However the event which was a breakout of the yellow fever in philadelphia was true and very very real. She has written numerous books for children including turkey pox, no time for mothers day, fever 1793, speak, catalyst, independent dames. The story fever 1793 takes place in historic philadelphia in the year 1793. Fever, 1793 is a ya historical novel by american author laurie halse anderson, published in 2000. Recommended citation schwedt, rachel and delong, janice a. The only reason i dropped a halfstar is because it took me just a little while to connect with the characters and the narrative, but once the epidemic hit, i was very engaged. Asked in fever 1793 is the book fever 1793 a true story. However, like most wellwritten historical fiction, aspects of the. In 2000, andersons fever 1793, a historical fiction novel set in philadelphia during. The epidemic or a severe outbreak of something killed nearly 5,000 or even more people. Fever 1793 begins with good historical information for the reader who may not be aware of the situation in philadelphia.
Mattie is, for the most part, just a normal teenager. About the book its summer during the late eighteenth century in philadelphia, and mattie cook is caught in the middle of a plague that sweeps the city and destroys everything in its path. This novel is about the yellow fever epidemic that engulfed philadelphia in 1793. Plot summary in 1793, philadelphia was a busy, bustling town. By the end of september, 20,000 people had fled the city.
A picture book, ndito runs, was a 1996 pick of the lists from the american booksellers association. What you never knew about the women and girls of the american revolution. Now they include polly, the serving girl at the cook coffeehouse. This test is designed to test your knowldege about the book fever 1793. The city streets, called alleys at the time, were laid out in a grid pattern as. In the novel, fever 1793, one element of the setting that the author incorporated, that was true, was that the yellow fever was spreading in philadelphia both in the book, and in real life. Later in 1800, rush would sue william cobbet for libel for the amount of. No, it is not based on a true story, actually its based on a book by dennis lehane. A true test of who she is, the fever will become one of the defining moments of. At the time, no one really knew the true cause of the yellow fever epidemic. The ala called the novels gripping and exceptionally wellwritten and the. In 1793 philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and selfreliance when she is forced to cope with the horrors of a yellow fever epidemic.
In the middle of the book, the story becomes more melodramatic as it focuses on the main character as she tries desperately to find her mother and a place for her grandfather and her as the fever engulfs the city. An american plague the true and terrifying story of the. Laurie halse andersons fever, 1793 is a novel about a fourteenyearold girl. The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 by jim murphy is a nonfiction book that won the newbery honor award. The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 newbery honor book hardcover june 23, 2003 by. This book is intended for the intermediate and advanced age level. Since i live in philadelphia i was able to make some real world connections which helped to make the book more. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Her title, speak, was named a 2000 printz honor book by the american library association and was a finalist for the 1999 national book award. It is spread by mosquitos and is still common in south america and africa. There were times of hardship and heartbreak, but just enough times of laughter and joy, so that the book wasnt too heavy. But fourteenyearold mattie cook doesnt get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. Laurie halse andersons fever, 1793 is a novel about a fourteenyearold girl named matilda mattie cook who comes of age during the infamous yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia in 1793. The book thief by markus zusak a great and terrible beauty by libba bray number.
Anderson won the annual award in 2009, citing three novels published from 1999 to 2002. Fever 1793 is based on the actual yellow fever epidemic that hit philadelphia. Fever 1793 study guide from litcharts the creators of. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. Laurie halse anderson is an american writer, known for childrens and young adult novels. The protagonist of the book is matilda cook, she is also called mattie. At the same time george washington was in the early years of developing our government and establishing policies to conduct our government with integrity and vision.
There are more true historical facts in the book than what are in this video though, so dont use this as your. Her title, speak, was named a 2000 printz honor book by the american library. An american plague the true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 a book and a hug in 1793, philadelphia was reeling from an epidemic of yellow fever. In 1793 philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and selfreliance when.
What type of business does matties family own in fever 1793. An american plague the true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 by jim murphy provides a historic account of the devastation brought on by the relentless, invisible plague that literally brought philadelphia and the federal government to its knees. Philadelphia was the capital of the newly formed united states at that time, and the events described take. The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 newbery honor book by jim murphy. Much of the first part of the story takes place in the cook coffeehouse. The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 is the tragic story of the yellow fever epidemic and how it affected thousands upon thousands of lives, and in turn, the nation. This book tells the story of a yellow fever epidemic which hit philadelphia in 1793, and killed several thousand residents. Mattie is a 14 year old girl who lives with her mother and her grandfather.
I dont think the actual story itself is true, but it is. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The author jim murphy describes a disease called the yellow fever and how it. The search for the fever s causes and cure, not found for more than a century afterward, provides a suspenseful counterpoint to this riveting true story of a city under siege. Get an answer for what are some historical facts mentioned in fever 1793. The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Fever, 1793 by laurie halse anderson in the novel fever, 1793, philadelphia is struck by yellow fever, and many are killed because of the sickness. This disease did kill thousands of people, and will always be remembered as a part of u. Fever, 1793 book douglas county libraries bibliocommons. The fever 1793 community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you.
An american plague was one of the finalists in the 2003 national book award. This story depicts a perfect example of social responsibility. Start studying fever 1793 by laurie halse anderson. What are some historical facts mentioned in fever 1793. Matilda mattie cook is a fourteenyearold girl living above a coffeehouse in philadelphia with her mother, grandfather a former military man, a parrot named king george, and an orange cat named silas. Its late summer 1793, and the streets of philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. At that time, it served as the nations capital and many people lived here. The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 newbery honor book jim murphy. Set in late colonial philadelphia and based on true events, the story follows fourteenyearold mattie cook as the city she lives in falls prey to a deadly outbreak of yellow fever.
The characters in the book like matilda are not real and. The story fever 1793 takes place in philadelphia during the postrevolutionary war years. During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia, 5,000 or more people were listed in the official register of deaths between august 1 and november 9. I learned so much that id never known about the yellow fever epidemic in colonial times, yet the information melts into the story so well, that not for a moment is the book laden. The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 is a young adult nonfiction title that draws on firsthand accounts and explores the fevers historical context, sharing fever 1793 s emphasis on the lifesaving efforts of the free africans.
Eliza, a free black woman, is the coffeehouse cook. Fever 1793 by laurie halse anderson flashcards quizlet. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Fever 1793 novel encyclopedia of greater philadelphia. The members of the free african society dont turn their backs to the poor and. This is the story by laurie halse anderson of the fever 1793. This book is about an incurable disease that took over the town of philadelphia in 1793. Print a copy of the fever 1793 literature circle questions printable for each student. During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook gains. Why might anderson have chosen this primary source excerpt to open her novel. This video contains a short summary of the book and the true history of the events. The vast majority of them died of yellow fever, making the epidemic in the city of 50,000 people one of the most severe in united states history. The novel tells the story of two girlsone of whom is dead at the.
The american plague the author draws on primary sources for this nonfiction book recommended by washington post columnist john kelly, evocatively describing the. William cobbett was the primary political enemy of rush going so far as to calling him a quack, a murderer, and mentally unstable according to jim murphy, author of american plague. The ala called the novels gripping and exceptionally. The characters in the book like matilda are not real and probably did not exist. Based on the true events of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793, this one is a pageturner. The author of the book is laurie halse anderson and the book has 243 pages.