old Matilda "Mattie" Cook awakens in the sweltering summer heat on August 16th, 1793, to her mother's command to rouse and with a mosquito buzzing in her ear. She shoos her cat from her mother's favorite quilt and thinks to herself, "I had just saved her precious quilt from disaster, but would she appreciate it? Of course not." Mattie's wit again shines through several chapters later during a visit to her wealthy neighbors' house, the Ogilvies. Having refused to let their serving girl, Eliza, coif her for the occasion, Mattie regrets it as soon as she lays eyes on the Ogilvie sisters, who wear matching bombazine gowns, curly hair piled high on their heads ("I should have let Eliza curl my hair. Dash it all"). But thereafter, Mattie's character development, as well as those of her grandfather and widowed mother, takes a back seat to the historical details of Philadelphia and environs. Extremely well researched, Anderson's novel paints a vivid picture of the seedy waterfront, the devastation the disease wreaks on a once thriving city, and the bitterness of neighbor toward neighbor as those suspected of infection are physically cast aside. However, these larger scale views take precedence over the kind of intimate scenes that Anderson crafted so masterfully in Speak. Scenes of historical significance, such as George Washington returning to Philadelphia, then the nation's capital, to signify the end of the epidemic are delivered with more impact than scenes of great personal significance to Mattie. Ages 10-14. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
I woke to the sound of a mosquito whining in my left ear and my mother screeching in the right. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
I woke to the sound of a mosquito whining in my left ear and my mother screeching in the right. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fever 1973,
By Anika Hossain (NY, Ny) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fever 1793 (Paperback)
Author of Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson writes her amazing historical fiction book, Fever 1793 about a teenage girl named Matilda a.k.a. Mattie who faces difficulty and fights for her life. The story is written really well and Laurie Halse Anderson does a good job making Matilda sound like a girl in the 18th century. In Fever 1793 the bonds of friendship and love is written really well.16 year-old Matilda Cook's mother and grandfather owns a popular coffee shop on High Street. Mattie was a lazy girl with a comfortable and plain life. Her whole life changes when the yellow fever epidemic arrives in Philadelphia. Her mother caught the fever and sends Matilda and her grandfather away to be safe. They leave Philadelphia and on their way both Matilda and her grandfather catches yellow fever. So much happens like the death of Mattie's grandfather and her mother goes missing. The epidemic kills thousands of people. When winter comes the epidemic ends. The fever might have ended but the bad memories are still there. The epidemic caused Mattie to change a lot. She was a lazy girl in the beginning of the book but then she became more responsible and strong. The character shift that Laurie Halse Anderson did was really good. I had read her other book Speak and thought it was an ok book. But Fever 1973 is one of the best books I've ever read. This book was written I such a way that it is hard to put down. Anderson makes you want to keep reading. I read this book in 3 days and couldn't put it down. I never knew historical fiction could be so fun to read. Fever 1793 is written so well. I couldn't find any downside besides the fact that I thought the beginning was boring, other than that it was perfect. This book really gives you a picture of the 18th century. This book was not only fun to read but it also was educational. These are two qualities that make the book great.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intruiging Historical Fiction,
By
This review is from: Fever 1793 (Hardcover)
A very informative book about the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia during the summer of 1793. It gives insight to what the daily life of girls and women was like in the late 1700's. It also illustrates the importance of the Free African Society and their efforts as well as courage in taking it upon themselves to continue to care for the victims of Yellow Fever.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fever 1793,
By loren Touma (Bak Middle School of the Arts West Palm Beach) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fever 1793 (Paperback)
A very cool author Laurie Halse Anderson wrote the adventurous book Fever 1793. Laurie Halse Anderson also wrote Speak, and other great books. Laurie Anderson wrote Fever 1793, so people would understand the devastating yellow fever that struck Pennsylvania in 1793. This story explains the reality Mattie was in. Mattie Cook, a fourteen-year-old girl who lived in Philadelphia. Her parents owned the Cook Coffeehouse, and Mattie was very proud. She had big dreams to make the coffeehouse a big company for the president. Mattie's life and dream changes after her friend, Polly, dies of a mysterious fever. Mattie was shocked of Polly's sudden death, but she was more shocked when she found out that her mother had gotten it. She couldn't admit that it was really happening. Mattie's mother decided to send Mattie to the Ludington's house, with grandfather to take her. Mattie was surprised that no one was stopping her mother. Not even Eliza, a freed slave that works for them. Eliza usually is understanding, and Mattie thought Eliza would stop Mother, but she didn't. Mattie is terribly scared when her grandfather becomes ill on the trip. Mattie and the driver's family fears that it is yellow fever, and the driver kicks Mattie and Grandfather out of the carriage. Now it was all up to Mattie to save her Grandfather and herself. Mattie learns the true fear and terror of the yellow fever. She hears terrifying screams at night, and smells blood and death everywhere. Worst of all, she sees victims dead bodies being carried out. She sees lifeless corpses in the streets. The imagery was amazing, and it makes the reader feel like they're Mattie. As the story goes on, it explains how Mattie goes back to her house with Grandfather. As soon as they go back to they house, the worst thing happens. Robbers come to the cofee house. This is Mattie transforms from an un responsible teenager to an older responsible adult. Two robbers killed grandfather, and Mattie needs to pay attention to herself, not trying to find her mother in the fever anymore. First Mattie couldn't find any hope of survival, and wondered around the streets looking for help. When she does look for survival in the streets Mattie finds out that it's very hard to survive, and on the way she met Nell. Mattie found Nell's mother dead, and Nell by herself sobbing. Mattie understood how the poor little girl felt, and took Nell with her since she felt sympathy for Nell. Mattie was losing all of her hope, and was about to give up when she saw Eliza. Eliza was helping the Free African Society, and taking care of the fever victims. Mattie stayed with Eliza, which stayed with Eliza's brother. Her brother had two sons, and took care of Nell for Mattie sometimes. The two young sons and Nell, were stricken with yellow fever. Eliza and Mattie panicked, and they were losing every hope they ever had. Then, a miracle occurred. There was frost everywhere.And I do not want to spoil the ending (...). This story is exciting, and is a great story. Mattie keeps on losing hope, and realizes that she isn't dreaming. She learns a harsh reality about life and death as her life goes on.
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