Nnbook yellow fever 1793

The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 newbery honor book 0046442776080. Its an extreme scenario, and in order to respond to it, matilda has to grow up very, very quickly. Matilda will be coming of age during a crisis situation the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Samuel breck estimated that the number of deaths in 1793 by yellow fever was. Encyclopedia of greater philadelphia fever 1793 novel. Also, the symptoms were so severe that being diagnosed with yellow fever was considered a death sentence. Fever, 1793 book douglas county libraries bibliocommons. This is andersons first historical fiction book which describes the worst epidemic of yellow fever in america. 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. During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda. 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. Published in 2000, fever 1793 is a young adult novel that tells the story of a.

In 1793 philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook, separated from her sick mother. Fever 1793 begins with good historical information for the reader who may not be aware of the situation in philadelphia. It was the summer of 1793 and a ghastly epidemic of yellow fever gripped the largest city of. It caused epidemics before all around the world, especially in places where people had little or no immunity. Fever, 1793 summary 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. On august 19, 1793, the first fatality of yellow fever, peter aston, became a topic of general conversation according to mathew carey, irishborn american publisher and first hand witness to the beginning of the plague.

One reason for this fear was that nobody knew where the disease originated. In a mixed atmosphere of mistrust, fear, and caring, matilda lea. In the year 1793, yellow fever was a dreaded disease. During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook gains new strengths. In fact, growing up becomes a matter of life and death. In 2001 anderson published another childrens book, the cheese on 3rd.

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. Yellow fever breaks out in philadelphia the death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia hits 100 on october 11, 1793. Eliza, a free black woman, is the coffeehouse cook. 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. Matties gumption and drive see her through some horrific. Mattie cook, who fights to survive the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in philadelphia. The story is definitely written for preteen children, not young adults. I love historical fiction and this book was very interesting in describing the 1793 yellow fever plague in philadelphia through the eyes of young 14 year old mattie.