Yellow fever can be contained to certain areas within a country in many countries where yellow fever is endemic, large areas of the country can have extremely low essentially zero risk. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. 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. In 1793 philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook, separated. In 2000, andersons fever 1793, a historical fiction novel set in philadelphia during the yellow fever epidemic, was published by simon and schuster.
A tale of the revolution, by avi, is another young adult historical novel. 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. Matilda cook is fourteen years old in the fall of 1793. This video contains a short summary of the book and the true history of the events. Fever 1793 begins with good historical information for the reader who may not be aware of the situation in philadelphia. Fever, 1793 is a historical fiction novel that allows for collaboration with science and history classes. I highly recommend this book, while its a work of fiction, it has many true facts about. Yellow fever in the year 1793, yellow fever was a dreaded disease. 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. One reason for this fear was that nobody knew where the disease originated. Bank street best books of the year cbcncss notable social studies trade book california young reader medal nominee childrens literature choice list. The author did portray this correctly, and i think she did this because she did not want her novel.
Character descriptions and analysis fever 1793 health for you. 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. Its late summer 1793, and the streets of philadelphia are abuzz with. The yellow fever outbreak began in the beginning of august 1793, and the more individuals became sick and deceased, the more philadelphia citizens became frightened and fled the city. In 1793, philadelphia, pennsylvania, then the nations capital, experienced the first major outbreak of yellow fever in the united states. I dont know how the author can make such an exciting subject to be anything but. Yellow fever, or american plague as it was known at the time. Mattie is, for the most part, just a normal teenager. You see the sights of the ravished market,docks, and shops, smell the stench of the dead and dying, feel the despair of those waiting and watching and struggle right along with mattie as she copes with the loss of her grandfather, the fear that her missing mother may be. The yellow fever outbreak began in the beginning of august 1793, and the more individuals became sick and deceased, the more. What are character traits for mattie in the book fever 1793. The story is written really well and laurie halse anderson does a good job making matilda sound like a girl in the 18th century. 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. How does matilda cook grow throughout the book fever 1793.
It is caused by a virus of the flavivirus genus of the flaviviridae family. In 1793 philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook, separated from her sick mother. At that time, as the book mentions, philadelphia was the capital of the country, not washington, d. What are some historical facts mentioned in fever 1793. A picture book, ndito runs, was a 1996 pick of the lists from the american booksellers association.
Historical figures involved with yellow fever in 1793. George washington 17321799 in 1793 george washington was the first president of the united states. It is spread by mosquitos and is still common in south america and africa. 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. I highly recommend the book for kids middle grade or older who enjoy historical fiction. Author of speak, laurie halse anderson writes her amazing historical fiction book, fever 1793 about a teenage girl named matilda a. Laurie halse anderson sets the narrative firmly in philadelphia in 1793 by alluding to famous characters. Fever 1793 fever 1793 was written by laurie halse anderson, and first published in 2000. One of the most difficult is taking care of her grandfathers. In an intense, wellresearched tale that will resonate particularly with readers in parts of the country where the west nile virus and other insectborne diseases are active, anderson speak, 1999, etc. Fever 1793 during the summer of 1793, mattie cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. In the spring of 1793, french colonial refugees, some with slaves, arrived from cap francais, saintdomingue now haiti.
In this lesson, students learn about laurie halse andersons book fever, 1793 and develop a project highlighting the yellow fever epidemic that terrorized. Laurie halse andersons fever, 1793 is a novel about a fourteenyearold girl. Fever, 1793 introduction laurie halse anderson s 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. 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. It is a historical novel about a 14 year old girl, matilda, trying to survive an outbreak of yellow fever. Print a copy of the fever 1793 literature circle questions printable for each student. 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. The story fever 1793 takes place in historic philadelphia in the year 1793. We begin on august 16, 1793, during a stifling hot philadelphia. During the summer of 1793, mattie cook lives above the family coffee shop. When yellow fever struck philadelphia he left along with the cabinet. The city founded by william penn the largest in the nation, with some 50,000 residents was still the capital of the united states.
This is a story about matildas transformation from a careless child to a responsible, strongwilled, and kindhearted young woman. The death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia hits 100 on october 11, 1793. An epidemic of yellow fever, which struck the city in august of 1793 and lasts almost till december, changes matties life once and for all. Find books like fever 1793 from the worlds largest community of readers. Mattie who faces difficulty and fights for her life. Historical accuracy of fever 1793 by summer s on prezi. As the sun blazes relentlessly down on the bustling city, matilda grudgingly helps her mother and eliza, the cook, serve at their coffee house. 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. They crowded the port of philadelphia, where the first yellow fever epidemic in the city in 30 years began in august. Her body is changing, she cant stand the sound of her mothers voice, and she has a mega crush on a cute painter guy named. Its 1793, and though business has never been better at the. For example, peru has yellow fever but its almost exclusively in the jungle areas east of the andes, dr. May 09, 2020 here are the top interesting facts about yellow fever. When teaching this novel, teachers should explain the historical context of philadelphia during the late 1700s.
Matilda will be coming of age during a crisis situation the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Any factual errors or historical misinterpretations that crept into the book. Eliza, a free black woman, is the coffeehouse cook. 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. 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. The 2,000 immigrants were fleeing the slave revolution in the north of the island. Fever 1793 is a historical fiction book for young adults. A short account of the malignant fever, lately prevalent in philadelphia.
This disease did kill thousands of people, and will always be remembered as a part of u. This novel takes place during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in philadelphia, an actual historical event. Fever, 1793 book douglas county libraries bibliocommons. August 30th, 1793 in laurie halse andersons fever 1793. Mattie, being the main character and narrator in the book, wants to turn the coffeehouse into the finest in philadelphia. Mar 26, 2015 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.
There are more true historical facts in the book than what are in this video though, so dont use this as your. Matilda is faced with many difficult tasks during the novel. Oct 08, 2019 the death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia hits 100 on october 11, 1793. The summer of 1793 was unusually dry and hot in philadelphia. The epidemic literally decimated the population of the city, killing 10% of its people. Fever 1793 study guide from litcharts the creators of.
Its an extreme scenario, and in order to respond to it, matilda has to grow up very, very quickly due to her situations and growing up becomes a matter of life and death. Fever, 1793 brings the sorrowful time in philadelphia when yellow fever devastated the city, to life in a compelling manner. Character descriptions and analysis fever 1793 health. Jun 04, 20 this video contains a short summary of the book and the true history of the events. This book tells the story of a yellow fever epidemic which hit philadelphia in 1793, and killed several thousand residents. It caused epidemics before all around the world, especially in places where people had little or. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Fever 1793, is a historical fiction book written by laurie halse anderson, which is based on an epidemic, known as yellow fever that had taken place in philadelphia during 1793, killing a few thousand individuals. As we summarize andersons book, well highlight some of the important characters.
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