Product Description

Life wasn't that different in 1793. 14-year-old Mattie hates getting out of bed in the morning and is fed up with her mum nagging her. She's sure she can look after herself - and she's got big plans for the future, if only somebody would listen.

But when her friend Polly comes down with yellow fever and the disease starts to spread through the city, even Mattie has to get serious. Suddenly she's fighting to keep her world - and her family - together, in a desperate struggle to survive... (20020107)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #977404 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Carousel, Winter 2002
'A compelling read.'

About the Author
Laurie Halse Anderson grew up in Syracuse, New York, and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters. The author of three picture books published in the States, Speak was her first novel. Widely reviewed, it was a National Book Award finalist in the States, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, as well as winning the 1999 Golden Kite Award, given by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.. (20010413)

Customer Reviews

brilliant - definetly worth the read
This book was really enjoyable, it was easy to read and the storyline was very gripping. The topic of the book was also very interesting and enough happened to keep you interested. This is book is the kind of book you will start reading and will not be able to stop, i did not find it dificult to read anywhere at all, it kept my attention and kept me on the edge of my seat for hours of end. Overall I could not find any faults with this book, it is eye-opening and helps you really understand the situation as if you were there and you can also emphasise with the characters and feel really strong emotions as they must have felt living through the yellow fever epidemic. I really recommend you read this book!

A Gripping Novel
In Philadelphia in August of 1793 everything was going good until the deadly yellow fever epidemic was born. At first, it was a rumor, then an uncommon event -- but it began to spread throughout the area, and no one was safe from the fever. Hope soon withered into despair as people died everywhere in Philadelphia. Mattie Cook, fourteen, is drawn away from the disease, but members of her family, and those she loves, are inflicted with the fever -- and as survival becomes a credential in her life, she must save the people whom she loves. But the epidemic worsens throughout Philadelphia. As the months pass by, the fever and deaths greatly increase, and Mattie is almost at the depths of despair. But she must be strong, and boldly face death -- through thick and thin, and through the worst moments of the summer. Fever 1793 is powerful historical fiction thriller. Mattie is a bold and well-liked heroine. It is a novel about hope, despair, danger, death, and coping with the losses and victories of the one of the worst epidemics in history. It is one of the best books I ever read, and I couldn't put down this powerfully gripping and well-written story.

Not My Type But Very Well Written
Fever 1793 is about the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, 1793. It follows Matilda (Mattie's) experience through the epidemic, showing excellent historical research and intriguing characters. I can't say too much about it- it is the sort of novel that starts with one thing and flows from there, instead of incidents mapped out.

I found the book very well written with a beautiful, flowing style that makes excellent reading.

Personally, I dislike reading about this sort of thing- and this has a lot of "illness," in the book (hence the name, 'fever,') I don't recommend it to those who dislike reading of intense symptoms/illness.

I recommend it for ages 13 +