Historical Fiction - Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Fever 1793 is the first of three historical fiction thrillers from the pen of Laurie Halse Anderson. Fever features 14 year old Mattie, resident of Philadelphia, where she chafes under the ever watchful eye of her mother, grandfather, and beloved Eliza. Like so many 14 year old girls, both of yesteryear and today, Mattie dreams of bigger and better things. The coffeehouse her family owns needs sprucing up, it needs to be made better, there is way too much work to be done, and there are boys that look so much more interesting! The world Mattie wakes up to on August 16, 1793 is not the same as it was the day before, and Mattie is about to begin her journey into adulthood.

“Where’s Polly?” I asked as I dropped the bucket down the well. “Did you pass by the blacksmith’s?”

“I spoke with her mother, with Mistress Logan,” Mother answered softly, looking at her neat rows of carrots.

“And?” I waved a mosquito away from my face.

“It happened quickly. Polly sewed by candlelight after dinner. Her mother repeated that over and over, ‘she sewed by candlelight after dinner.’ And then she collapsed.”

I released the handle and the bucket splashed, a distant sound.

“Matilda, Polly’s dead.”

August 1793. Fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook is ambitious, adventurous, and sick to death of listening to her mother. Mattie has plans of her own. She wants to turn the Cook Coffeehouse into the finest business in Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States.

But the waterfront is abuzz with reports of disease. “Fever” spreads from the docks and creeps toward Mattie’s home, threatening everything she holds dear.

As the cemeteries fill with fever victims, fear turns to panic, and thousands flee the city. Then tragedy strikes the coffeehouse, and Mattie is trapped in a living nightmare. Suddenly, her struggle to build a better life must give way to something even more important – the fight to stay alive.

There are many aspects of this book that could be incorporated into a booktalk. There are themes of post Revolutionary War America, the US capital, Yellow Fever and medical practices of the time, women in society, families, death and mortality, and "The American Dream" to name a few. I think the above passage and back cover blurb would be a great way to get students' attention. I think this book would most appeal to girls, especially those who are unhappy with their lot in life and dreaming of bigger and better things, as well as those with an interest in the post Revolutionary War time period, medicine and its history, and students living with extended family members. Even thought he setting is Philadelphia in 1793, Laurie Halse Anderson does a nice job of balancing 1793 with the mindset of the modern girl. I feel readers today can easily make a connection with Mattie. They can sympathize and commiserate with her about her mother, and cry her tears of frustration when Mattie is faced with some very difficult decisions, decisions no 14 year old should ever have to make.

I think this book is appropriate for readers from middle school and up. The themes are mature, but handled gently, there are no language, obscenity, or sex issues present. I think the only hang up some kids will have is that Fever 1793 is historical fiction and to so many that equates boring! This is a fast paced book, that does not bog down in the nitty gritty details, and this should help keep the more reluctant reader going. I found it to be a quick, easy, and engaging read with well rounded, likeable characters. I felt sadness and sympathy for Matttie, but did not feel emotionally overwhelmed. For teachers, there are some really nice discussion questions in the back of the Scholastic edition, as well as an appendix that succinctly discusses the historical basis for the book in a Q & A format. Laurie Halse Anderson's website has some really nice links for teachers as well. Check out: http://madwomanintheforest.com/teachers/historical-fever/

Fever 1793 is a well recognized book and here is a partial list of some of the awards and recognition earned for the title.

· American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults

· International Reading Association Teacher's Choice

· Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award

· Junior Library Guild Selection

· Children's Book-of-the-Month Club selection

· The New York Public Library's Best 2001 Books for the Teenager

• Starred review - Bank Street College of Education's The Best Children's Books of 2001
• American Bookseller Pick of Lists
• Starred review - School Library Journal
• Publishers Weekly Bestseller