Fever 1793

The year is 1793, the capital is Philadelphia, and the country is in its infancy. Mattie helps her mother around the house, and in their coffee house, which is the family business. Suddenly, people begin falling ill, and before long an epidemic of the yellow fever has hit the city. Chaos ensues as Mattie is forced to flee with her grandfather. Mattie struggles to stay alive, in the hopes of being reunited with her mother.

Once again, I am enchanted by a fantastic piece of young adult historical fiction. Had I read books like this when in high school, I would have much more interested in history. Clearly, much research went into this book, and it shows through in the writing. The setting is painted so accurately, I felt as though I was there.

I greatly enjoyed learning about Mattie's character, her backstory, her private thoughts. Throughout the story, we see her go from being a girl to a woman, dealing with strife and finding fierce determination to survive. I think she serves as a fantastic role model for young girls, despite the fact that the story is set over 200 years ago.

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of the story, it made me want to learn more about the real yellow fever epidemic, and more about Philadelphia during the 18th century. All in all, the book provided a great story, and sparked a hunger for knowledge, which makes for the best kind of young adult book in my opinion.

As a mother who screens everything her 11-year old daughter reads, I've enjoyed Laurie Halse Anderson's offering before. As animal lovers, we've loved her "Vet Volunteers" series, but what I really appreciated was the dedicated research that when into "Chains" from the "Seeds of America" series - waiting impatiently now for "Forge." Halse's gift for digging deep into history and presenting what could be very unsavoury truths in a manner that is entertaining, touching, and totally unforgettable - is very much in evidence in "Fever 1793." Said daughter read this book as part of her Constitution Day reading this year, and it helped put in perspective for her that vague period between Esther Forbes' "Johnny Tremain" and the War of 1812 (one good starter historical kid fiction there is "Flames in the City" from the "Time Spies" series by Candance Ransom.) Significantly for us, where I wasn't exactly drawn towards the cover, said daughter thought it was wonderful! In her words,

"The book, 'Fever 1793' by Laurie Halse Anderson was a good book about the newly independent colonies of America.

"It is August and fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook is ambitious, adventurous and fighting to stay alive. Which is pretty hard considering the fact that she is trapped in Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States and home of yellow fever. However, as some of her friends and family start to become fever victims, and Mattie herself gets the fever, everyone wonders ... Is America going to survive?

"My favorite part was when Mattie found out that she could 'adopt' Nell, a little girl she found on the streets clutching the broken doll next to her dead mother because throughout the rest of the book, she grows up in amazing ways and it was just so...wonderful.

"My favorite character has to be Eliza. I love how even if she was black, she still helped white people when they had yellow fever. Even after she discovered that black people actually could get yellow fever, she still helped at the risk of her life. I think she and the rest of the Free African Society were truly brave.

"I thought the book was a fantastic read so I give it five huge gold stars for everything from the cover to the characters."

Fever is set in Philadelphia shortly after the founding of the country. Protagonist, Mattie, is a normal teen, living a normal middle class life until the epidemic hits the city massively and quickly. After her mother's death, Mattie's grandfather abandons the family coffee house and flees with Mattie to the country in search of a healthier environment. Anderson's descriptions of how the disease devastated families, towns and cities is gripping and historically accurate. The speed of the spread of the disease creates a fast paced plot centering around Mattie's struggle to survive. Powerless, homeless and struggling with overwhelming grieve, Mattie grows from a moody, dreamy, self-centered teen into a strong independent business woman. Fever is the perfect choice for readers who think they do not like historical fiction. They will be enthralled with the setting and inspired by Mattie. Rarely do I read YA books a second time, but this year's flu epidemic inspired me to read Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever again. It was even better the second time.

they knew nothing about what was causing yellow fever in 1793, or really what effects it had on the body other than the outward signs, but I was looking for that kind of information. I enjoyed the book anyway. There is an appendix in the back with lots of interesting facts - this would have been a perfect place for medical information .

I can't help it, but I have a morbid fascination in books about plagues and other such catastrophes. It's sick, I know. But I'm always enthralled by stories such as these.

Ms. Halse Anderson's tale was a captivating one. At the beginning of our story Mattie is a young girl helping her mother at the coffehouse they own. She's stubborn, selfish (at times) and has big dreams of making the family business prosper. As the yellow fever epidemic spreads and the town and its residents either succumb to illness or have no choice but to run, Mattie grows into a brave and strong, young woman. A young woman who helps those in need and finds a way to make her dreams come true.

The story is based upon the yellow fever epidemic that struck Philadelphia in 1793 and killed some 5,000 people. Ms. Halse Anderson expertly captures the effects of the fever and how a whole city succumbs to it. I loved how descriptive the story was, making me feel as if I were living it with Mattie. With plenty of character development and excitement I found Fever: 1793 to be a very facinating read.

One last thing I'd like to mention, Ms. Halse Anderson includes an appendix at the back of the book with additional information about the people of the time and the epidemic as well as the factual people and events that she uses in her story. I found this very interesting and recommend that you don't pass up on reading that extra chapter.

Fever, 1793 is an excellent piece of historical fiction written for young adults, one that adults would enjoy, as well. Laurie Halse Anderson obviously did her homework in preparing for this tale about a young teen who has to work in the coffee house run by her mother and grandfather during the time that Philadelphia is the temporary home of the new nation's capitol.

With a mosquito buzzing around in the first paragraph, a hint to what is about to come, an epidemic of Yellow Fever breaks out, eventually killing thousands of people in town over the course of the summer of 1793. Mattie's world crumbles around her, with her mother disappearing, presumed dead, and her grandfather, after helping her survive the fever, dies at the hands of burglars.

Anderson weaves together many historical elements, and characters, such as George Washington and Benjamin Rush, a famous Philadelphia physician, along with the daily lives, foods, shopping habits, jobs, medical practices, and travel into a believable work of fiction. There is a bit of love story sifted into the plot, but not enough to turn off boys, in my opinion. On the other hand, there is enough gruesome detail, and even some violence, to appeal to young male readers.

I will be recommending this work to young people in my high school library who enjoy historical fiction.

Have you ever wondered what an epidemic is like? Do you know what it's like to have people in your own family have a deadly virus? This book has it all. This historical fiction book is about an epidemic in 1793. This is based on a real fever that many people had to face. This book is filled with excitement and suspense. I think if you read this you'd love it. This is one of the best books I have ever read.

In this book a deadly sickness called yellow fever hits in 1793.It's called yellow fever because right before you die your eyes get yellowish. A number of other things happen like nose bleeds, coughing and throwing up. All this happens to the thousands of people who get yellow fever. A girl named Mattie and her family hast do face this deadly fever. A girl named Mattie and her family hast do face this deadly fever.

Mattie and her family own a coffee shop and they want to make it popular. But one day the mother of the family gets yellow fever and the family is forced to move away at a farm. Mattie's grandfather is told he has yellow fever but the doctor who told them made a mistake. It turned out the grandfather didn't have yellow fever at all. The family is forced back and Mattie gets yellow fever and almost dies but is nursed back to health. The fever multiplies and soon almost everyone has it. Yellow fever kills thousands of people.

Fever 1793 is a great book. It's filled with suspense and it's sad but exiting. You will be shocked if you read t that it's based on a real fever. It's one of my favorite books. I know it sounds sad but it is really good. It's a gripping book. I know you will like it. I strongly suggest you read this book.
By Jamal Jackson Jr.

Not only do I love YA fiction (which kind of grew on me as I taught middle and high school) but also historical fiction. Both of these genres blend together beautifully in Laurie Halse Anderson's "Fever 1793". It is a gripping account, written from the point of view of a fourteen-year-old girl, Mattie Cook during the course of a year, 1793, in Philadelphia. Mattie lives with her mother and paternal grandfather, a Revolutionary War veteran, above a coffeehouse the family operates in Philadelphia. Mattie chafes under her mother's strict and proper upbringing, and the daily grind of doing chores wears out Mattie's patience.

Things change when the yellow fever epidemic sweeps Philadelphia and Mattie finds herself adrift without proper guidance when the people closest to her are unable to support her both emotionally and physically. The story tracks Mattie's growth as an individual, one who needs to make important, life-altering decisions, and grow quickly from childhood to adulthood within a span of a year. The story moves at a quick pace, and makes for riveting reading. Mattie is a strong-willed, defiant, and courageous young woman, and young adults will easily relate to her on this level. Her journey towards self-reliance and independence is credibly portrayed against the historical backdrop of the fever epidemic that swept Philadelphia in 1793 and took many lives. This is a well-written and engaging YA historical novel that will appeal to both teenagers and adults.

I've been on somewhat of a historical fiction kick lately, and since I've been wanting to check out some by Laurie Halse Anderson (I've only read Speak previously), I zeroed in on her. I was debating between Fever 1793 and Chains. I spent the time that my parents visited loading up on Revolutionary War history as we gallivanted around Philadelphia and visited Valley Forge. I actually found a copy of Forge in the Valley Forge gift shop, and had to sit there and pet the cover a bit, but reminded myself I needed to read Chains first. And yet, I chose to listen to Fever 1793 instead. I was interested because it took place in Philadelphia, during one of the worst epidemics this country has ever seen. Having just explored the city for the first time myself, I was interested in learning more about life in (or shortly after) the foundation of our nation, and liked that I could freshly picture it in my mind.

I did get this from Fever 1793. I like that she mentions the bells ringing in Christ Church, the various streets and markets, it was quite easy for me to superimpose the images I'd recently seen with my eyes to the Philadelphia portrayed by Laurie Halse Anderson. I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, and found learning about the epidemic fascinating, particularly since I honestly wasn't aware of this event previously. The epidemic in Philadelphia in 1973 was incredibly destructive, particularly because one of the preferred treatment methods likely killed many people that could have been saved.

I always loved historical fiction growing up, but much of what I read was more western oriented (lots of settlers and Native Americans), since that was what I was familiar with. Those books that I read taking place in this area and time were largely authored by Ann Rinaldi, or the American Girl Felicity books which I still believe offer an invaluable and unique point of view as Felicity's family were loyalists-something we don't often see in Revolutionary era historical fiction. As such, Fever 1793 wasn't completely uncharted territory, but was still fairly unique for me.

Historical interest and intricacies aside, the story of Fever 1793 failed to grab me. I never really felt invested in Mattie's fate, or the fates of anyone she held dear. They could have all fallen victim to yellow fever and I would have been unmoved. Why? I'm not really sure. Maybe the historical elements overshadowed the character development a bit, making the situation feel more clinical than emotional. I did feel that Fever 1793 made a valiant attempt to show the brutal nature of such circumstances. The reality that neighbor will turn their back upon neighbor, or even family out of fear. Complete strangers may go to extreme lengths to help others. It makes you question your own nature, and how you might react in such a situation. I do think that Emily Bergl's narration was fine and didn't' necessarily detract from the story, but nor do I felt that it added anything.

I believe that had I read Fever 1793 when I was in middle school, I would have enjoyed it significantly more. As was, I was disappointed that it failed to raise any emotion in me, particularly after the power with which Speak hit me.

Fever 1793

This invigorating novel written by Laurie Halse Anderson is an edge of novel which seemed life like. Matilda Cook otherwise known as “Mattie” has to survive a widespread fever epidemic. Many of her friends and families have come down with yellow fever and even Mattie herself feels some symptoms of this fever. Mattie has to deal with the fact that many people that she knows have died. This fever has wiped out over half of the population. Most people especially young girls would give up at this point but Mattie didn't. She found a young orphan on the street and took care of her. The family runs a coffee shop that get robbed by intruders. She doesn't know where her family went. This book has a very edge of your seat vibe to it. The author makes you feel like you are in the time of the epidemic. Even though some parts might be a little sad for a young reader, it would be a great book for most older people. This book would make a great class read aloud. If you are looking for a good summer book to read on the beach this would be a great choice. Hope you like it :-) Grade 5-10

When Polly is late for work one day, Matilda just assumes she is gazing at Matthew, the young blacksmith; no one guessed Polly, the first of nearly five thousand during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793, was dead, though, sadly, this was the case. Most teens growing up in Philadelphia during this time were proper and dainty. Matilda Logan was the complete opposite: outspoken and strong willed. She lives with her mother and grandfather, Captain William Farnsworth Cook of the Pennsylvania Fifth Regiment, who fought in the Revolutionary and their servant girl Eliza. Together they all run a coffee shop. When the epidemic hit, many families fled the city in fear of getting sick, but the Logan's stayed in town to run the shop. Then, Ms. Logan falls ill and insists Matilda and her grandfather go to the countryside, though they never make it because they are denied entrance because Mr. Cook has a cough and no one sick is allowed in the country. Miles away from home, Matilda and Mr. Cook are stranded with no clothes, blankets, or food. Matilda soon falls ill, but Mr. Cook finds help and nurses her back to health. When Matilda has regained her strength, she and Mr. Cook return to the coffeehouse to find Ms. Logan has vanished. Unsure whether her mother is alive, all Matilda can do is wait at home with her grandfather, but one night the house is raided by robbers who end up killing Mr. Cook. Alone, Matilda sets out to find Eliza. Together Matilda and Eliza survive the epidemic. Ms. Logan does eventually return home, but is far too weak to run the coffee shop. Matilda and Eliza get the coffee shop up and running in order to begin rebuilding their lives after much tragedy. I enjoyed Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson and would recommend it to young teens interested in learning about the epidemic and the time following the Revolutionary War.

I have never much enjoyed history, but this book made it interesting. The book was very factual and included people like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In the coffeehouse, two men are talking and one says to the other0"Tell me why Mr. Jefferson wants to quit his job. Isn't being secretary of state good enough for him? Or does he want something more?" I thought it was interesting to already know what would happen to certain people, like Jefferson, but read about people who had no clue what was to come. The book talked about slavery and The Free African Society in the North. Also, described in this book were old medical practices, such as bleeding, which killed more that it healed.

Many emotions were conveyed in this book. In the beginning, Matilda is a very happy teenager, but then she has to deal with the deaths of many family members and friends. She also has to deal with her anger. I thought a very powerful part in this book was right after Mr. Cook died. Matilda had to load him into the "death cart," which she followed to the mass burial site. Most yellow fever victims are just thrown into the ground and covered with dirt, but Matilda is not satisfied with this funeral. She tries to get the grave digger to wait for the preacher, but he will not. Filled with fury, Matilda pushes the grave digger causing him to almost fall into the grave. After calming down, Matilda realizes that there are so many people dead that the preacher cannot make it to all the burials, so she satisfies with reading a Psalm out of a borrowed bible. Then, on the way home, Matilda realizes that she is now truly alone. Laurie Halse Anderson does such an amazing job of describing this scene that it made me feel as if I was Matilda and somewhat experiencing the same emotion she was.

I also enjoyed this book because it kept me reading. I, as a reader, became so hooked in this book that I had to find out what would happen to Matilda and the other inhabitants of Philadelphia. In the beginning, I had to know if Ms. Logan would survive, which is not found out until the end of the book. In the middle I wondered how Matilda and Mr. Cook would ever make it home. Finally, towards the end, the reader has to find out how Matilda survives now that she is all alone. Because of all the questions and suspense, Fever is a fairly quick read.

I very much enjoyed Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. It was a quick read, made history interesting, and conveyed many emotions using description. I would recommend any teen taking United States history read this book.

S. Leser

Marietta, GA

5th Grade

FEVER 1793

This story is about a girl named Matilda and her family. She lives with her mom, grandfather, servant and cook. They called her Mattie. Her servant dies of a fever that spreads all over Philadelphia .The family is put through hard ache when their mother is diagnose with the fever. Their mother sends Matilda to the country so she would not get the fever.

Matilda is very strong .She deals with hard times in her life. For instance her dad dies and her mom caches the fever, she is send to the country. She is a great person.

The conflict is that her mother gets the fever and Matilda is send to the country. She tries to adjust to the different live style .It is difficult.

She is strong and talks it over with her grandfather. Soon she adjusts to the country and is able to go home with her mom and her cook. She is happy to see them.

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting reading about this family .One of the reasons I liked the book is because my favorite year are the seven and eighteen hundreds. I really liked Matilda's charter in this book. She was one of the most interesting charters to me. She was very adventures and tuff. Also reading about the fever was good for me because it helped me understand what the people did when the fever spread through Philadadelphia. I really enjoyed the book because it has happy and sad parts. The sad part was when Matilda's mom caught the fever. It was also interesting to read about Matilda and her grandfather moving to the country.

Matilda's Grandfather took sick and not long after she was ill too. But Mrs. Flagg took care of her, they thought she was going to die. Grandfather and Matilda got better.

One of my favorite parts was when Matilda and her mother were invited to an upper class lady house. Matilda had to wear a tunicate. Matilda and another young girl who was Matilda's mother associate had argument. Matilda stood up to protest what the young girl said about their coffee house. She was so mad that she almost ripped the tunicate. This reminds me of myself. One time my at cousin party I got so angry that I did watch what I was doing that I got my dress hooked on the table an it ripped.

I really enjoyed reading this book because it was very interesting and it helped me to understand what life was like in 1793. This was truly and eye opener for me.

Have you ever laughed and cried in the same book? Fever 1793 will make your sides hurt at some time and your tear ducts dry from crying. Laurie Halse Anderson has written other books like Homeless, Prom, and No Time for Mother's Day. Fever 1793 is a historical fiction tragedy of the dreaded yellow fever. It made the ALA Booklist and it's one of my favorites.

In Fever 1793, Mattie Cook is 14 and she is tired of listening to her mother. The first news of the sickness is when her scullery maid, Polly, suddenly dies of yellow fever. When the invitation to the Ogilvies' tea party comes, another victim falls dead on the flowered carpet. While the fever is arouse, Mattie gets news from Dr. Rush that her mother has yellow fever. To avoid getting sick, Mattie and her grandfather set out for adventure. They meet new friends and enemies until they get back to the coffeehouse. When only home for a couple of days, robbers come and there's more trouble with Mattie. Especially when she deals with another death of a loved one and finds that even horrible times can turn out good in the end.

I was so amazed at the amount of descriptive writing in this book. For example, in the book, when the robbers came, it said, "My stomach flipped", and "My hands balled into fists and my jaw tightened." I know that I could see that happening right this second. Description really helps me create a mental mind picture and understand the story and it explains the whole story.

The authors' style in this book was astounding. Laurie Halse Anderson actually made me a part of Fever 1793. I felt like I was a third person and I knew all the characters and I understood them and felt their pain. She also was creative by placing the setting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but she made up the famous "Cook Coffeehouse" and many other buildings. I personally thought that this was interesting. She tells me the poor life of this 14 year old girl who deals with death, new friends, old friends, and the horrid fever.

This book is the most touching story that I have ever read. Mattie Cook goes through the struggle to have a better life that soon becomes the fierce decision of life or death. Mattie meets up with crossroads and she tries to take every path to receive happiness. I would definitely recommend this book for teens and adults because they could definitely understand. This is the saddest and happiest story of a million lifetimes. It will touch your heart and open your tears.

"Matilda?" Mother's voice called. "NOW!" This is a quote that Mattie hears all the time. It is here Mother's voice and this is their story. Fever 1793 is the story in which Mattie is the main character. It is a really great book. The author of this book is Laurie Halse Anderson. She has written many other wonderful books too. Some that she has written have won honors like the Michael Pritz Honor for her book, Trapped. Fever 1793 has won the Caudill award which is a great honor. It is an exciting historical fiction novel. Fever 1793 has gotten spectacular reviews from ALA booklist and The School Library Journal. Fever 1793 is an enchanted story that will keep you entertained for hours.

Fever 1793 is a very upsetting story. 14 year old Mattie Cook must try to survive through a time full of pain and sorrow. Mattie's town of Philadelphia used to be inhabited by 40,000 people. Now there are only 20,000 because the others have fled. 2,000 are dead. Why you ask? The horrible Yellow Fever. This is not the only thing Mattie must worry about. For one thing, her mother is sick with the fever. Mattie is very sad and scared. Mattie and her grandfather must travel away to a farm leaving Mattie's mother behind. They catch a ride with a farmer and his family and head out on their journey. While they are on their journey, townspeople from another town stop them. They are checking if anybody is sick. If they are, they can not travel through. Grandfather is sick with a cold. They can not travel through. The farmer throws them out and takes their food with him. Now Mattie has to take care of her sick grandfather and they are miles away from home with no food or medicine. She later gets sick with the fever and winds up in a hospital. She recovers and her Grandfather gets a little better too. The first day they get home, Mattie's mother is missing. Mattie is very worried. One day after they reach home, robbers sneak into their house. The robbers spy Mattie who was sleeping on the floor, and chase after her. Her Grandfather tries to defend her, but fails. Her Grandfather dies, making Mattie even more depressed. Now how could life get any worse for poor Mattie?

In Fever 1793 I loved the characters. They were so believable and real. They fit in 1793 so well. Take Mattie's Grandfather. He is soldier like and very clever. He also has a good heart. He reminds me of my Grandfather. I liked how I could relate to the characters and know just how they feel. Like I could relate to Mattie's mother was also a well developed character. She knew just what Mattie needed and knew how to run a business. That reminded me of my mother. I also liked how each and every character had there own personality that was unique. The robbers were mean, and Mattie was very brave. I liked how everyone's personality changed when the fever came. Everyone became sour. It is important to have lively characters in your writing to make it more fun and enjoyable. In my opinion, it makes the story better.

Another thing I really liked about Fever 1793 is the good word choice and detail the author had. In the story, Mattie's mother gets ill. Even though it was depressing, I really liked how much detail the author put into it. Like how Mother's eyes looked when she got sick. The author used word choice that takes you back to 1793. I thought this helped make the story clearer. Another time the author used good detail was when Mattie and her Grandfather got thrown out of the Farmer's wagon. I really got the full picture since the word choice was so clear and excellent. When Mattie and her grandfather were getting robbed was one of the most enjoyable and chilling twists in the story. This was because the word choice and details were exquisite.

Will Mattie survive this horrible time? You will find the answer if you read the wonderful Fever 1793. It is a great quality literature book that will be one of your favorites for a lifetime. So, what are you waiting for? Go read Fever 1793 today. I know that anyone of any age will love this tale.

I don't read a lot of fiction, even on topics of this kind, so I will keep my review brief. Readers have plenty of other reviews to read in any case. I will say it was enjoyable enough, giving a sense of how quiet a major city can become when its inhabitants feel threatend. I found it hard to relate to Mattie, the main character, but then she is a young girl and I am a man in my forties, so I suppose this can't be blamed on the writing.

Mattie was against the practice of bleeding, almost universally practiced at the time for all ailments. I find it hard to believe she really would have been, considering all doctor's did it at the time, applying it even to George Washington himself. An older person might possibly have held such views, but would a young girl? I'm skeptical.

I am also disturbed at how many children's historical books these days mold the main character in a politically correct fashion. Fever is not as bad as some others in this regard but it still shows with Mattie, the budding abolitionist. Such books would be more believable if the characters lived in the past, not in the minds of current writers.

In the book Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, Mattie Cook is the daughter of a widowed wife in the summer of 1793. Living atop of her families coffeehouse, there is an outbreak of the Yellow Fever. There are people fleeing trying to get away from the fever. This story is a thrilling and exciting book about Mattie’s adventure throughout the Fever outbreak in 1793. This story shows an adventure about how Mattie is dealing with all of the troubles going on in her life. This story contains details that pull you into the story. The imagery has you believe that you are standing next to Mattie throughout the story.

In this story Mattie is shown as a strong and independent fourteen year old. She is figuring out what to do and how to get through all the troubles on her own. In this story the author has Matilda, the main character, ahead of her time. In 1793 women were not as high ranked as men. The men would find food, and solve problems; they would figure out strategies rather than the women. One of the two things that were not my favorite part of this book was that in some chapters they would add unnecessary characters into the story. There are so many characters that you could get some confused with others. The last thing is how Mattie would describe the personality of a person, but usually not their appearance. I think if this book had to have one main fix, it would be describing the experience of the person. If I have to give this book a rating, I would give it five stars. There were so many thrilling points in the story that pulled you in and got you very involved.

According to Scott Foresman's Dictionary, fever means "an unhealthy condition in which the body temperature is higher than normal." In Fever: 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, the fever spreading is much more complex than that. It is written in 1st person and narrated by 14-year-old Maddie Fischer. Anderson also dug into the mind of a troubled teen in her popular, award-winning book Speak.

Fever takes place in 1793 Philadelphia, during an outbreak of Yellow Fever. As soon as Maddie's mother comes down with this lethal sickness, she, her grandfather, and a parrot named King George are shipped by horse-drawn cart to Pembroke, a nearby town. However, when they are left in an unknown area, Maddie is forced to face extreme hunger, thirst, death, fever, and even a couple of idiotic robbers.

The characters in the story were very realistic, which made the story believable. Maddie's mother owns a coffee shop in order to keep food on the table, and her grandfather has an old injury from the war that sometimes aches. Although it does at one point state that everyone believed that African-Americans couldn't get the fever, they aren't super-humans or cyborgs, just normal people.

The setting is also very unique. This is the first book that I've read, let alone heard of, that's set in 1793 Philadelphia. It describes the setting and the characters' lifestyle extremely well, even describing how empty the outdoor market looked during the spread of the fever. Even the description of Maddie's mother after the ordeal was phenomenal.

Although it has only 243 short pages, Fever is a great read that I would recommend to anyone. At some points it is depressing or grotesque, but there are also parts that made me smile. Maddie's quick sense of humor added to the rare portions of fun between the covers, although some slow sections in the beginning made me want to begin putting it back on the shelf. Although it eventually it got faster, sometimes it was confusing. But the good parts often overcame the bad ones, making this one of my favorite books.

The fever has just stroke in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and there is little hope that you will not get it. Mattie Cook is a fourteen-year-old adventurous girl with a big imagination. The story Fever 1793 was written by Laurie Halse Anderson. This story is based of a true story and the outbreak did take place. Mattie Cook is faced with a very tough impact.
Mattie Cooks mother and Grandfather own a coffee house right by town. Mattie has bigger dreams and wants to turn the coffee house into the finest business in Philadelphia, the capital of the Untied States. All her dreams get wrecked when fever breaks through the whole town. Many close friends have died and Mattie gets the most shocking News yet. Mattie's maid Eliza tells Mattie that her very good friend Polly had died of yellow fever. Mattie and her Grandfather must leave town to go to fresher air in Gwynedd, because her Mother is very sick. They get on a wagon with a Farmer, his wife and baby. They all get stopped by two men and must be examined in order to pass through the city Pembroke. Mattie's Grandfather gets checked by one of the men and gets thrown off the wagon because he might be catching yellow fever. Stranded from anywhere but trees and a stream Mattie must find help for she might get yellow fever. Finally she finds a pear tree and grabs for some pears. The sun wasn't fire it was a monstrous snowball her teethed chattered together. What's wrong with me? Then there was just blackness. Now Mattie is sick with yellow fever and soon recovers. Her Grandfather and her go to her house and sleep there for the night. No food to be seen. When suddenly Mattie gets awaken by two strangers out for food. When finally the two strangers see a sword her Grandfather used in a battle. No! Grandfather came down with a gun. One! Two! Three! The tall man moved and hit Grandfather in the face. The two strangers left. "My time. Too Early. So Sorry." Mattie's Grandfather has died and now Mattie is left all alone. What will happen to her?
I recommend this book to people who like adventures and people who like stories based on truth. This is a very good story and I have read it twice. What will happen to Mattie? Read the book and find out.

Prepare yourself, because Fever 1793 will give you book-reading fever. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is an excellent book for readers forth grade and up. For a mere $9.99 readers can experience the horrors of the yellow fever outbreak that affected almost every Philadelphian's life. You WILL NOT regret spending the money.

This particular story follows the life of the fictional character Mattie Cook. At the beginning if the book news of a "Fever" runs rampant through the 1793 town of Philadelphia, while Mattie dreams of turning the Cook Coffeehouse into the capitol of the new United States. Tragedy strikes when Mattie's mom comes down with the fever, and Mattie must flee the coffeehouse to avoid becoming ill. But the fight to stay well soon becomes the fight to stay alive in a battle where everything that can go wrong will go wrong.

One of the most noticeable aspects of the author's writing is that you can see what Mattie is seeing, hear what Mattie is hearing, and feel what Mattie is feeling. For example the author uses the phrases: his head was dripping with sweat. Also, she crumpled to the dusty ground in a faint. Lastly, another example was the stench of the dead was unbearable. Those are excellent descriptions.

Of course, I do have a couple of dislikes. For example, when Mattie catches the fever the description of the events that followed was only one chapter long! Another thing that surprised me was that when Mattie's mom becomes sick Mattie leaves the house. What's up with that? Doesn't Mattie care about her? The only, warning I have to teachers is that some mild cussing leads to an "iffy" read-aloud. Students beware; this book is pretty long read to be 243 pages to be exact.

Overall, Fever 1793 is a great book. With excellent descriptions, and great word choice, Fever 1793 is worth your money. If you're interested in historical fiction, this is defiantly the book for you. Fever 1793 accomplishes the perfect score. 5 out of 5 stars.

�Fever 1793�

September 24, 2002
Fever 1793 was a great book by Laurie Halse Anderson. It takes place in Philadelphia in 1793 when the Yellow Fever was happening. One character is Matilda. She is a fourteen-year-old girl who gets yelled at by her mother tremendously. She also does a great deal of work all by herself. Eliza is the cook in the coffeehouse, but she is more like part of the family than just the cook. Grandfather, Matilda�s grandfather, is in pretty much the whole story. He takes care of everyone while Matilda�s mom is away. Matilda�s mom is another character. She is strict when it comes to people waking up in the morning. Polly was their serving girl. Lastly, Silas is Matilda�s cat. She wakes Matilda up in the morning by jumping on top of her.
An event that is my favorite is when Matilda�s mom comes home. I like that because it was very emotional. My favorite character is Matilda because she is always brave. She always sucks up her feelings when she has to do something for her family or friends. My favorite quote was �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.� �Matilda Polly�s...� To find out what happened to Polly READ THIS BOOK!!
I liked this book tremendously. I liked it because it has a great deal of adventure in it and has feelings in it that are incredible. The type of reader who would like this book is a person who likes true stories that are somewhat sad. I think that because tremendous amounts of people suffered from the Yellow Fever and died. There are some people who survived when they had it but most people died. This book is important to read because people learn history from it. I would highly recommend this book to other people because it is a great book.

Fever 1793

Along the streets, yellow eyes stare blankly into the sky, and you look away, with horror. Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson is a book that will send you 100? into shock, and surprises. It is historical fiction about the epidemic of Yellow Fever. It is set in Philadelphia, the capital of the country, in the hot, muggy summer. Matilda Cook is fourteen when townsfolk start to die and weaken. But this is only the beginning. She begs her mother to let her stay in town, but she is forced to go to the countryside. Upon returning she is confronted by decaying people lying on the cobblestone streets. Because she can't find her mother, she knows she must find a way to get through this alone. The main characters are young Matilda, her mother and their African American maid, Eliza. Poor Matilda has to face a lot, but she is brave and responsible. Over the book she certainly grows up!

One of my favorite parts is the part where Matilda orders the grave diggers to bury a person with respect. She makes everyone say a prayer and has a moment of silence. I really like this part because she takes charge and quickly grows up. It shows how much you can do when a loved one has passed away.

I learned a lot about times more than 200 years ago, Especially when there were horrible epidemics like Yellow Fever. I liked the different characters and what happened to each character. For example all characters had it hard, so it is more realistic that way. The book was suspenseful and memorable, but it was a little under my reading level. Overall though, I am glad that I read it!

Laurie Halse Anderson is a tremendous writer. Previous books that she has written are Turkey Pox, Homeless, and Time to Fly. One adventurous book that I have read by Laurie Halse Anderson is Fever 1793. I admire that book. Fever has a lot of action that hooks you on the book.

It was August 1793 and Mattie Cook is struggling and fighting to stay alive. Mattie lives in Philadelphia and the yellow fever is spreading to her family and friends. Many people where dying. Everyone is anxious to know if they are the next victim for the yellow fever. Will Mattie get the fever? Will she loose her life?

I enjoyed Fever. One thing I noticed throughout the book is how sad it was. One aspect to support that idea is when Mattie was in the hospital and she saw a girl next to her with dirty braids in her hair. Mattie saw the nurses come in and take the girl away because of her death. That part was very crushing because I could visualize that scene. Another sad part was when Mattie was in the wagon and she saw a man on the side of the street who was poor and was another victim of the yellow fever. It was depressing.

In the book I was impressed by the creative word choice and description they used. For example they would use great word choice to describe people, weather, and feelings. I enjoyed the description because I could visualize the beautiful scene. I think it was amusing to visualize the scene.

If you're looking for a satisfying, majestic, and heartwarming book, Fever is the right book for you. Fever is a wonderful historical fiction read. You will be connected to the book once you read it. Fever will leave you off wanting to read more.

Do you like reading historical fiction books? If yes, then this is a great book to read. Fever 1793 takes place in Philadelphia where Mattie Cook, her mother, and her grandfather all live. They run a coffeehouse and that is where they get all of their money from. Yellow fever starts to go through the town and Mattie's mother gets sick. Mattie and her grandfather are sent away and they are picked up by people who are going the same route as them. But after about a mile being in the wagon they are stopped before going into another town to check for yellow fever. Mattie's grandfather is thought to have yellow fever when it is just a cough. Mattie and her grandfather find a place to rest near a river. Mattie goes off to find some food and wakes up in a hospital bed with yellow fever. Mattie nearly dies but survives. Mattie and her grandfather return home to the coffeehouse to find that her mother isn't there anymore. This book is great if you like suspense books because the book keeps you wanting to read more. This book is also great because it is like a mystery book because you don't know what is going to happen next. Fever 1793 is about yellow fever attacking a town so if you like reading historical fiction, this is a great read. This book could be for a guy or a girl even though the main character is a girl. In conclusion, Fever 1793 is a great book to read because, it is historical fiction, a suspense book, and it is like a mystery book also. It keeps you wanting to read more and that is what a good book is.
Kaitlyn Good
Block 3

Anderson's historical fiction novel, "Fever 1793," takes place during the Yellow Fever Epidemic in 1793, right after the American Revolution. The main character, a young girl named Mattie Cook is living in Philadelphia, when the epidemic comes sweeping across city after city. After her mother gets the Yellow Fever, Mattie's grandfather takes Mattie out to live in the country, to try and escape the awful disease. The trip doesn't turn out as expected, as both the grandfather and Mattie may be becoming sick. Will Mattie get the Yellow Fever? Will she be able to return to her mother?
Personal Response:
My favorite part of this book is the amount of information that the reader gains about the Yellow Fever and Colonial times. I never realized how many people were killed because of sickness during this time in history. I can imagine that any reader would be extremely interested in what this book has to offer. Anderson does an awesome job of letting the reader really get inside the book and feeling what Mattie is feeling. Readers will connect immediately to Mattie's character because of the constant squabbling between her and her mother.
Anderson also describes the setting of the story in such detail, that you can really picture yourself being there. You can see the coffee house as its being described as well as the dying people all around. This book had such a tremendous affect on me personally as I was reading it, playing on many emotions. I really could not put the book down. Not only do you get factual information, and learn about the time and life in the late 1700's, you enjoy the action and drama within the pages of the book. The ending of the book really took me by surprise, as it will most readers, I assume.
I would recommend this book to a 4th - 6th grade class to introduce the Yellow Fever or the Colonial Times. This book really allows readers to understand the difficult times, and the advancement of medicine. This book would make anyone appreciative of the time we live in now.

The church bells ring, once, twice, twenty times. Someone has died of the supposed "Yellow fever"

Fever 1793 by Laurie Hasle Anderson tells the story of fourteen year old, Mattie Cook. Mattie Cook is ambitious, hard-working, and sick and tired of listening to her mother. She wants to own her own business, but she is just a girl...or so she thought. Everyone has talked of "fever" but no one truly believed it, until the day Dr. Benjamin Rush diagnosed it on Lucille Cook, Mattie's mother. In fear on Mattie getting the fever, Lucille forces Mattie to leave the part of Philadelphia Mattie calls home. On the way to the city Mattie and her grandfather get thrown off the wagon they rode on, since the driver thoguht her grandfather had the fever.

When the two are left to walk ten miles home, Mattie gets yellow fever. Mattie becomes weak and can no longer care for grandfather, or even herself. Will she make it home alive of will she perish halfway to civilization?

Never give up and stay strong; the message Anderson gives. Simple and strong, for readers ages ten and up. The story compares with many other survival stories. The main chracters always must survive with the scarce amount of food or water they have.

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

`Matilda , Polly's dead'"_ One of many chapter endings that will keep you flipping the page.

So, if it please you to read creative language and be kept in suspense, Laurie Halse Anderson will do it for you.

Fever is one of the best books I have ever read. It made me cry. Laurie Halse Anderson did an amazing job researching this historical fiction about the Yellow Fever outbreak that plagued Philadelphia in the summer of 1793. Anderson has created characters I will never forget.

The heroine of the book is fourteen year-old Mattie Cook. Her widowed mother owns a coffeehouse which the mother runs with Mattie's grandfather, an ex-Revolutionary War soldier. Mattie helps her mother with the daily chores, but longs for more in life. Mattie wants to take risks, follow her dreams and her heart. But her mother is very practical and not a dreamer.

Suddenly, Philadelphia is in turmoil as thousands are dying from a horrible sickness. Mattie and her grandfather are separated from her mother. Mattie's bond with her grandfather is what made me bawl my eyes out, because they love each other so much. It reminded me of my own grandfather, now passed on.

At the end of the book are fairly extensive notes of what occurred during the outbreak. Famous people mentioned in the story such as painter Charles Wilson Peale are profiled more extensively. It is also very touching and commendable that Anderson has incorporated the enormous contributions of African-Americans during that horrible summer. Eliza, the Cook's maid, is a main character in the book, and like family to Mattie.

Fever 1793 should really be optioned for a movie. What a way to bring History to life, and to show young people and adults alike that History is not just dry facts.

When I read this book, I was absolutely amazed! It was the best book I have ever read because of the drama and excitement, and it will be yours too, if you read it.

This book is about how a young girl, Maddie, tries to hold her family together though difficult times. Maddie is doing a good job until her mother gets ill of a vicious fever, and both her and her grandfather have to leave her mother. What was Maddie going to do? What will young Maddie do? How will they survive? How will she keep her and her grandfather healthy and/or alive in these horrid times? These are some of the questions that Maddie asked herself to stay alive with her grandfather!

A reason why I thought this was so exciting is because every time something new came along it would always keep you guessing. This book did not make everything obvious like many other books, it was very interesting and keeps your attention.

I recommend this book to anyone that can handle sad things or teens and kids who would like to understand and learn more about the hard and difficult times of the past. I also recommend this book for people who don't like to now what will happen because this book definitely keeps you guessing. So what are you waiting for Laurie Halse Anderson and producers of the book Fever 1793 invite you back into the past and the horrifying, but exciting year of 1793.

Fever 1793 was a great book by Laurie Halse Anderson. It takes place in Philadelphia in 1793 when the Yellow Fever was happening. One character is Matilda. She is a fourteen-year-old girl who gets yelled at by her mother tremendously. She also does a great deal of work all by herself. Eliza is the cook in the coffeehouse. She is more like part of the family than just the cook. Grandfather, Matilda�s grandfather, is in pretty much the whole story. He takes care of everyone while Matilda�s mom is away. Matilda�s mom is another character. She is strict when it comes to people waking up in the morning. Polly was their serving girl. Lastly, Silas is Matilda�s cat. She wakes Matilda up in the morning by jumping on top of her.
An event that is my favorite is when Matilda�s mom comes home. I like that because it was very emotional. My favorite character is Matilda because she is always brave. She always [bottles up] her feelings when she has to do something for her family or friends...To find out what happened to Polly READ THIS BOOK!!
I liked this book tremendously. I liked it because it has a great deal of adventure in it and has feelings in it that are incredible. The type of reader who would like this book is a person who likes true stories that are somewhat sad. I think that because tremendous amounts of people suffer from the Yellow Fever and die. There are some people who survived when they had it but most people died. This book is important to read because people learn the history from it. I would highly recommend this book to other people because it is a great book.

Fever 1793 written by Laurie Halse Anderson was a sad, touching book bearing a lot of feeling and meaning. This was a story about a deadly disease called yellow fever, spreading through the streets of Philadelphia in 1793. It scared everybody out into the country, killing thousands with death at almost every door. Matilda Cook was a fourteen-year-old girl who tried everything to get out of work. She had a small family, being the only child and her father having died. Her mother, Lucille, was a strict woman who never stopped at anything and her grandfather was retiree soldier who loved to tell stories of battle. Eliza was the black cook who worked in the coffeehouse for the Cooks. When the deadly fever struck Matilda's loving mother though, things started to get tough. Her mother, growing weaker, sent Matilda away to the country with her grandfather, but on the way when the doctors discovered Matilda's grandfather had the fever they were dumped on the road miles from home. What will happen? Will Matilda's mother and grandfather die? Will Matilda get sick?

The moral of the story is that even when things look bad you can make it through. Fever 1793 is a book you just can't put down. I encourage you to read it and I hope you love it as much as I did! You should read this book because it opens your mind and shows you how lucky you are. If you like books with meaning go get Fever 1793 now!

I loved this book. It drew me in after I got past a few chapters. At first I didn't think I would enjoy it, but I was utterly wrong. You see this book is about survival, family, and other different themes. Me and a friend of mine finished the book at school in our reading group before anyone else in or group, it just got so enyoyable we couldn't bring ourselfes to put it down.

You see this book is about a girl named Matilda Cook, whos mother is a widow and lives with her grandfather. Matilda's father had built a Coffeehouse to work in just before he died. When one on Mattie's friends, Polly, dies of fever an epidemic ensues. People begin to die, and the city of Philadelpia begins to accuse the river, some bad coffee at a warehouse, and other things. Mattie's mother wants to send her to the Ludington's farm that is far away from the city. Matilda and her grandfather never made it there. Matilda is taken to a hospital in a town with a bad reputation and then is invited to work in a orphanage. But she refuses. Mattie and her grandfather are asleep when someone breaks in.Then after that Mattie finds a little girl, goes to live with her friend and the coffeehouses cook, and returns and fixes up the coffeehouse. Then her mother comes back from Ludington's Farm.

I think this book should be for people who read alot of Laurie's books, people who love history books, or any type of adventure, survival, and history related books.

Put yourself back in time 230 years, to early fall 1793 AD. You are in the bustling marketplace of Philadelphia. There is a cart with a person-sized box in it. Is that... a casket? Very quickly a man digs a hole and drops the box in. He bows his head, prays and strides away.

Then, you enter a coffee shop. A girl of around 14 is directing all consumer traffic away. She introduces herself as Maddie Swift. She says that the reason for the shop being closed is that her mother is sick with the fever. So what, you think. So she has the flu or a cold. But the worry in her eyes tells you that something is really wrong. Then you remember this book you read. It was called FEVER 1793, by L.H. Anderson. Then you feel empathetic and say goodbye. You come upon a man named Mr. Swift, Maddie's grandfather. He has just rented a carriage for a journey.

He has yellow fever and is going to a camp where there are French doctors who let fever patients get fresh air. Maddie contracts yellow fever there, but gets well very soon. When she recovers, she works there for a short time.

One example of the author's craft is vivid images and great vocabulary. She also used things like child labor from the era.

I would recommend this book to 12 and up people who like to read fun historical fiction. I would give it 4 1/2 stars, but some people would give it 5.

Laurie Halse Anderson shows how good a "teen girl" genre book can be in this amazing fact-filled tragic novel set during a time of extraordinary human crisis. In 1793, an epidemic of yellow fever killed one in ten citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formerly capital of our nation. Anderson's plot is set during that terrible summer as the teenaged heroine, Mattie, faces the outbreak and its manifold horrors at times alone, and sometimes with those she knows. As thousands are dying--as many as five-hundred per day in a city of fifty-thousand--those who remain in the plague-stricken town must also contend with looters, with brutal roaming criminals who have escaped the un-guarded prisons, with the absence of food and supplies, with the constant threat of fire, that ubiquitous foe of urban spaces during summertime. Shunned by those outside the city, soon deprived of the company of those she knew in her daily life, young Mattie is compelled to fend for herself and face the horrid madness of this time alone.

Anderson's novel recreates a time of almost unimaginable awfulness and simultaneously introduces an adolescent heroine whose bravery must surely have been like that of some real life Philadelphians who truly resided in that great city under siege by plague. Anderson also, I should mention, has crafted one of the best portraits of eighteenth-century US life I've ever read.

This book was a real page-turner from the very beginning. It starts out at the beginning of the yellow fever epidemic... Matilda is just a normal girl at that point. She helps her mother and grandfather out at their coffeeshop, she has friends, and she even has a crush. But all of this changes when the fever starts.

This book was basically a story of one girl's fight for survival in hard times. There are times when she has help, there are times when she is alone... but the point is, she's a fighter. She gets through it, and in the end she's a better person.

So... what else is new? That was my only problem with this book... it had a strange sense of predictability to it. If you couldn't guess exactly what was going to happen, you could at least guess the basic ideas. Another problem I had was that it was just the one story: yellow fever. There were no subplots or anything to keep the story going, which kind of bothered me. There were tiny things, sure, but not much. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters that well. I know their basic traits, but I can't help but feel like something is missing.

Still, in the end it was a fairly enjoyable read. However, if you're looking for a Laurie Halse Anderson book to read, I would recommend Speak or Twisted.

The genre of this book is historical fiction. Laurie Halse Anderson calls this book Fever 1793. Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2000, published it in New York, 251 pages. Fever 1793 takes place in Philadelphia. The book is based in the year 1793, August through December. It's about Mattie Cook escaping the yellow fever.

I think this book was a success because it explained a lot about the yellow fever even though it was through a fictional character. The setting takes place at a coffee house in Philadelphia and also by the river. The plot is with the yellow fever and Mattie and her Grandfather trying to escape the fever.

The book was great in explaining a lot about that period in time by using small details An example of this is the Peale family, they were in the book and were a real family. In my opinion Laurie Halse Anderson achieved her purpose because she got through to the reader information on this epidemic and still have excitement. I think this writing is powerful because it made me want to keep reading and it got me to worry about Mattie. The strength of the book is giving it a nit of feeling. The weakness to this book is that is had too much sadness in it. I still think this was an excellent book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to really get into a book.

By,

Samantha Wilkes

Great historical fiction! - Fascinating story centered around the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia. Mattie Cook, a girl of 14, lives with her widowed mother and her grandfather. They manage a coffeehouse but business begins to dwindle as the outbreak spreads and panic surfaces. Thousands die and thousands flee the city; Mattie is a strong girl who grows up fast with the reality of sadness and hunger around her. Good characters and fast paced chapters pierced with quotes of the period.

*side note .... Dolley Payne Todd Madison's (First Lady to 4th President James Madison) first husband, John, died during this horrible epidemic as did their young son and John's parents. Doctors discovered much later that a certain mosquito brought about this outbreak. A vaccine was developed in the 1930s but sadly the disease still lingers and kills thousands every year in parts of Africa and South America.

In Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, a 14-year-old girl named Mattie lives with her mother in a small coffeehouse in Philadelphia. Everything is normal during a hot Philadelphia summer until the church bell rings, then all hell is released. The fever, an epidemic, starts to affect the lives of everyone, including Mattie. Facing death, passion, decision making, and love, Mattie has an adventure finding herself as she deals with this epidemic. To make this story entertaining, Laurie Halse Anderson, has excellent characterization, cliff hangers, and imagery. I really felt that I got to know the characters well in the short time I have been reading. Using her amazing writing skills, this book is a true page turner.

Two things I truly am enjoying about this book are that it includes a strong female lead. Mattie is a true renaissance girl and she is very brave, smart, and courageous. Another thing I like is that the author makes Mattie very relatable in many ways; for example, seeing Mattie put in the situations she reminds me of what I would do. Two things I did not love about this story is the story starts very slowly. During the beginning I was not excited to read this. It took way too long to get into the actual “story,” but it got better with time. Although the character’s personalities were described excellently, I think she could have done a better job describing the characters looks. While you are reading this book it takes a while to get into it, but just keep reading; I promise you will get into it. I recommend this for kids ages 11 to 16. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars for its amazing elements.

When a deadly fever strikes Philadelphia, Mattie fears for the safety of her mother and grandfather. When her mother quickly becomes ill, Mattie and her grandfather leave town, hoping to make it to a friend’s farm. When they are deserted on the road, Mattie and her grandfather both become ill.

This was a well written and well paced story. I enjoyed the characters and understood Mattie's fear and frustration. Although this is historical fiction, I believe many young adults and teenager will find themselves enjoying this book. Overall, highly recommended.

I am a person that would usually not pick up a book unless I have nothing better to do. But when I got the assignment to read a book one of my friends recommended this book. So I started reading it and the book was amazing, somehow it related to me but I didn't know how. The minute there was the sickness in the city of Philadelphia everyone screamed and ran away for clean air in the country. Mattie's mother didn't want her to go out, but when she got the chance to go to the market it was empty like a ghost town where the town's people would close the doors and windows on her. Soon Mattie's mother got sick and she had to take refuge in the country side, but a doctor soon mistakes her grandfather's cough for the fever. Mattie is sent back to Philadelphia but she gets sick and quickly recovers. When they get back at the coffee shop everything is a mess, so they sleep their first night at the coffee shop and robbers come to take their money and try to get Mattie to tell them where it is but she refuges so her grandfather is fighting with them and dies. This leaves Mattie alone; you have to read the book to find out what happens next. I highly recommend this book to any age group, this is such an amazing book that it is like hearing Anderson speak!

Fever 1793, Laurie Halse Anderson

Imagine you're alone on a deserted street. Piles of dead bodies lay on the side of the street. Market places are empty. Young children cry behind broken windows. The steady buzz of mosquitoes fills the air. These were the streets of Philadelphia, the new capital of the United States, in 1793 when the yellow fever epidemic swept through the city, killing thousands.

Only a few months ago the town had thrived. Market places were busy, children played in the street and Matilda Cook happily helped her mother run the Cook coffee house. Then word got out about the " fever. " People started dieing. Matilda's friend Polly died before she even knew she was sick.

Before long it gets worse. People flee the city. Church bells ring constantly. Before she knows it Matilda's world is turned upside down and she finds herself alone and losing the fight to survive. Share Mattie's feelings of hopelessness, grief, joy and love as she slowly stitches her life back together

Great for historical fiction fans or anyone who likes a realistic adventure that will leave them on the edge of their seats. With real people and places, it's an enjoyable history class.

Savannah S.

Matilda Cook lives her teenage life as a waitress at her family-owned coffee house in Philadelphia. When yellow fever breaks out, her life gets turned upside-down.
"Fever: 1793" vividly describes the obstacles and adventures of Matilda's( Mattie's) life, as the yellow fever rips through Philadelphia, killing thousands in the year of 1793.
Mattie lives with her strict, widowed mother, and her fun loving grandfather.
Mattie initially takes her family and friends for granted. Soon after the fever breaks out, she regrets not appreciating them. Mattie fancies the artist assistant boy, Nathaniel. A romance eventually bloomed after the plague was behind them.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Fever." I could relate to the characters, and the hard decisions that they had to make. As an example, Mattie's mother decided to send her only family to the country to avoid the plague while she stayed home and fought the fever. I also dread having to work, just like Mattie does in the beginning of the story.
"Fever" would be most enjoyed by young adults. There are some graphic passages, and has some adult language.
In conclusion, "Fever" is an exciting novel to which I as a teenage girl can easily relate.

What would you do if you were a normal teen who is caught in one of the most insidious epidemics of all time? Would you even expect to survive? In the fictitious novel Fever, by Lauren H. Anderson, a teen named Mattie is forced to become a maverick and deal with the wipe out of almost half of Philadelphia. This book is hands down one of the greatest books I have ever read! Even though it takes place over 300 years ago, it is not monotonous and boring. Every second of this book is riveting and fortuitous. Putting this book down was almost an impossibility. Lauren H. Anderson used so much imagery that the words seemed to jump off the page and become an illuminated cinema before your eyes. The main characters in this book are the following: Mattie Cook, Lucille Cook, Grandfather Cook, and Eliza. Mattie is the daughter of widower Lucille Cook and they run a family owned coffee house with Grandfather Cook and Eliza is a freed slave who helps with the cooking and other maintenance. They live in Philadelphia when a heinous outbreak of Yellow Fever erupts. At first, only a few deaths occur, but suddenly people, including the Cook's neighbors and friends, start to die and others flee to the countryside to avoid contracting it. I recommend this book to teens that enjoy books whose plot is more complex than a labyrinth and leave you more surprised and intrigued than you ever thought you’d be. The main character, Mattie, is a young teen so her thoughts, reactions, and patterns are very relatable and make you want to read more and imagine yourself in her position. Also, this book covers real events that occurred in American history, making the book’s plot even juicier. This novel is definitely worth the money and time.

What would you do if you thought you were the only one who knew what was going on and everyone else just thought it was just a rumor? Would you ignore it and just go about your regular life, or would you try to figure out what made you feel this way? Well, this is exactly what Matilda Cook felt like in the Historical fiction novel Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Matilda's character revolves around a world full of discipline and an "Itchy Mosquito" who's up to something. Matilda has her own opinion of what's going on and others have there own opinion of saying it's a rumor.

Anderson begins each chapter with a quote of someone who was important and made a difference back then. This gives the reader an idea of what is going to happen in the chapter. Matilda is now not alone in thinking she is the only one who knows what is going on. Her grandfather is in on it too. When someone collapses at the Olglevie mansion someone suspects something.

When you're into a book as good at this one the pages literally turn themselves. You will be anxious to get to the next chapter to see what is going to happen.

Are you ready to read Fever 1793? If you say you are then you're about to read the greatest historical fiction of all time. The story takes place in Philadelphia during 1793. The main character is Mattie and her family owns a coffee shop called Cook's Coffeehouse. The tragedy that's going to happen that summer just may start with them or someone close.

Mattie is just an ordinary kid growing up in Philadelphia and dealing with the scorching weather. Also trying not to get sick with whatever sickness that usually comes around in the summer, but none of the illnesses will ever be were like this one. All the doctors thought it was some type of malaria. But it wasn't, it was yellow fever. Then her nagging mother gets it too. The next victim is her beloved grandfather, the only one that understood her. Soon the fever will spread and might kill the whole city before the frost comes; the frost is Philadelphia's last chance for survival.

Will the frost come in time? When's the fever going to stop? Is Mattie's family going to make it? Is the city safe? To find out, you'll need to read Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Mattie will not believe that her mother died. The lazy, stubborn Matilda Cook is in the family coffee house in Philadelphia when her mother catches the deadly disease of yellow fever. Shortly after her mother makes Matilda and her grandfather flee so that they don't catch the plague, her grandfather gets a worrying cough. Now she must take care of her grandfather, a plague-orphaned girl, and two fevered boys.

If you read this book, you will realize that Anderson is secretly giving you a most amazing history lesson in disguise. She wants you to know how horrible it was to live in the time of yellow fever and that doctors didn't always know what they were talking about.

I love this book, because she teaches her "class" of readers in a very intriguing way. Watch out, because it gets horribly sad in the middle, but way better in the end, my favorite part.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures, tragedies, and good endings, from ages 1 to 111. -- Molly

August 1793 in Philadelphia was well until the deadly yellow fever epidemic was born. At first, it was a rumor, than a rarity -- but it began to spread throughout the country, and no one was safe from the fever. Hope soon withered into horrible despair among the homes everywhere in Philadelphia. Mattie Cook, fourteen years old, miraculously is drawn away from the disease, but members of her family, and those she loves, is inflicted with the fever -- and as survival becomes a credential in her
life, she must save the people she wants to live longer. 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.

Fever 1793

Fever 1793 was written by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book is amazing! This is the type of book that you are on the tip of your chair. You always want to read on. I remember reading late, almost everyday. It's amazing how the author makes you feel while you're reading the book. Her writing in this book is fantastic!

This book is about a girl, named Mattie. She has to survive a yellow fever, alone. Did her mom really get sick? Did her grandfather really die, after a terrible incident? How will she survive, during the fever? (The book always has something spinning in your mind.) Read this book, to find out!

Fever 1793 was actually in 1793. The book was in an ordinary town. Mattie and her family own/run a coffeehouse, somewhere in Philadelphia. This book is for ten year olds to any aged adult. The genre is survival fiction, historical fiction, and realistic fiction. The yellow fever did happen, but not all elements are real. It's a Survival book, because Mattie has to survive the yellow fever, alone. (Although she stays with someone.)

So, if you like action and suspense, read this book!

"We were in the center of a dying city." Mattie Cook says this on page 118 of Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, a book that has become one of my favorites! It tells the tale of Mattie, a girl in Philadelphia in 1793 who is forced into adulthood as yellow fever strikes her town. She notices the change in herself, as she says (page 175), "'I'm not a little girl. I can take care of myself." I loved seeing her be dynamic throughout the novel.

Also, I liked seeing the different reactions to the fever. On page 206, Mattie says, "It was never going to stop. We would suffer endlessly, with no time to rest, no time to sleep." On the other hand, Nathaniel says (page 228), "The important things haven't changed at all." The broad look and different views at this catastrophe made my opinions sway several times.

Fever 1793 is a great book for 6th graders and above. The word choice in it was extraordinary with words like lingered, desperately, and stench. I enjoyed reading this historical fiction novel and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and good read!

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is a five star thriller! Mattie Cook is a fourteen year old girl working in her family's coffee shop with her widowed mother, her grandfather, Eliza (a freed African American slave), and Polly a servant girl. Business as usual at the shop, mother nagging and happy customers, even with the rumors of the yellow fever sweeping the town. It doesn't hit home until Polly dies suddenly, by what doctors think is the yellow fever. Although it is thought to leave town, the Cook family decides to stay, which turns out to be a big mistake. Mother falls ill and Mattie and Grandfather have no choice, but to leave for the country. However their journey is cut short, and it all goes down hill from there.

I couldn't give this book anything less than five stars. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat because you have to know Mattie's and her family's fate. Fever 1793 has everything for someone who loves to read. It has joy, dispair, fear, wit, and even a little romance. The book is also fast moving, you'll be done before you know it. The book takes place during four months of the yellow fever epidimic. These four months are well the wait for the ending that warms my heart.

This book has a great description of not only life back in 1973, but also how life can be today. In the book people have a choice. Either they can stick together, or break apart. Although Mattie's family sticks together, many fall apart. Children are abandoned by their parents, and children are taken away from their parents. Fever victims are thrown from their houses, some not even dead yet. It almost reminded me of some of the natural disasters that have occured in the past couple of years. Thankfully we have all come together as a whole to help those in need, and not leave them behind, like some people did in this book. I wish the people in the 1973 would have stuck together, then maybe not so many people would have died.

Although this is a very good book, there are other books that have good qualities like in this book. For example And Then There Was None is another thriller. I would also recemend Dicey's Song because it also shows the importance of sticking together. I loved this book so much. I am a student who love history and to read.

Fever 1793 was an intriguing book about a girl named Mattie Cook who had to survive the terrible yellow fever outburst in 1793. The book deeply describes the atmosphere of Philadelphia during this time, and when things take an unexpected turn for the worst, Mattie has to fend for herself.
"The man turned back and looked at grandfather then lifted the handles of the wheelbarrow and dumped the woman on the street..."this only one example of the sickening details used by Laurie Anderson, to illustrate the stomach turning realities of that time. It also gives some interesting facts about this terrible epidemic. It's a suspense filled young adult historical fiction. "I held my breath and waited for the earth to stop spinning. The sun need not rise again. There is no reason for the rivers to flow birds would never sing." There's some great detail to describe the way Mattie is feeling. I would easily recommend this book to any of my friends and family and neighbors.

My students generally enjoy the works of Laurie Halse Anderson (especially "Speak") and seeing as how I have a special interest in Early American history, I figured reading this book would kill two birds with one stone. Happily, I've discovered a book that both students and history teachers (such as myself) will enjoy.
Students would enjoy this book because it's a good story. It's a coming-of-age novel about a fourteen-year-old during the days of the great Yellow Fever epidemic in 1790's Philadelphia. While those around her panic or die, Mattie (the main character) struggles to keep her head clear, her family safe, and her mother's house and business protected from robbers. It's a life or death situation that follows a young girl as she rises to the occation.
American histoy teachers would also do well to either assign this book, or have it in her classroom library. Andeson attempts to be historically accurate in her period novel, and succeeds. Moreover, she mentions things that a history teacher can take and run with. Why are President Washington, Secretaries Hamilton and Jefferson, and other federal government officials in Philadelphia, anyway? What's all this talk about "bleeding" a sick person? What's a necessary? This would be a good choice to assign as a class novel as it can be used in both literature courses and history courses. Highly recommended.

in a sentence or two: it's 1793 in Philadelphia, and a mysterious fever is said to be killing people without mercy. the murmurings of yellow fever come to fruition when 15 year old Mattie's mom is struck ill with a fever that drives her crazy and gives her eyes a horrid yellow tinge.

Mattie, her mom, their cook Eliza and Mattie's grandpa run a coffeehouse in Philadelphia. grandpa served under the great General Washington and likes to fill her days sharing stories, sneaking her candy, and being overall supportive and encouraging. her dad died from a fall off a ladder which left her mom understandably saddened and bitter, very much unlike the soft and comforting woman she used to be. their life at the coffeehouse provides a good deal of gossip off the street about the fever, however, their first awareness is when their beloved scullery maid and friend of Mattie dies suddenly in her home.

the book is the journey of Mattie and her family in their attempts to avoid the yellow fever. the fear that people felt from not knowing how to prevent the spreading of the disease or what to do when it struck is strongly delivered by Anderson. the differing opinions of doctors, the despair, and the struggle to keep going when everything seems hopeless flood this book with rich emotions.

i was impressed with Mattie's voice as the narrator. as a 15 year old, she's in that awkward phase somewhere between being a girl to being a woman, which adds a blend of insecurity and determination that fits perfectly with the surrounding circumstances of the rest of the story. i didn't think i was getting too sucked in to the emotions until i was bawling in the middle when someone died...then i realized how captivating this book was.

something i really appreciated was at the end of the book when Anderson answers some questions like "did the epidemic really happen" and "where are they buried" as well as the real life counterparts of the names she uses in the book. as a piece of historical fiction, i thought this complimented the read well. while Mattie and fam aren't necessarily real characters, they certainly represent one of the situations that many people faced during that time.

if you're looking for a solid hist-fic read with a wide range of developed emotions (including a little romance), great plot, a compassionate voice, with more-than-a-dash of historical accuracy in the form of events and language, this is for you.

fave quote: "They told of a small child huddled around the body of her dead mother. As volunteers placed the mother in a coffin, the child had cried out, 'Why are you putting Mamma in that box?' They had to turn the child over to a neighbor and take the mother away for burial. They told of the dying man who pulled himself to the window of his bedchamber and begged people to bring him a drink of water. Many passed by, hurrying away from the sound of his voice, until a brave soul entered the house to help him. They told of thieves who crept in and stole jewelry off the dead and dying. They told of good people who refused to take any money for helping strangers, even though they themselves were poor and near destitute...They told of terror: patients who had tried to jump out of windows when the fever robbed their reason, screams that pierced the night, people who were buried alive, parents praying to die after burying their children." (105-106)

fix er up: i would have liked more development with Mattie's love interest, Nathaniel. though the lack of it didn't hurt the book at all, and in fact now that i think about it, keeping it on the back burner of the plot makes sense. i'm just nitpicking.

Fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook in Fever 1793 has a mind of her own. She wants to grow up and run the Cook Coffeehouse in dusty Philadelphia.
But word of fever threatens her dream. And with her best friend dead and her mom dying what is she to do?
As the cemeteries fill with fever victims, and yellow flags are raised to signify a death, men come down the street yelling, "Bring out your dead!"
Mattie learns that there is a bigger fight than frivolous dreams, the fight to stay alive.
Laurie Halse Anderson has managed to roll fear and panic into one terrific book, of an extreme level of suspense.
Some parts are exciting like when she finds a thief in her house and some parts are sad like when she loses someone dear to her. Others are in between.
She describes things in a way that in real life they would actually happen. My favorite thing about this book is that Yellow Fever was actually real! It was carried by a small fly.
This book would be recommended for 10 year olds and up. It might be a little challenging for younger children, and anyone else I hope you will like it a much as I did!

I am not the kind of person that loves to read, but I loved to read this book after i started it. It was very interesting and I never knew what was coming next. The only thing I didnt love about this book was that it was hard to follow some of the time. It would sometimes confuse me because it would say something that happened was a dream but then it endup really happening. What I did like is that it was very easy to understand when the climax was happening. This is the time I really wouldn't set down my book. I was so excited when the first frost came bacause everyone was getting better and the fever was going away. The only thing I would have changed about this book would be for it to have a clearer ending. I didn't understand the ending to well. I didn't know if they kept the coffeehouse or sold it. I loved the part when Mattie found Nell. It was really exciting and I never knew what was going to happen next! I would recomend this book to a friend. The reading level is set at a 4.4 and I think that it should be closer to a 6.0 because the book was very hard to follow at some times.

I don't know why many young readers don't like this book (a required 6th grade read here) because I have read it twice and think it is excellent. This is the story of Mattie Cook, a fourteen-year-old girl living in Philadelphia during the Yellow Fever plague of 1793. Mattie must grow up quickly during that summer, as the fever strikes her family and friends. She makes difficult decisions and learns hard lessons about survival, life and love.

Anderson weaves history into her story and the reader learns about these difficult times in early America, as well as about how people lived and how the black population built a powerful network to help their people through sickness and hunger. She also includes a great deal about doctors' different approaches to healing the sick and the debate over these methods.

Although the story includes sadness and loss, Fever is more a story of hope and survival with a definite feel-good ending.

" Matilda, Polly is dead." Yellow Fever is spreading over Philadelphia. It is soon going to come to Matilda's house. Matilda and her Mother own a coffeehouse. Fever by Laurie Halse Anderson is a great book!
Matilda, the narrator, is a great protagonist! Her mother is afraid to let walk to the store because of what the doctor said. The doctor said Yellow Fever was in town for the first time ever and Yellow Fever comes as slow as molasses!
Polly died and they don't know what it was from. The doctor said it was Yellow Fever. Some people moved from Philadelphia to England, like birds going to the south for winter except they stay there.
Another thing that happened is Matilda's grandfather let Matilda go to the store! He let her go because she deserved to go outside. She also had been working hard.
Her Mom as I told you was afraid to let her go. But, her grandfather did!
If you want to figure out what happens to Matilda and her family try and find " Fever " in your classroom, library at school, or your local library! I hope you read more about Matilda! I encourage you to!

FEVER

Fever is a book that is a sad and true story that happened in the 1780's. This book takes place during the time period of the Revolutionary War. It takes place in the urban city of Philadelphia which is in Pennsylvania. I enjoyed reading this book.

This story is about a 15 year old girl named Matilda who lives in Philadelphia. Matilda is a smart and adventurous girl that survived during a terrible tragedy. A disease started to spread called Yellow Fever and it killed 10% of the population in Philadelphia during a very hot summer. Her mother gets the fever. Matilda has to leave so that she doesn't get sick and the maid of the house has to take care of the mother. Matilda goes on a journey with her grandpa to Bush Hill.

Eventually the grandpa gets sick and he ends up in a hospital. He dies and Matilda is left alone. She has to survive on her own. I enjoyed reading this book and I give it four out of five stars. If you like a sad and historical fiction novel, then you should read this book.

I live near Philadelphia. 1.5 million people live in philly these days, and if the epidemic that Fever 1793 describes were to happen today, in 90 days, 150,000 people would die and 700,000 people would flee. Look at those numbers and ponder - if you lived there, what would you do?

The story is told, as was Speak, from the point of view of a very believable teenaged girl. From her fights with her mother to her flirts with her beau to the very way she survives the plague and finds herself in the process, Mattie is a compelling heroine. In fact, I have great respect for Ms. Anderson; she writes the point of view of a teenaged girl so well that I almost feel 15 again.

Though some would call the story predictable, I found that the (very well researched) historical perspective and plethora of factual information was almost overwhelming. If the plot had been too intricate, the book would have been lost. As it is, through the comfort of a steady plot, a fantastic story is told.

(*)>

Students and staff meet twice a month to read and discuss books that are part of the Virginia Young Reader's Program. Fever 1793 was well received. It is a historically accurate book. It is timely since this fall there were cases of West Nile Virus. I would strongly recommend reading this book to middle school students, as well as adults. Mrs. McGuire
While reading the book Fever 1793 , I noticed that the color yellow was mentioned many times. There was a yellow hot air balloon, the flowers had yellow centers, the cat was yellow, as well as the rich girl's dress and the book ended with yellow. Lisa M
Fever 1793 was a book of hope and courage, a road to a new beginning. The book was an inspiring story for all ages. Darny C
When you start reading Fever 1793 you cannot put it down. Even when your favorite TV show is on, you will keep reading. I really enjoyed the book. The color yellow is mentioned throughout the book, I think 5 or 6 times.
Fauzia N.
Fever 1793 is a better book than most of the books out there for adults.
Mrs. Whittington

Fever 1793

By Laurie Halse Anderson

The book Fever 1793 is a good book. It is about a very deadly that is going around Philadelphia. The characters call the fever, "Yellow Fever". It is said to come every late summer around August.

The main character's family owns a coffeehouse. The main character's name is "Mattie". Mattie is the hardest working employee in their family coffeehouse gets a lot of business because George Washington's house was built two blocks away.

Yellow Fever is a bad illness. The fever has been mostly caught by the river. It has been scaring people away from the shops near the river. The people being scared causes the coffeehouse to get more business.

Polly was the 1st one to die from the disease. A lot of people died because of the Yellow Fever. Even Mattie's mother died. This illness caused a lot to move away too.

I hope you choose to read this book and enjoy it as much as I did. I give this book a 4 ½ star rating. To find out the end, read this book. The ending is great.

The book is about a 14-year-old girl named Mattie Cook. Her mother is nagging, rude, and even bragging about being a perfect girl, because Mattie isn't perfect. She has plans of her own, to turn the Cook Coffeehouse into the finest buisness of Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States.

However, the waterfront is abuzz with reports of a new disease, called "Fever". It spreads the docks and comes towards Mattie's home, killing nearly everyone in the city.

Suddenly, Mattie is trapped in a living nightmare. She gets the fever, her mother goes missing with the fever, her grandfather dies with the fever, and Mattie finds small children with the fever. And to protect her, everyone else, and her family, she'll need to do the most important thing-stay alive.

I am a 10 year old girl. The book is amazing, and it really caught my attention. That's 5 stars from me.

Fever 1793 is a descriptive novel about how Yellow Fever changed a young girl's life in Philadelphia. Mattie Cook, the main character is a strong-willed woman that will do anything possible to save her family from the yellow fever epidemic. Whether it be running to the grocery and getting food for her family, or chasing thieves out of her house to save her grandfather's life. This story is suspenseful yet sensitive to all readers.
The theme of this book, in my opinion is endurance; Because Mattie and Eliza always have the courage and strength to pass through any obstacle that may come their way. On page 96 there is a poem that states,"Hot dry winds forever blowing, dead men to the grave-yards going: Constant hearses, Funeral verses; Oh! What plagues - There is no knowing! "This statement shows that in the times of Yellow Fever, there was no escaping the tragedies of what the illness could do to your family. This historical fiction book is suitable for young readers 12 and up

Fever 1793 is a descriptive novel about how Yellow Fever changed a young girl's life in Philadelphia. Mattie Cook, the main character is a strong-willed woman that will do anything possible to save her family from the yellow fever epidemic. Whether it be running to the grocery and getting food for her family, or chasing thieves out of her house to save her grandfather's life. This story is suspenseful yet sensitive to all readers.
The theme of this book, in my opinion is endurance; Because Mattie and Eliza always have the courage and strength to pass through any obstacle that may come their way. On page 96 there is a poem that states,"Hot dry winds forever blowing, dead men to the grave-yards going: Constant hearses, Funeral verses; Oh! What plagues - There is no knowing! "This statement shows that in the times of Yellow Fever, there was no escaping the tragedies of what the illness could do to your family. This historical fiction book is suitable for young readers 12 and up

Fever 1793 is a descriptive novel about how Yellow Fever changed a young girl's life in Philadelphia. Mattie Cook, the main character is a strong-willed woman that will do anything possible to save her family from the yellow fever epidemic. Whether it be running to the grocery and getting food for her family, or chasing thieves out of her house to save her grandfather's life. This story is suspenseful yet sensitive to all readers.
The theme of this book, in my opinion is endurance; Because Mattie and Eliza always have the courage and strength to pass through any obstacle that may come their way. On page 96 there is a poem that states,"Hot dry winds forever blowing, dead men to the grave-yards going: Constant hearses, Funeral verses; Oh! What plagues - There is no knowing! "This statement shows that in the times of Yellow Fever, there was no escaping the tragedies of what the illness could do to your family. This historical fiction book is suitable for young readers 12 and up

I have read quite a few historical fiction books for kids, and I've eventually found that their plots are pretty much all the same. This is a bit annoying after a while, but I still like some of the books. Fever was good because it was about a time period in history that I've never read about before.

The story's heroine is a young girl named Mattie who lives in Philadelphia in 1793. Yellow fever strikes the city, and her mother gets sick and orders her and her grandfather out of the city. They plan to go to a farm out in the country, but they never make it cause her grandfather falls ill (not with yellow fever) and they are kicked off the wagon. The rest of the story follows her adventures in and out of the city. She is also struck down with the fever, but recovers, then her grandfather dies during an raid on their house at night. She can't find her mother or her friend Eliza, the maid, and the city is nearly starving to death.

Naturally this book has a happy ending. Mattie is the typical heroine of a historical fiction novel. Strong, with a few shortcomings, not content to let others make the decisions or to be treated like a girl. My favorite character was probably Mattie's "friend" Nathanial Benson. (at the end of the book it is hinted that they are engaged) He at least was interesting! But he is only in a couple of scenes, and at one point we go a hundred pages without hearing from him. Oh well, all in all, it is a good historical fiction and I would recommend it to most girls.

The book Fever is a very interesting book. This book has many plots.This book takes place in Philadelphia,in the year 1793. Mattie Cook is the main character. Her family owns a coffee shop. Mttie h to wor there everyday. Her house is above the coffee shop. Then one day her family hears news of fever. Many people don't take the waning seriously. However many flee for the country; Mattie and her grandfather amoung them. Then Mattie soons finds out hthat fever is everywhere. Everything goes crazy for mattie, everything is different. She has to learn how to survive on her own or she might die.

I really enjoyed the book Fever. It always made me want to keep reading it. I think that it was the fastest I ever read a book. I think that you should be at least 10 before you read this book because it might be hard for younger kids to understnd. It really amzes me that that mny people could die at one time. It encouraged me to be thankful for what I have. Overall i really like this book.

I didn't know this was YA when I bought it. I purchased it because of the over and the subject. I love historical fiction. This book was not only an easy read, but fascinating as well. I can only guess the many discussions that any school children will be able to talk about. Should they mention the believable character Mattie, who hates the chores she has to do. Perhaps the relationship with her overworked mother will be easy to relate to. I think the horror of the epidemic , how it affect rich and poor, black and white, old and young is another way for them to realize that sickness, horror and death has no boundaries. This is an excellent book, written well and I have added it to my own library.

Mattie Cooks worries were not much, just the usual, like serving all the customers at the coffee house before getting scolded by mother, or flattering Nathanial Benson, who was becoming more then a childhood friend. But as the heat in the city rises, the city of Philadelphia turns into a baking oven, and Mattie former worries become trivial. Soon the heat and rapidly multiplying mosquitoes becomes a deadly killer. Yellow fever is taking its toll on the citizens as busy city streets are slowly transformed into ghost-like graveyards full of the sick and the dead. Mattie flees with her grandfather, leaving her sick mother behind in the fever stricken city. They don't get very far; grandfather has the fever and cannot be allowed past the city limits. Mattie and her grandfather return to the city where all eyes are yellow, and dead bodies are stacked on top of each other, rotting in the sweltering heat. They try to survive, but their chances are as scarce as a smile in the dieing city.

The book Fever is a very interesting book. This book has many plots.This book takes place in Philadelphia,in the year 1793. Mattie Cook is the main character. Her family owns a coffee shop. Mttie h to wor there everyday. Her house is above the coffee shop. Then one day her family hears news of fever. Many people don't take the waning seriously. However many flee for the country; Mattie and her grandfather amoung them. Then Mattie soons finds out hthat fever is everywhere. Everything goes crazy for mattie, everything is different. She has to learn how to survive on her own or she might die.

I really enjoyed the book Fever. It always made me want to keep reading it. I think that it was the fastest I ever read a book. I think that you should be at least 10 before you read this book because it might be hard for younger kids to understnd. It really amzes me that that mny people could die at one time. It encouraged me to be thankful for what I have. Overall i really like this book.

Fever 1793 is a book about a teenage girl growing up in Pennsylvania in, of course, 1793. Mattie Cook was living a perfectly normal life when one day a very bad fever starts to spread, and Mattie's world turns upside down.

I think that Fever 1793 is a very well written book. The way Laurie H. Andersen describes things is wonderful. It is the kind of book that once you pick it up, you can just not put it down. The beginning doesn't grab you so well but once you read a few chapters, you get more of a feel for the characters. I enjoyed this book because it seemed to pull me into the pages like I was right there when it all happened. I would recommend this book to people who like to be sucked up in their reading. However, I would not recommend this book to people younger than 7, because some of it is sad, and some is a little scary. As the New York Times Book Review says "the plot rages like the epidemic itself."

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is a book about a young girl named Matilda who lives with her mother and her grandfather in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1793, the yellow fever breaks out and kills thousands of people. Matilda's Mother, Lucille, is a fever victim and must stay in bed until she is well, and while Matilda and her Grandfather worry, Lucille is bled. A doctor orders Matilda and her grandfather to leave the city as soon as possible and by the end of the long and dreadful week, she and her Grandfather do leave. Soon enough, Matilda has caught the fever, too. Will Matilda and her mother ever recover?

I admire this book from beginning to end because all of the excitement and heartbreaking things that are put into this book kept me reading. I would highly recommend this book to middle school kids. Knowing that this book is historical fiction, I truly wanted to learn more about this important happening in life.

In the novel, Fever 1793 by Laurie Anderson, Matilda is lazy and just wants everything to come easily. Then, suddenly, yellow fever strikes, and the town of Philadelphia began to empty out. Not wanting to leave their coffee shop, their only source of money and survival, Matilda's family decides to stay in the deserted town until the frost comes. But, as Matilda's mother becomes sick with fever, she forces Matilda and her grandfather to travel to a family friend out in the country, away from the river and the fever. As they near their destination, they realize that they yellow fever just may have its hands on Matilda's grandfather and they are not allowed inside the town's protection. Matilda has to make the decision of walking 10 miles back home or to just give up, but Matilda may have the fever herself. This book gives a lot of information on the yellow fever in 1793, and also demonstrates that you should never take things for granted, and never give up.

I enjoyed this book and the history it represented. This books leads me to want to research more about the affects of yellow fever in history. I can not imagine being so young and going through all that the character Matilda went through. Worth reading and very educational.

I LOVED the book fever it was an adventerous story and a fight to survival! young mattie cook and her grandfather have to set out to a far away farm to get away from the yellow fever that has spread through her home town but they are forced to go back,she cathces the fever and finds her self at bush hill hospital! her family is moving to the farm and mattie and grandfather are stuck in the diseased city! what will happen when mattie finds herself in a sticky stuation

i think that fever is the best book i have ever read, its so interesting because of all the struggles mattie has to go through and what has happened to her during this time! its a very adventerous story and i think that everyone who belives that this story is story to take a stand to than they should beacuse i belive that story can change many thoughts of those out there who don't have anything

courtney,

ms.hensons 2nd hour class

Fever 1793 is a book you just can't put down. Mattie, a 14 year old girl living in Philadelphia, seems to have a wonderful life, daydreaming while her mother lectures her on how to run the family coffee house. In August, a fever is rumored to be in town. Deaths are being heard of all over. People start fleeing their beautiful homes to friends and families in the country, hoping fresh air would be the cure to the fever. The fever that is destroying the town is called Yellow fever. The streets of Philadelphia turn cold, black and abandoned. Mattie and her grandfather are forced to leave the city when her very own mother falls ill with sickness. That is only the beginning of this book. When Mattie falls ill, how will she fight for survival? Will she ever see her mother again? Or what about the coffeehouse cook, Eliza? What would happen if she never reaches her destination? Will she ever see her own house again? I give it five out of five stars.

High shipping price, but shipping very .slowly...it's almost take 9 or10 day to delivered...and the book is very bad, it like you buy some vegetables just put it on the table for one week, it was terrible.....

Fever 1793 is a good book based on an actual event. It's about a girl, Mattie Cook, who finds herself in the middle of a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia( From the title, you know that the year is 1793). With many twists and turns in the plot, Laurie Halse Anderson puts you in the book right next to the main character.

In my opnion, the best part of the book is the end. The action seems to subside and settle down. Just when you think, "Oh, they will live happily ever after," the final event blows you away.

The author did a superb job on the story elements. The characters come alive and you can relate to them very easily. You go inside the book. The resolution jumps out at you and gets you off guard. Another little tid bit that I liked about this book is that it gave additional information about the actual event. It listed doctors, people, special events, other facts and much more about the epidemic in 1793. It helped me to get it all in perspective. I learned something and read a great book all at one time!

This book is amazing! It will keep you guessing until the end. Fever 1793 is my favorite book of them all. It has details to where you can paint a mental picture with. If you like depressing stories then this book is just for you.

I choose this book because of its details about the book and what is going on. Fever 1793 is so unique the author never gives away what is going to happen next which makes it exciting. All the other books give away what is going to happen next and it is not as exciting. This book is interesting and will always be your favorite if you read it.

Fever 1793 is such a well-written book it just keeps you interested until the end. The author Laurie Halse Anderson is a very good writer. This book has won many awards. Fever 1793 is a wonderful book but it is a book that is better for older children to understand. The main character, maddy, is juggling so many things in her life. The main character of this books life is like "living in a nightmare that she can't wake up from." I loved this book; it was awesome, that I read it in a week. I could not put this book down it was great. If you try to tell someone about this book, you will end up telling the whole story. Fever 1793 has a great ending but you have to read it to find out.

Everything was calm and well. Everything, until the fever broke out. Thousands of people were dying. No one knew how to cure the disease, not even the doctors. Yellow fever caused chaos, chasing people away from Philadelphia. The few families that dared to stay regretted it.
Mattie Cook lived with her widowed mother and grandfather in a coffee shop. Polly, their household servant, and Eliza their cook lived with them as well. They were all happy since they had such a pleasant life. Mattie was not. She was a teenager, yet everyone still seemed to treat her as a child.
Then one day, horrible news came. Polly had died. She was incredibly sick, and none of the doctors knew what killed her. A week later, about eighty more people had died. No one was sure of what had killed them, but rumors were spreading like crazy about an outbreak of a fever. The Cooks frowned upon such rumors. A fever outbreak at this time was normal. Every summer, a fever might come, take a few people, and leave in the winter.
Soon, the fever was everywhere, wiping out hundreds. When Mattie's mother came down with the disease, Mattie was forced to leave Philadelphia with Grandfather. They set out to stay with the Ludingtons, on their farm. On the way to the farm, Mattie became terrified when her grandfather had a coughing fit. The couple driving the wagon feared he had yellow fever and left Mattie and her grandfather on the road.
Mattie awoke in a hospital, where French doctors worked. They had treated many Indians with yellow fever. After she discovered she herself had the fever, Mattie was tended to, and she and her grandfather were soon on their way home.
When Mattie and her grandfather arrived at the house, they found Mattie's mother missing, as well as Eliza. They also found that someone has broken into the house. Later that night, two robbers broke in and killed grandfather. Mattie was left to fend for herself. Mattie had been treated like a child for so long, she didn't know how to act when she was alone. She found a child, named Nell, whose mother had died. Mattie cared for Nell, while trying to care for herself.
Mattie learned about the horrors of Philadelphia. It had changed in so many ways. Robbers had broken into almost every fever victim's house. Corpses were everywhere in the streets. Smells of blood and sounds of death disturbed Mattie in the night. Mattie could not find her mother, and was frightened for her mother's life and her own.
When all hope was lost, Mattie saw Eliza and went to stay with her. Eliza was caring for a man who had yellow fever, and his two twin boys. Soon, the boys and Nell came down with the fever. Everything was going wrong, when a miracle happened. Mattie spotted frost. The end of the fever season had started.
Soon, Mattie and Eliza opened up the coffeehouse, and business was booming. President Washington visited Philadelphia, where people had begun to move back in and regain their normal lives. Mattie's mother returned, and all was normal and back to the way it should be.
Laurie Anderson's writing style is enchanting. She brings the characters alive, and puts you in their position. She likes to educate you about the late 17th century.
In the story, Mattie has to make a lot of decisions on her own. She struggles for her life. Mattie Cook's character was persistent. By the end of the book, Mattie's character had grown up. "'May I go to the market, Eliza?' I asked.
`You don't need my permission,' Eliza said.
She was right. I could choose for myself."
Mattie had taken care of a little girl, and for the first time in her life, made her own decisions. In one part of the book, Eliza was appalled when Mattie spoke for herself and told the adult what to do. Mattie told Eliza not to bleed the children, that it would finish them. Mattie had learned things when French doctors had mended her.
Two big themes of the story are growing up, and finding bravery within yourself. Mattie survived the fever, and went from the tomboyish, chicken that she was I learned a lot about these themes and learned a lot of yellow fever. I would recommend this book to ages 10 and up.

This book is FEVER 1793. It was an interesting book that makes you feel like you are in Philadelphia in the year of 1793. It is an adventure to see what the people do and how they look. This book is for kids who love to read.
In this book a girl named Matilda Cook, mostly called Mattie, works at a coffee house called The Cook Coffee. Her mother owns it. Mattie has a mind of her own and has big plans for the coffee house but, her plans change when the fever hits. People start dying and some move away. Mattie is sick and her mother vanishes. You don't know what's going to happen next. You want to read this book to see if Mattie dies and if she will ever see her mother again.
Laurie Halse Anderson does a really great job on keeping the suspense. If you love historical fiction and one of your favorite authors is Laurie Halse Anderson I definitely recommend this book.

Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is by far my favorite book, it is so good I read it all in one night and usally I'm a slow reader. It just amazed me so much I couldn't put it down. It's a book that is writin so well it puts an image in your head about what everything looks like in the book. But thats not all it does. This book has alot of feelings throughout it's pages, it has sad times, happy times, hard times and so many more. Some parts of the book I felt like I would cry, but during other parts of the book I wanted to laugh or say awww! If you want to read a book about fear, saddness, braver, strength, love, and success, then this is a book I really think you should read! So don't forget that great fun you'll have when you read Fever 1793. Thanks for reading my review and I hope you'll enjoy the book as much as I did and still very much do. Fever 1793 Luver, (...)

I'd give this book a little more than 3.5 stars. Some of the parts were great, but some parts were good, but a little hard to want to keep going.
*SOME SPOILERS BELOW*
Mattie Cook is an ambitious young girl who does not agree with her mother. She has plans to expand the family business, but when fever strikes resulting in the loss of grandfather and childhood playmate Polly, she has to put aside those ambitions to stay alive. I guess there was actually no spoiler there.

Mattie was only a girl, and her whole city was getting sick with the yellow fever. A few thousand already dead, Mattie has to support herself and run the family coffeehouse. This is "Fever, 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson. The genre is based on a true event in history. The story is about the yellow fever plague that swept through Philadelphia in the summer of 1793. Mattie's grandfather was a captain in the army under George Washington and Mattie's mother ran a well-known coffeehouse in Philadelphia. Mattie, in the beginning of the story, was very lazy and hated work. However, a few months later, she was running the coffeehouse with her mother still missing from the fever and her grandfather was dead. I think this book would be good for anyone, because it is our history and the story is exciting when things start to happen.

Fever 1793

byLaurie Halse Anderson

The book Fever 1793 is a good book. It is about a very deadly that is going around Philadelphia. The charecters call the fever, "Yellow Fever". It is said to come every late summer around August.

The main charectar's family owns a cofeehousemain charectar's name is, "Mattie".Mattie is the hardest working emploie in their family cofeehouse get a lot of business because George Washington's house was built two blocks away.

Yellow Fever is a bad illness. The fever has been mostly caught by the river. It has been scaring people away from the shops near the river. The people being scared causes the cofeehouse to get more business.

Polly was the 1st one to die from the disease. A lot of people died because of the Yellow Fever. Even Mattie's mother died. This illness caused a lot to move away too.

I hope you choose to read this book and enjoy it as much as I did. I give this book a 4 ½ star rateing.To find out the end, read this book. The ending is great.

Despite the fact that this is actually a young adults' book I really enjoyed it. The story is about Mattie, a 14-year-old girl living in Philadelphia, 1793, during an outbreak of yellow fever. I had not heard of this epidemic before and was impressed by the amount of detail the author included in what amounts to a children's book. At the end of the book she included an appendix, which answered questions readers might have about subjects and facts in the book - e.g. "Did the epidemic really happen?" or a description of "coffeehouses". I enjoyed this book so much I will read her other books "Speak" and "Catalyst".

Fever 1793

By Laurie Halse Anderson

The book Fever 1793 is a good book. It is about a very deadly fever that is going around Philadelphia. The characters call the fever, "Yellow Fever". It is said to come every late summer around August.

The main character's family owns a coffeehouse. The main character's name is Mattie. Mattie is the hardest working employee in their family coffeehouse. It gets a lot of business because George Washington's house was built two blocks away.

Yellow Fever is a bad illness. The fever has been mostly caught by the river. It has been scaring people away from the shops near the river. The people being scared causes the coffeehouse to get more business.

Polly was the 1st one to die from the disease. A lot of people died because of the Yellow Fever. Even Mattie's mother died. This illness caused a lot to move away too.

I hope you choose to read this book and enjoy it as much as I did. I give this book a 4 ½ star rating. To find out the end, read this book. The ending is great.

This book Fever 1793 was an o.k. book. I would deffinitley recommend it to a friend. The main character, Matilda Cook is a hard working little girl. Her mother is very strict about most things. Matilda, her mother, and her grandfather run a small coffee house in Philedalphia, Matilda's mother owns it.

As they go on with their lives they find out that a sickness called the "Fever" is going through the town, killing many people. Matilda's mother catches it and is taken away to a sick home while she is gone Matilda catches the fever and goes to a hospital with her grandfather. She searches for her mother, wondering if she's still alive. Finally her mother comes home.

I would probably would give this book a 4 out of 5. The part I liked was when Matilda's mother came home. A part that I didn't like was when Matilda's grandfather died.

This book is a great way for kids to learn about history in a way that is not dry and boring. It being told from the perspective of a young person is just one of the many things that make young people love this type of learning. This story moves a little slow, but not so much as to be a drag to get through. Kids and adults will enjoy this book, and will learn a great deal about the way of life in the colonies, especially during time of illness. The reader will not soon forget the facts. I think this book is an excellent addition to a textbook study of early American history. It will add much to your study and how you view history as a subject. Buy this book and encourage a love of learning in a child or kindle the love already there.

This wonderful book is very good it actully one of my favorite books.

in this the main character is named Mattie Cook and she has a mother, grandfather, and a kind hearted black servant named Eliza and they live in the top of there store wich is called the coffee house and it is set in philidalphia at the time that the yellow fever came to philidalphia and her Mother, Grandfather, and finally Mattie.

This book goes through a most wonderful adventure with Deaths, Robbers, and It is Historically Acurate and a wonderful book for all ages.

I highly recomened this book to reading.

This Is A Must Read.

And I think this Laurie Haulse Anderson's best book and is very life like and alive.

as you read this book you become a character and the book becomes alive.

Caleb Craig.

Like Laurie Halse Anderson's other historical fiction books, I learned a lot about history through her storytelling. The main character is a young girl who watches friends and family fall sick with yellow fever. The pacing of this book is excellent, and I couldn't put it down. I think I read it in 2 or 3 days? Really unbelievable to think about medical practices not that long ago, and how yellow fever was easily a death sentence.

My book is about how Maddie and her town caught the yellow fever. Maddie was told that she would have to go to an orphanage after recovering from the fever. But she shows great courage and goes back home with her grandfather. She has to face sickness and dying of family members. Along the way she helps out other people and ends up seeing someone she thought that she would never see again.

I think that this is an excellent book, because there is a lot of suspense and you are always just dying to know what happens next. At least I was, I never wanted to put it down.

I think that people who like to read suspensful stories, would like this book. Also people who like to read mysterious and also sad books. This book can teach you about courage and patience. It can also teach you to apriciate what you have more.

Kid's review (8 years old) The book Fever 1973 by Laurie Halse Anderson was very good. My first impression of this book was that it would be very good and would help surgeons. It reminded me of the book Fight For Life because they were both about a time of sickness, a teenage girl and they had the same authors. Fever made me happy because a family was reunited and sad because one person of the family died. This book was very good and I think restaurant owners and surgeons would love this book.

The main character is Mattie Cook. She is around 15 years old and lives and works at the Cook's Coffeehouse. The setting is in Pennisvania in 1793 around August to December. The plot is a girl who has no idea where her mother is and she had to watch her grandfather die. Then finds Eliza who she worked with before the dilemma and they helped the people in need. The climax is when Mattie was on her own in the turned over town. The resolution is when frost comes and Mattie reopens the coffeehouse for business. Then her mom comes back to help the family business again.
I liked this book because it was a well written and intresting book. I'd tell my friend they we be inspired that they can do anything they set thier mind to. The book expresses how it feels to go through hard times and to me tht is a good book.

** spoiler alert ** i don't think i've ever not given a book by Laurie Halse Anderson five stars! i love everything she writes and she never lets me down. Her writing style is so refreshing and all her books are soo unique in respect of plot and characters.

I've never read anything regarding yellow fever, but this book really made me interested in the subject as i love reading about natural disasters, disease outbreaks, etc. and this one is def. one of my favorites. I couldn't put it down because i wanted to know what happened to little Matilda and if her mother would ever be found.

Overall, if you haven't checked this book out you need too, you won't be dissapointed.

I loved this book because it pulled you into the story to the point that you don't want to stop reading it and you don't want it to end. One other thing is that it is really detailed with words it always keeps you on your tipetoes and always got you trying to guess what going to happen next. And the words draw a real good grapic picturefor your mind and it makes you feel like in the book with the chareters.
The worst part in the book is when her grandfater dies because he was the one that always took care of her and whacth over her and after he died she had no one to talk to she was all alone.
In yhe book the words where really vivid to me because they drew a perfect picture for me like how all the house where borded up and always seemed dark and how the town use to look lioke befor the town got hit by the yellow fever. And it showed what happened to the family after every thing had happy it was the perfect ending

Mattie Cook was a young girl who worked at her familie's coffeehouse from sunrise to sunset. She served the customers and did back breaking chores everyday. That is until the disease,"Yellow Fever" swept the city of Philadelphia. Soon after the rumors were past and the innocent people were dying, the most unexpected happened. Mattie's hard working, stiff mother was diagnosed with yellow fever. Mattie wanted to stay home to help take care of her mother but her mother demanded that she went to the countryside. At first she disagreed but did not fight. A carriage picked grandfather and Mattie but trouble came down the road. Before crossing to the countryside the guards told them they were infected with yellow fever so they dumped them on the side of the road to fend for themselves.

The streets are empty. The sellers have left the market...and taken their wares with them. The quiet homes are filled with the dying. The Doctors have fled for their lives, leaving no one to care for the sick. Orphanages overflow with parent-less children. Mass graves await the many who fall to the deadly disease that has gripped the city. This is not the description of a post apocalyptic world, but a historically true portrayal of the city of Pennsylvania in the Summer of 1793.

"Fever" tells the tale of Mattie Cook, a young girl who finds herself in the middle of these tragic circumstances. She struggles to survive, hoping that the happy life she once took for granted would return again.

At first, the plot moves rather slowly, but this is no reason to stop reading. Unexpected occurrences and surprising twists and turns leave the reader in constant suspense. The dynamic characters are well developed and the author effectively captures their emotions, bringing them to life. Captivating, fascinating, and entertaining, "Fever" is excellent literature that many would enjoy.

The story takes place in coffee shop in Philadelphia. It's a little girl named Mattie that helps out the business with her mother and her uncle. Everything was going well for the family. They hear about an epidemic coming but they still stay open until the mother, Lucille, gets the fever. A doctor named Benjamin Rush thought he knew how to cure the fever by draining blood but he was actually killing them. When the mother was not getting better she wanted the grandfather to leave the town. They get out of town with a couple on a wagon until the police think they have the fever and make them stay behind. They was stuck in the middle of no where and Mattie was stuck helping her grandfather to survive out in the heat. One day while they was out Matilda started getting the fever and passed out from being ill and being in the heat. When she woke up. She was in a room with a lot of other sick patients that was throwing up blood everywhere. They stay a while until Matilda is able to get up and get back on the road. The doctors there was not preforming the same healing process Dr. Benjamin Rush was doing. When Mattie finally gets better they go back in town and check up on the coffee shop. When they get back in town they see that everything is abandoned and the people that stayed are stealing from the dead and who ever else they can find. They went and stayed at the coffee house that night and intruders came in. They got the grandpa and he dies a little later. They came and buried him the next day. When Matilda was wondering around the area she finds a little girl named Nell and start to take care of her. She soon finds out that the little girls mother is someone she knew. Eliza, an African American that use to work for her family and she stays with her and move into the coffee house. At this point in the book Matilda is thinking her mother is dead so she asks Eliza to be her partner in the business. Mattie gets with her crush once it starts getting cold and the plague goes away. Later when everyone starts coming back in town Matilda mom comes back. They then live a good life and the coffee shop opens back up.

What do you do when two of your family members get struck by yellow fever? In this book the mother did the work by sending Mattie away so she does not get the fever that her mother is suffering from. To top all that off her grandfather is with her so she has another responsibility. You might think that her grandfather will not get the fever but, for some reason suddenly something devistating happens and at the end she is all alone. While that was happening her African American cook is also gone and helping the sick. When Mattie finds Eliza, Mattie is so happy. Then Mattie took Eliza and Eliza helped her. I think that this book is the best book i have ever read. It has a good plot and a really good ending, it is a very good book for the people that like suspence and sad books.

"The foul-smelling black substance marked a victim, a victim of yellow fever." Stuck in Philadelphia, 1793, Trapped next to yellow fever. Everybody is gone. The ghost town is filled with crooks and robbers. The epidemic comes your way. What would you do?

Fever 1793 is about a little girl named Mattie Cook who is 14 years old, her mother, and grandfather who all own a coffee shop in Philadelphia. The whole town faces the worst month of their lives, an August of heat, death and severe yellow fever. Matilda's Mother is always bossing around 14-year-old Mattie Cook to do every single thing she says, when Matilda herself dreams some plans for the coffee shop. But one day, the fever hits the town, with one person collapsing after another. Soon, half the town is dying, and Matilda's mother herself catches the dreaded yellow fever. The rest of the Cooks must leave Philadelphia to escape the epidemic. Suddenly, they get kicked from the wagon, and are forced to make survive on their own, before they get back home. This book tells readers the terrible experience in 1793 at Philadelphia.

Fever 1793 deserved four out of five stars for three main reasons why: it has a great storyline, descriptive details, and exciting climax. This book has a great storyline that can be easily comprehended, but is very intriguing, and interesting. This book was pretty clearly well planned because the author did a good job of arranging the story: "It all hit me at once, my fears about mother, the fever, bush hill, watching Grandfather die, being scared, alone, and hungry."

This book also deserves four out of five stars because its exciting climax just shakes you. Passage: "Grandfather was never fooling around when he counted to three. He raised the musket and counted: One, Two, Three!"
This is a segment of the climax, the most exciting part of this book. It makes you restless because you want to know what happens next after someone fires a musket, because a musket is a big weapon, very powerful, and can kill easily. It held suspense in just that one quote about what Grandfather would do next.

Another reason why Fever is so good is that it has so many descriptive details that make the book seem real, and alive, not a monotone eReader. Its details are intriguing, and will basically just lure you to one chapter to another. Great details are good in writing and Laurie Halse Anderson makes the details come at you, like a 3D movie. It is just like real life back then which makes it feel like you are in the book: "Cicadas and Crickets sang farewell to the sun slipping towards the west."

This book was a really great book, with a great storyline, exciting climax, and descriptive details. This book is unique, with a great, but slightly unhappy ending. It's format is like no other, just because Laurie Halse Anderson has that particular technique. This is why Fever 1793, one of my favorite books, and deserves four stars.

Mattie has never been much of an independent girl. She hasn't had the opportunity to be, with her mother always on top of her, telling her what to do. Her mother is a widow who runs a coffeehouse in Philadelphia. The year is 1793 and there is always much work to be done. Mattie's mother is used to ordering Mattie, Mattie's grandfather and the two girls who work there, Eliza and Polly, around. Then in August of 1793 the yellow fever comes to Philadelphia. At first just a few people are sick here and there. Then they begin to die in hundreds and thousands. When several people they know have been struck by the fever, Mattie's mother begins to worry. When she herself is struck, she sends Mattie and her grandfather out to the country where they will be safe from the sickness.

But other towns know about the fever and they have guards posted at the entryways of their towns. They are suspicious of Mattie's grandfather's cough, and don't allow him in. Mattie and her grandfather are abandoned by the people in whose wagon they had been traveling, and Mattie herself begins feeling sick. The next thing she knows, she is recovering in a public hospital with other fever victims. She has been one of the lucky ones to survive. When she makes her way back to Philadelphia, she finds that her mother has gone to the country to meet up with her. She has no way of getting there and no way to inform her mother she is alive. Now may be her chance to take care of things at home and prove that she is an adult.

I liked the historical aspect of this book, and especially the appendix, which told about the history behind the things mentioned in the book. The story was a bit predictable, though, and I didn't like the romance between Mattie and Nathaniel. There was no real explanation for it and it didn't really develop.

Fever 1793 is an excellent book. If you like descrpitive, historical yet not boring books, I definetly reccommend reading Fever 1793. It is about a young teen, age 14, and her life during Yellow Fever. She faces many problems during this drastic time in her life. This includes the death of her beloved grandfather, the dissappearence of her sick mother, and caring for a young toddler. This book instantly connects you to the characters, making you feel as if you are in their shoes. I enjoy reading this book because it uses similies and metaphors, making the book more descriptive. It helps you better understand the times during 1793, and how people survived this fatal disease, mainly in Phileadelphia. Yellow Fever is a disease that makes the victim practically mad. Their eyes turn reddish-yellow, their tongues a dry crusty brown, and a putrid smell lurks up on their clothing, skin, and the air around them. I hope you take my advice and read this heart-wrenching story.

I thought this book was wonderful! It was bused on something true and had a lot of action in it. The book made you feel like you were actually in Philly when this is all happening and that it is happening to you and your family. In the book Mattie has to put up with the death of her friend Polly to yellow fever and soon after the fever sickens her mother, and Mattie is sent away to be kept safe from the fever. While travling with a willing farmer they are stopped to find out that Mattie's grandfather who is traveling with her is sick. The farmer bandones them and Mattie and her grandfather are left to fend for themselves. Throughout the book more and more characters that grow near to you die do to the fever. Mattie is trying to keep her grandfather alive as well as herself. This is a wonderful story and i recommend it to anyone who cant put a book down once they have picked it up.

when i was at my schools library this book was eye catching so i got it my librarien said that i wouldnt stop reading this until im done with it. and that DID happen! i spen the whole morning reading this. so GET this book i recommend it my 2 favirote book ( the first is either the brdge to never land or coraline) so bye!!

This book taught me much about what it was like to be in this event. The yellow fever epidemic is said to be one of the worst ever in US history. In just three months it killed nearly five thousand people, which is 10 percent of the city’s population. Part of the reason this happened is because back then, people didn’t know much about medicine. They did not know how disease was spread and both the stethoscope and the thermometer had still yet to be been invented. At the beginning of the epidemic there were about eighty people practicing medicine in Philadelphia, and most of them weren’t even trained doctors!
Dr. Benjamin Rush was one of the most famous doctors in the country. He used mercury, calomel, and jalap to make his patients throw up and have diarrhea. He also drained blood from them to get rid of the “pestilence” in their bodies. Rush’s treatments killed more of his patients than he saved. However this did not matter to the Philadelphians. For they were desperate for anything to cure yellow fever.
They had many other cures of their own. They soaked sponges in vinegar and stuck them up their noses. Beds were buried underground and then dug up again. Guns and Cannons were fired in the street in hopes that the gunpowder would clean the air. They washed their hair and clothes in vinegar, and even tried drinking vinegar. People wore nasty smelling bags of camphor around their necks, chewed garlic, and drank vile potions of herbs in effort to kill whatever was causing the disease. It was no use, more and more people kept getting sick until the frost killed off the mosquitoes that were spreading it.
I really liked the book a lot. Normally I am not very fond of historical fictions because they are not very exiting to me. This book, however, was different. The characters were well thought out and somewhat easy to relate with, and the storyline was simply magnificent! I cried several times throughout the book because I could imagine what it was like to be going through everything that was happening. This is definitely one on my favorite books of all time.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially if you love books that keep you on edge.

Fever 1793 is a very well written book. It tells the reader what it would've been like to live during 1793. It takes place in the life of Mattie Cook. Her hardworking mother owns a coffeehouse in Philidelphia. Mattie is a very determined and courageous girl and I like her a lot.

The story goes that Mattie lives in the upstairs of Cook's Coffeehouse with her mother and Grandfather. Buisness is going fairly well when out of the blue the Yellow Fever Epidemic starts. Mattie suddenly is alone to battle the fever by herself as all of her friends and family either leave the city of help attend the sick.

I loved this book because it was interesting and kept me hooked. I wanted to go see what happened next. This book is historical fiction, and I would recommend it to kids ages eight through sixteen.

The book that I read was Fever. Fever is about a family that is farley poor. one hot summer day thay heard that the deadley fever was going around. Their family owned a resterant. one day their mother cought the fever, because the fever was all over town Matilda and her grandfather had to leave mother and go into a diffrent town. As they reached town gards were garding the woods that they needed to go enter. They could not go throught because they wern't well enough. They couldent't go back so how do they survive....or won't they? I liked this book because you don't really know whats going to happen next so it urges you to keep reading. this book is also like One Child another good book to read.

The story Fever 1793 is about a girl named Matilda & her mom & grandpa.Her mom owns a Coffe shop in Philadelphia & Matilda has to work there at the coffe shop.During Matilda's shift she over hears the doctors drinking coffe & talking about YELLOW FEVER.Soon all of Philadelphia is sick with yellow fever & 20 have alredy died.If you like histroical fiction then you'll love this book.

If you have a craving for sadness then you'll love this book.I think this is a good book because it is not just a girl's book but a guy's book too!In the story there are more intense parts I could not put this book down.I recommend this book for a class room.So Get up & go buy tis book BenC of B-town

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

In this book a girl named Mattie Cook and her mother complain about the chores Mattie does not do. In Philadelphia, Mattie, her mother, and Captain William Farnsworth Cook who is her grandfather own the coffeehouse. Suddenly Mattie's friend Polly dies. Nobody knows what she died of they only know that she died of a fever. Once the fever is known by everybody in Philadelphia the town starts becoming deserted. During the epidemic the family started to get separated. The mother stayed at the coffee shop since she had the fever and the mother wanted Mattie to leave to the country before she had the plague. Her grandfather also left with her.

During the journey both the grandfather and Mattie get the fever. They both recover but the mother is nowhere to be found. As time goes on and Mattie is going through Philadelphia it starts looking more and more deserted than it already was. During her traveling, Mattie found a little girl. The girl was alone her mother died of the fever. Mattie decided to have the girl stay with her because she couldn't leave her by herself without any sources. The only problem is that how is Mattie capable of taking care of somebody else if she can't even take care of her-self.

While with the girl, she learns the name of her and she also finds her servant, Eliza. Eliza wants to know what happened during the adventure . Since Mattie had nowhere to stay Eliza invited her to live with her. In the house Eliza's brother, Joseph and the children came down with the fever. The fever should soon be over as for winter was coming soon. Then winter approaches, there is frost in the yard which means the fever is over. Mattie and Eliza ends up running the coffeehouse on their own. Will Mattie be the last of the Cook family or will her mother return?

This book was amazing. The story Fever by Laurie Halse Anderson goes to the year 1793 and tells a story about a girl named Mattie went through during the epidemic. At the beginning of the book I was not attracted to the book, but as I continued reading I started to connect with the book. As the story feel into place I was astonished about what was happening to the family. I will give this story a 5 out of 5 rating.

This book had great originality and depth to it. The main premise is about a somewhat spoiled girl, Maddie, who is forced to grow up in a a very short period of time. The cause of this is the yellow fever that strikes Philadelphia in the year 1793. Maddie suffers terrible hardships, but actually learns from the horrible experience.

Being very informational, I would advise people of ages 10 to 99 to read this. However, little kids shouldn't read this, because of its very realistic tragedies. People die painful deaths, with regularity. But why shouldn't they? It's yellow fever, after all...

For the past few weeks, our class has been reasing Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. The plot is based around fourteen-year-old Matilda "Mattie" Cook. In the summer of 1793, Philedeplphia is struck wiht the Yellow Fever, plaguing thousands witht he disease, including Mattie's mother.
Mattie's mother, Lucille Cook, came down with the fever early in the book. She was violemtly ill, sufferingvery high fevers and vomiting blood. When Lucille's yes turned yellow, and it was certain her fever was the yellow fever, she ordered Mattie and her grandfather (whom they lived with) to leave the town and escape tho the country.
Involuntarily, Matilda left down with her grandfather, but did not get very far. Not much later than when the carriage arrived to take them, her grandfather began to cough. Although he did not have the fever, the driver did not want to risk bringing the fever to the country, so he left them on a deserted road.
The remainder of the book is composed of Mattie and her grandfather's journey throughout Philadelphia, trying to survive while the yellow fever rages on.
I thought this was a fantastic book. It contained historical facts about wheat it was like in the late 1700's, such as what they dressed in, and of course the fever. it is historical, yet it keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes an exciting and action-filled book that will keep you turning pages.

Many years ago I took my now adult kids out of public school to home-school them. This book was one of the first I bought to add to their reading library when I was looking for entertaining ways to teach history, and I loved it. I've thought about it often through the years and now... I think it's time for a re-read. It's thought provoking in a way younger readers can understand, and older readers can appreciate.

This story is about the great fever of 1793 and of a girl's desire in even the toughest situation. Fourteen-year- old Mattie is tired of listening to her nagging mother because she has plans of running the family's coffee shop and making it the best in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, her plans and dreams end abruptly when the yellow fever strikes the town. When her mother becomes ill, Mattie is forced to leave with her grandfather to find sanctuary elsewhere.

I thought this was a very good book because it gave me modern insight on the modern horrors of living during an epidemic. I could actually tell what Mattie was thinking. While reading, when I thought the plot was going to get uninteresting, the writer was able to succeed in adding another thriller and suspense. Even though the writer was able to grab me in using a hook, I still felt that some parts were very confusing and hard to follow. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who was trying to understand more about the yellow fever of 1793.

Mattie Cook is a fourteen year old girl who helps her mother in the Cook Coffee House(Not that she wants to.)Her mother has a lot of plans for her that she dosent agree with.While her mother is trying to marry herr off to a rich man,Mattie has her
heart taken by Natheanal Benson.(who her mother hates.)But when fever strikes everthing goes from bad to worse.And Mattie has to make her own decisions.

I recomend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.Some people might think this book is long and somtimes slow. But I strongly recomend it,you won't want to put it down.

Courageous 14 year old Mattie Cook comes across yellow fever and her sick mother tells Mattie to flee to a farm miles away from her hometown, Philadelphia. So she and her grandfather catch a ride on a wagon but get kicked off because Mattie's grandfather is accused of catching the fever. So, the two set out back too their coffeshop in Philadelphia, and there they come across burglars, death carts, and eventually, death itself passes over Mattie's grandfather. Mattie decides to take care of herself, and finds a little girl to tak care of also. She alo ends up being reunited with her mother, who is still weak after being hit hard by fever, but is still loved and adored by her daughter.

Fever 1793 By: Laurie H. Anderson
Augest 1793. Mattie Cook is a adventurous fourteen-year-old girl that is sick to death of listening to her nagging mother. Mattie wants to turn the Cook Coffeehouse into the best business in Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States.
"Fever" spreads from the river docks and creeps toward Mattie's home threatening every one she holds dear.
As the cementeries fill with fever victims, thousands flee the city with panic. Tragedy strikes the coffeehouse and Mattie is trapped inside a living nightmare. She struggles to build a better life, until something more important comes along--the fight to stay alive.
I liked the book because as I read, it was as if the book was pulling me into the chapters. When a book does that, I feel that I understand it more.

Fever 1793 is one of the best books I've read. I love all of the books that Laurie Halse Anderson writes. I love how they relate to teen life and what teens are going through.

It would be tough living during such a big epidemic, like having your family members die one by one or right in front of your face. Imagine how hard it would be if you had do try to survive during yellow fever.

What I don't get is how yellow fever spread so fast. And if you got the fever from mosquitoes then how could you get it from other people?

If you liked this book I would recommend reading the books Speak or Prom also by Anderson.

I purchased this book while in Philadelphia for a 7-day trip. Needless to say, the city came alive with historical portraits that were given in this book. I didn't want the book to end...but sadly it did. Marvelously written and recommended (at the time of purchase another teacher commented on it's excellency). I hope Anderson engages in more historical fiction. It's a great book to start a discussion of epidemics, of Philadelphia, or even incite into the 18th century culture. I especially liked the religious tones that were present - such that Mattie's faith really came to her aid in those desperate times.

Mattie Cook, a 14-year-old girl, lives with her mother and grandfather in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her family owns a little coffee shop, so Mattie spends most of her days doing chores. During the summer of 1793, yellow fever wonders the streets of the city taking 10% of the city's population by the end of the epidemic. Eventually Mattie's Mother ,Lucille, catches the fever, and sends Mattie and her grandfather to the country to live with the Ludingtons. Then, something terribly goes wrong, and then things just keep getting worse.
Once you start the book, you just can't put it down. Laurie Halse Anderson did a great job with all the researching.

Matilda heres that her mom's short a waiter because she was killed by Yellow Fever.So Matilda has to work at the restrant. Soon Matilda hears the doctors in the coffe shop talking about Yellow Fever.Matilda soon hears that the fever started at the docks.This book is good if you like historical fiction.

This book is good because it is a good class room book, but it is a good book for the teachers to read its sad & happy.I think you would love this book if you have nothing to do, but even if you have stuff to do I could not put this book down.If you need A.R. points this is the book for you.Well this is Ben C. of B- town sighning off.

The book "Fever 1793"is a very good book for many good reasons. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. I'll tell you why.

I think Fever 1793 is a 4 out of 5 star book because it's a great book, but I'm not to crazy about the olden day language. (Like Ma and Pa and yawl.) Other than that it's a great book. It's about a girl who's family gets struck with YELLOW FEVER. Matilda has no father and her maid Mistress Polly Logan gets struck with YELLOW FEVER and she doesn't end up making it through. Along the way her grandfather gets YELLOW FEVER, but he makes it. YAH!!! So if you think this is an interesting book, you should read it.

In the book that I just got done reading, fever 1793, there was a girl that helped her mother run a coffee shop, and a few years before that her dad had died. Then all of a sudden in there town everyone starts getting sick and dying. So it became a race for everyone's life. She eventually has to leave town with her grandpa because her mom becomes sick with the fever. Well thats all I'm going to tell you as of now but I guarantee that if you go get this book and read it it will be the best book you have ever read. I know it was for me, and I am one of those people that love every kind of genra. Plus in my short life I have read lots of books. As I was saying I think that this was the best book I have ever read, so I think that you should read it to.

Fever 1793

Imagine that everyone in your town gets sick or leaves. Those who are left are stricken with the deadly yellow fever. If you can picture this, than imagine what 13 year old Matilda Cook goes through. Sadly, her mother is one of many who catch this fatal yellow fever. She makes Matilda leave and go to a farm to stay away from the fever, but she is stopped by checkpoint guards, and not allowed to go on. She is left without food, water, and other essential supplies. Will Matilda survive this pestilence? Read the book to find out.
Fever 1793 is written by Laurie Halse Anderson. It is filled with great losses and triumphs. Matilda Cook is an average 13 year old girl of her time, but her world is turned upside down when the fever strikes. Travel with Matilda as she faces the possibility of losing her mother and many other people close to her. This book is very sad, but exciting at the same time. It shows what real people had to go through. The author is very good at building suspense. You never what will happen next.
My 5th grade reviewers recommend this book to children grades 5 and up because it might scare younger children. This is a must read, so we STRONGLY advise you to read this book.

Karen Kreckel (her students review)

Mattie is a growing, constantly hungry, and sleepy teenager who lives with her mother and grandfather in their coffeehouse in Philadelphia a decade after the Revolutionary War. She has a crush on a painter's apprentice, and her mother strives to not only make Mattie work harder, but to break into the upper class. Mattie's life changes when her city is suddenly the center of a Yellow Fever epidemic. She must deal with her sick mother, the differing opinions of care, thieves, starvation, her own health, and racism against her friend. A well-written, engaging, exciting, and dramatic coming-of-age story. Grade: A

Mattie lives above her moms coffie shop house she lives with her mom and her grandpa.They all work in the coffie house. At one time they come to losing the coffie house because matties mom gets sick with yellow fever and she has to manage the business all buy her self and it is really hard for her and she at times dont think tat she can do but then she realizes that the coffie shop is the only way for there family to live and that is there only way to make money.She runs the coffie house for a long will intell her mom gets better it took a long time and her mom had been really bad and almost died at one time but she didnt and she got better and then after a long time she started running the coffie house agian and it all worked out in the end.

Nobody really thought the fever was a big deal until General Washington left town, that's when everybody knew something was wrong. Mattie went from being the typical lazy teenager who didn't want to help do anything to finding food in the garden, taking care of her grandfather,catching fish, taking care of a toddler and starting the Coffee up again after the fever ended. It also was the perfect ending with Mattie finding her mother and they were actually getting along. I also loved how Eliza let Mattie and Nel stay with her it was very kind of her and it was great how Mattie wanted Eliza to help her run the Coffeehouse.

This extremely intriguing book starts off in the summer of 1793 and follows a teenage girl, named Matilda Cook, or Mattie. She had always dreamed of adventure, since she felt trapped while helping her strict mother to run a very successful coffeehouse. Her father had built the coffeehouse, with high hopes for it, but sadly died after falling off a ladder, and so Mattie's grandfather came to help pitch in.
But every summer, the terrifying fever comes around, and this year it turns into an epidemic. As the yellow fever spreads rapidly throughout their neighborhood, many began fleeing to safer locations. The Cooks stayed bravely until Mattie's mother also got stricken with fever. Scared, Mattie's mother sends Mattie and her grandfather to the country for refuge. On their way, trouble comes and Mattie has to take care of her sick grandfather, after being kicked of the carriage, while trying to find a way home. Suddenly, she too becomes ill with the fever, and nearly dies. After recovering, Mattie and her grandfather return to find the coffeehouse ransacked and her mother missing. As she tries to survive, the suspenseful tone of the writing leaves you never knowing what will happen next.
The novel shows an emotional side to history and reminds everyone how much an epidemic can transform a neighborhood and it's citizens. This book has romance, death, history, and amazing descriptions of Matilda Cook's extraordinary story. While reading this novel, I felt the need to help her when she found a young orphaned girl, jump for joy when Mattie and Eliza were finally reunited and cry when she received the paint and flowers from Nathanial. All the elements that should be included in a book were shown in Fever, and Laurie Halse Anderson embraces then all in a wonderful and entertaining novel.

I chose this book for an English assignmet as my historical fiction book. It was really interesting because it was about the life of a girl the same age as me but during the yellow fever in Philedelphia. I like the drama that is crated by all of the challenges she and other characters encounter throughout the story. I liked that the book was put together with short chapters because i would tell my self to just finish reading this chapter but i would find myself too interested in the book to put it down. This is a great book for a high school girl to read even if she isn't too fond of reading.

Sam G.

I chose this book for an English assignmet as my historical fiction book. It was really interesting because it was about the life of a girl the same age as me but during the yellow fever in Philedelphia. I like the drama that is crated by all of the challenges she and other characters encounter throughout the story. I liked that the book was put together with short chapters because i would tell my self to just finish reading this chapter but i would find myself too interested in the book to put it down. This is a great book for a high school girl to read even if she isn't too fond of reading.

Sam G.

Interesting tale told by Mattie Cooke, a teenager living in 1793 Philadelphia. It is an era I did not know anything about. I had heard about Yellow fever hitting tropical places but was not aware that it had ever occurred so far north.
It is interesting to see how Mattie seems to "grow=up" during this tragic time. Once the fever hits her home she flees with her grandfather, leaving her sick mother behind. They do not get far as they both fall ill. Mattie gradually recovers and heads back home with her grandfather, but they find the home has been ransacked and her mother is nowhere to be found.
The book is well written and left me wanting to know a lot more about the historical timeframe.

Fever 1793

Fever is such a great book! It's about a fourteen-year old girl named Mattie Cook. She is ambitious, adventurous, and very sick of listening to her mother. Mattie plans to turn the cook Coffeehouse into the finest business in Philadelphia. "Fever" spreads from docks and creeps toward Mattie's home, threatening everything she holds dearly. Tragedy ends up striking the coffeehouse and Mattie is trapped in a living-nightmare. If you read "Fever 1793" you will have no regrets! But, they sometimes don't give you enough information on things and so you are left to think "what happened?"

Fever 1793 is a great book that will [capture] you in right from the start. I loved this book because the action began right in the first couple of pages, so the first half won't bore you. I also like emotional books that make me feel like I'm the main character or right there with the main character. I felt what Mattie felt, and cried at some parts, and at others, felt like celebrating. It was as if I were in Mattie's thoughts. I would recommend this book to people that like dramatic, unpredictable, historical, and realistic novels. All in all, Fever 1793 is a really great book and I encourage everyone to read it.

I enjoy historical fiction, and this book was no exception.

It is the story of yellow fever hitting Philadelphia, which a lot of people forget happened. It really focuses on a young girl trying to survive, but the author does a fantastic job of showing how everyone turned on each other - family, friends, neighbors - in their true time of need.

I think this book is an excellent reminder as to the importance of trusting and working with each other in a time of crisis, not turning against those who need help the most.

This book is about a fever that comes to a town. A girl named Matilda and here family lives there.Matilda has a mom and a grandfather. Matilda also has a helper named Eliza. Matilda's grandfather caught the fever. They have to take her grandfather to a town that has a hospital. When they get there, grandfather spreads the fever around the town

Now the people of the town are dying. That night two robbers come aand try to stell there stuff. Grandfather hears the robbers and gets his gun. Grandfather goes down the stairs. Grandfather aims but is to weak to pull the triger.So the two robbers kill grandfather.I would not recommend this book to people under 14 because this book is boring.I give this book three stars.

The book fever 1793 is so interesting book I ever read in class. The book is about one girl who fight with yellow fever and try hard to help each other to alive. she help other people and her self during yellow fever. The book is adventurous and mysterious story.

I think this is an awesome book because there is adventure and mystery in this book. You will not put down this book until you finish reading because it is so interesting.

I think everyone who like mysterious, adventurous will love this book.I also think people who like to read sad story and calm book like sad books.

Fourteen year old Matilda, "Mattie", Cook lives in a house with her grandapa, her mother, and her maid Eliza. Yellow fever caused by infected mosquitos spreads rapidly. Everyone flees to the city. Matilda tries her hardest to survive and stay alive along with her other dear ones.

This book is very exciting, sad, and adventurous. Anyone who likes sad, exciting and adventurous books would LOVE this book. I personally liked it because I like to read and I like to know what is going to happen in the next sentence, paragraph, or chapter. That is why I loved this book. By: Allison Leachman

All I can say is Wow. My son (8) and I just finished reading this incredible book together and it is probably our favorite so far. The book will teach your child about the challenges of illness, what happens when people are desperate, how people come to care for one another in times of need, and how we sometimes find the courage to sacrifice our own safety for the greater good. Included are references to real points in history, such as George Washington's return to the nation's capital (Philadelphia at that time) after the fever was over. The appendix has explanations of the history and inspiration behind the book. Hope you enjoy Fever 1793 as much as we did.

A 14 year old girl named Mattie Cook starts her adventure when her friend Polly unexpectedly dies. In the summer of 1793, yellow fever hits in Philadelphia. Mattie, her mother and her grandfather run a coffeehouse on High street. When yellow fever strikes, thier neighbors leave for safety. Mattie and her family stay in the coffeehouse until Matties mother comes down with the fever. To keep Mattie from getting sick, she sends her to the Ludingtons' farm. Does Mattie survive? Read the book and find out! I really like this book because Laurie Anderson is very detailed and gets across what she wants to say. Out of 5 stars I would give this book a 4. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!

I am an avid reader, and had read pretty much everything in the school library. I chose this book, thinking, "Why not? I haven't read it, and if it's bad, I won't finish it!" I was AMAZED. The plot was very easy to follow, and I found myself becoming Mattie. I cried at the sad parts, was just grinning away in the happy parts, and on the day I got it out, read it all through recess and lunch. This is more of a book for advanced readers, and extremely sad at parts, but overall, an amazing book.

Fever by Laurie Halse is about yellow fever. Matirlda's mother owns a coffeehouse. It takes place in Philadelphia. Matirlda is 14 years old. Her mother goes missing. The coffeehouse gets robbed. Some house is infested with people that have yellow fever, and to show that they have yellow fever there is a yellow rag tired around the doorknob. The people that died from yellow fever were thrown into a gaping hole. The robbers strangled her grandfather.

The book had exciting parts, sad parts, and weird parts. This book was not what I thought it would be. Some parts made me sad, when I thought about that the book is true. It did not end like I thought it would.

By Liz

While I loved Chains and Forge and feel comfortable with Laurie Halse Anderson's writing, I just couldn't get into Fever. The pace was slow and the story somewhat unappealing however I do realize that the subject matter was probably a difficult one to tackle. I just didn't feel this book was quite "on the level" with her other works.

This is a great historical young adult novel. I never really knew much about the fever of 1793, and this story told of what people may have gone through, with some true facts about the fever at the end of the book. The cover is beautiful and eerie and draws you in right off the bat. Mattie is a courageous main character who goes through great strides to survive the fever and reach out to others who need help. She endures alot of heartache from people close to her dying, but never gives up. Overall, it is a great book that can be enjoyed by both teens and adults.

What I liked about this book is that it brought me to a time period where society was given many tests. What do people do when they are in challenging situations of life and death? We are lucky today, with our knowledge of medicines, etc.
What I didn't like about the book is that Mattie's voice was not strong enough. Ms. Anderson's character in Speak was extremely convincing and I had high expectations for Mattie as well. All the characters were leading towards being pretty sterotypical.
And there were a few times Ms. Anderson would describe something and then she would stop. I was waiting for more detail, so I could smell, hear, taste the situation, but I was disappointed in some places.
All in all Fever 1793 was a solid book, that teaches some good lessons.

This book is about when the yellow fever broke out in the city of Philadelphia, in the late 1700's. Everyone wants to flee the city to the countryside to try to avoid becoming infected with the illness. The main character, Matilda Cook, helps out around the coffeehouse that her mom and grandfather own. Her grandfather is very kind and protective. "Mattie's" mother is a very "strong" person, but also very stubborn. One event that happened in this book is that the mother Lucille Cook became ill with the fever. To avoid becoming sick, Mattie and her grandfather must make many decisions.
"The Fever 1793" is a historical fiction type book, and a very good one at that. This book hit very close to home for me. Literally. Being from the Philadelphia area, I hadn't realized how much of an epidemic the yellow fever actual was. "5,000 people, or 10% of the city's population had died-- in three months." That was quite a shock to me. The book is quite successful in making you feel like you're right smack in the middle of this horrible tragedy. The town, which has few people remaining in it because of exile and death, has so many people to bury... "You can't just toss him in there like a sack of potatoes," Mattie said. "Where's the minister? You're not supossed to bury people without prayers."... "The minister will come by later today and pray for all the dead, Miss. There are so many people alive who need tending to, the dead will have to wait their turn. I'm sure God will understand. Now please, Miss, let us get on with this work." That was the middle of a conversation about Mattie's grandfather being buried. Obviously, this book can have quite an impact on the reader.
There is quite a cast of characters in this book, but we definitely get the deepest insight about the main character, Matilda Cook. Though very mature and intelligent from the start of the book, we come to see a great change in this girl. After all that Matilda has been through (which was quite a lot), the "first frost" finally arrives, and the epidemic ends. You can see how her sufferings have changed her into a very strong, capable young woman. You feel very confident that this "seemingly" young child will have no problem managing her family's business on her own. You really do feel bonded with her character, whether you are male or female. The book really makes you understand what a devastated effect a tragedy of this proportion can have on people. Yet, it also points out the possble positive that can come out of it, which is something you HAVE to look at and aim for if you've been through something like this.
To make the cliche statement, YES, it is very hard to put this book down. It is a about a factual thing that happened a little more than 200 years ago, and even though the story is fictional, it is very believable. It is probably mirroring what hundereds, if not thousands of families and individuals have gone through. There are some fairly graphic descriptive scenes in the book that really show the horror of the yellow fever epidemic. In saying this, I would be a little cautious with young elementary school students. Besides that, I would recommend this book to practically anyone. It reads very smoothly. This book is about an event that really happened. Be enthralled, entertained, and educated at the same time. I was.

I thought this book was awesome. It gave me a lot of insight on what happend when the yellow fever did break out all over Philadelphia. It talked about how Mattie dealt with the problems of living with her strict mother and running a coffeehouse. It told how she just wanted to be treated like an adult and not a child. She went through a lot of stuff. She and her mother were running a coffee shop. When the yellow fever broke out her mother got the fever and then she got it. The book told about the problems they faced with the yellow fever. This book is very meaningful.

Listened to the audiobook version and the author's reader (an animated young lady) was the best part of the story. The story itself is not that memorable and would improve if the epilogues were moved to prologues. Without the context beforehand, this story is mundane and forgettable.

I am ten years old and I bought this book at Barnes and Nobles. At first I thought it would be boring, but after the first page, I read it in two days. Its an awesome book. I wish there was another one. It is as good as Chains I think. So I am giving this book five stars.

I believe this book would be good for people who want to know about the 17th century life-style and how people survived with no medication. Its not that, that hard to concentrate, you just have to know what the books telling you. In my opinion, this book was definitely a page-turner. There were not a lot of cliffhangers or surprises. You just had to see what was next. You will learn that in the 17th century, there really wasn't any medication. So you had to try and keep alive. This book was never boring, so go ahead and get this book and read it.

This book helped me to better understand the time of the Yellow Fever. Back then doctors didn't even know about germs. They thought the disease was in the blood. People tried everything they could to stop the Fever but nothing worked.
In the beginning of the book Matilda (Mattie) complains about the hot summer days and having to work in the Coffee Shop. At the end she learns that you just have to deal with death and she ends up very well.
I loved this book. I would recomend it to anyone who is interested in learning about different times.

Fever of 1793 was an excellent choice for our mother/daughter book club. Our book club has been together for 4 years and it was one of our favorites. Mattie is a strong female role model who faces despair but reaches to the depths of her soul for strength to conquer all odds. She has a relationship with her mother that goes through a lot of growth. Epidemics such as the fever of 1793 can be equated to our own current epidemics and a study of how people choose to respond to adversity. Highly recommended. Very thought provoking and discussion worthy.

Fever by Laurie Halse Anderson is a book about a girl named Mattie trying to survive a yellow fever epidemic in the summer of 1793. At first nobody believes that it is indeed the yellow fever what is hanging over them. They ignore all signs and most decide to remain in the city. The bustling capital, Philadelphia is suddenly carrying a death toll of over one-thousand. This is all too much to handle for fourteen year old Mattie, especially when her own mother falls ill to the disease. Mattie's mother decides to send poor fear-stricken Mattie along with her loving grandfather to the country with some friends. Anderson here changes the style a bit, because while one is almost sure that Mattie's grandfather, William is ill with yellow fear one is abruptly introduced to Mattie being ill with the yellow fever. One may believe that Anderson could have chosen a better way to show that Mattie was sick.
The middle of the book is depicted very descriptively and one can learn a lot from Anderson's written picture of the miserable Philadelphia. Anderson did a wonderful job when she decided to include all the works done by the members of the Free African Society, because this is something not really known to most people. In the middle chapters one sees Mattie's transformation from a girl to a mature woman. She is now able to take care of herself without depending on anyone. This is a rather pitiable situation due to the cause being that Mattie has no idea where her mother is and needs to take care of her ailing grandfather.

The ending chapters are by far the best because they show not the transformation, but the application of Mattie being an independent adult. One may believe that it is not fair for a fourteen year old girl to have to grow up, but throughout the story Mattie expressed her desire not to grow up mentally, but rather to be perceived as an adult and even though this is not the grand finale it is certainly a factor that adds on to the overall greatness of this book.
I believe that this book really touched me. I felt a real connection with Mattie because she showed me that my problems in comparison to hers are minute. With this book I learned a lesson, a feat not done by many novels.

Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson is a well written, and captivating story about a fourteen year old girl who faces terrible obstacles caused by what seemed to be nothing...at least that's what the Cook family thought. The protagonist in this story, Matilda "Mattie" Cook, has big plans to expand the family's coffeehouse as business increases, when there is a "yellow fever" outbreak in the large, bustling, city of Philadelphia.
Mattie, her mother Lucile, her grandfather-Captain William Farnsworth Cook, and the family's cook, Eliza, are forced to part, when Mattie and her grandfather have to leave to the Ludington's farm, out in the country, to escape the epidemic. Eliza is left back at the coffeehouse taking care of Lucile, who has "the fever". Not long into the ride, a guard forces Mattie and her grandfather off of the wagon, without their belongings, and they walk for miles. Mattie then notices that grandfather begins showing symptoms of yellow fever, but ends up feeling ill herself. They are able to make their way to Busch Hill, where the nurses are curing as many fever victims as possible. Mattie and grandfather have no choice but to journey back to their home on foot and when they arrive, everything goes wrong.
The family coffeehouse is found barren and cluttered. They are robbed of what little they have left, and mother and Eliza go missing...what to do now? As Mattie faces more tragedies, she feels as if she has nowhere to turn until she spots Eliza walking down a street and, at long last, they re-unite. Now that they have each other, things begin to look brighter.
Fever 1793 is a suspenseful, captivating, and wondrous book that tells of many challenges that no child should ever have to face. Fever is extremely engaging, and I didn't want to put it down. Laurie Halse Anderson found a way to tell the story beautifully, and with vivid descriptions. I was able to imagine every event and occurrence in the novel in full detail. No one who has read it can contradict that Fever 1793 is definitely a must read!

this book is great! i have read it 6 times and have not gotten tired of it ! i am ten yrs old and i think waht mattie cook did is absolutly incredible. she went trough so much and survied a deadly fever .I mean waht fortenn yr old girl whos mother has the yellow fever and whos grandfather died who took care of little nell and helped three smal children survive the yellow fever ? that girl has to be amazing and i undersatnd that so that is a really amazing girl with an amazing personality ! this story is amazing i really love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fever 1793 is a great book for anyone 12 and older who loves an action packed historical fiction book.This book takes place in Philadelphia in 1793. Mattie (the main character) lives with her mom and grandfather. Together they run a coffeehouse with the help of Eliza (their cook) and Polly (their servant). One day Polly doesn't show up to work. Later they find out that Polly is dead and the cause... Yellow Fever. After Polly's death more and more people start dying. Panick spreads throughout the city. What happens to Mattie her family? Will they survive? Find out when you read this book!

I read this book when i was in middle school and was told dont read it while eating... me being me read it while eating and did not have a problem lol. anyway from what i remember this was very well written and quite good!

This book was about a 14 year-old girl by the name of Matilda Cook that is surviving through a rough time in Philadelphia. She and her family own a coffeehouse known as "Cook Coffeehouse". They had a lot of business until the plague came. It was a time when everyone was dying from "yellow fever". It was a deadly fever. Many people leave the town until the fever season is over. Her whole family survives the fever, but her beloved grandfather dies when thieves come to their house and kill her grandfather. At the end, her family business continues to thrive.

I really didn't like the part when Mattie's grandfather dies. That part made me cry and I felt sorry for Matilda because her and her grandfather had a strong bond. It would feel like losing my mother because I have a strong relationship with her! I also disliked the book because it kept talking about how smelly and hot it was. I hate smelly and hot. It's like the nastiest feelings you could feel.

My favorite part is the ending, as usual. That's because it's usually the happy ending (and the end of the book, just kidding!). I love happy endings because it always makes me happy, just like it makes the characters happy! I know everyone will have a happy ending.

My favorite part of the book is the end. It is the most interesting part because many things you are curious about is revealed to you. Also, it is the best part of a book! At the end, everything is beautiful, again, and the town is filled up and not lifeless any longer! It's a beautiful part of a book.

For the last year or so, my husband and I have been purchasing only books for all the birthday parties that my kids are invited too. I came across this book in the early teen section, did a quick scan of the back cover and bought it for the birthday girl and one for myself. As soon as I was done, I was onto Laurie Andersons "Chains" and "Forge" which I loved just as much!!

I loved the entire book and it was quick read. I had heard about the Yellow Fever epidemic, but didnt really know anything it. I learned a lot and will be having my daughter read it as well.

An amazing story, as Laurie Harse Anderson tells a great story from the heart. 13 year-old Mattie Cook suffers a great loss. The "fever" has spread in the city of brotherly love, Philladelpha, PE. Matie needs to survive this deadly sickness. She worries and worries as her mother has this illness, and she turns out to have an assasinated grandfather. Like many peonple, Mattie Cook turns out to realize that you can always find the light when it is very dark. THis is one of the best books I have ever read in my early life.

What happened in the year of 1793? It is a good question that can only be answered by sixteen year old Matilda Cook from Philadelphia. In this particular summer, an epidemic of Yellow Fever works its way into helpless citizens of this growing community. As young Matilda and her mother are busy in their coffeehouse, fever awaits.
It�s a hot and sweltering day. The sun beats upon helpless victims of the Yellow Fever while Matilda is inside her family�s business, the coffeehouse. Matilda is tired of her mother, and Eliza, the servant, of bossing her about. As she waits on customers, her grandfather watches her every move like a sergeant.
When the fever hit, Mattie and her grandfather were sent away to another town to avoid the infected mother. Something was terribly wrong. The streets were littered with dead corpses of the young and old. Death wagons creaked along the city streets gradually cleaning up as best as possible. Sooner or later she would have to get to her mother. Grandfather was declining in health and she would soon be alone. Something inside of Mattie made determination grow every minute.
During the story, Matilda conquers her fears with self �guided motivations. When she was on her own, there was a strong sense of personal thrust challenging the question of what to do next. Those little words pushed Mattie to extreme limits, emotionally and physically. In the novel Matilda�s motivations lead to developing character and a personality.
The race was on. She herself was being consumed by the fever. What was happening? Was she going to live? There was only but as few frugal vegetables left within the entire house. Farmers refused to sell, people were moving, and grandfather died. Was this a nightmare? She felt alone, without anyone by her side.
Days later, she discovered her servant, Eliza. Eliza was also in search of her as well. She welcomed Mattie into her home. Eliza�s children were sick with the fever as well as their father, Eliza�s brother. For days and weeks on end, the small house logged with the stench of fever. Winter was coming soon and the fever should reside. So they hoped. Matilda was worried with the sense that her mother could be dead or alive. She did not know.
When winter finally came, frost showed victory for the ones who lived through the crisis. Mattie and the children sprang around the yard like it was the end of war. In a way it was. Will she ever find her mother at last? Is the Yellow Fever going to keep its presence in the growing city? What is to come?

Watching Mattie live throughout the yellow fever epidemic was very touching. Try and put yourself in a situation were a disease is running ramped through the streets and your mother caught it. She is sent off to one of her friends home to recover and you have no idea as to if she made it or not. You catch the disease but recover, watch your grandfather die right before your eyes, and have no place to go but walk the streets in search of help. Couldn't do it? (Don't worry I would be able to do it myself!) If you are in search of historical fiction that makes you laugh, cry, and smile all at the same time, this is your book!

Other great reads based off of real happenings are of the following:
Out of The Dust
Surviving Hitler (a real person surviving through Nazi death camps. I believe he is still alive and lives in Kansas City)
A great enjoyable "never-put-down" read. I hope you enjoy this novel, too!

I am twelve years old and I am in the eighth grade. I had to do a book report for social studies on a historical fiction novel. I read, "FEVER 1793". It is excellent. The fourteen year old girl, Mattie Cook is stuck in the middle of a living nightmare. Philadelphia's population is decreasing because a deadly fever, called yellow fever is threatening everyone there. Laurie Halse Anderson wrote so magnificently that it was almost like I was there. IF YOU WANT A GOOD HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK READ "FEVER 1793"!!! It is awesome.

This book shows the true feeling of history. I almost felt as if I was in 1973. This book is about a teenage girl who lives in England. After a terrible disease "yellow fever" sweeps their once happy and busy town, her mother gets the disease. Their family owns a coffe house, and they can't get enough money. Then, her other person that she loves, her grandpa or something, gets the disease. While this all happends, her romance with a boy blooms.
This book is great for everyone, even if you don't like historical fiction.

Matilda Cook's life is routine while she helps her mother run the coffee house. The days are hot and filled with chores. Matilda is stricken with confusion when a friend suddenly passes away. With no time to grieve, she must continue her chores around the house and coffee house. Life for Matilda changes rapidly as death circles around the city of Philadelphia. She is left to confront death itself and the hardships to survive it.
Fever 1793 captures your attention and keeps it till the end. The characters are so full of life and depth that you are drawn into them as well. Laurie Halse Anderson paints these characters in your mind and they become so alive and realistic. Anderson's use of figurative language is very beautiful, which allows you to easily comprehend the books meaning and content. This book will change the way you see the world. You will integrate the events of this book into your own experiences and views.
I loved reading Fever 1793 and found it very difficult to put down. I related to the characters and the story because the setting took place in Philadelphia, which is close to home. I was shocked when I never heard of the plague that swept through Philadelphia in 1793. Fever 1793 changed the way I look at life. I am thankful for the advanced technology that resides in today's society. We have a knowledgeable understanding of disease and illness. I also could not believe that several individuals left relatives or acquaintances on the street to die. I related to the book in so many ways. I have included Fever 1793 into my own experiences with family, death, and courage.
Fever 1793 can be integrated into a classroom in a variety of ways. Laurie Halse Anderson included Philadelphia in her story, which can become part of a thematic unit on history. The story will interest students and inform them of events that really took place. Upon reading the book, students can enrich their understanding by learning more about yellow fever and life in that time period. The story can also be used in a classroom with themes such as courage, plagues, survival, etc. You can also share Fever 1793 to a class for pure pleasure. I recommend this book to all types of children and adults. The vocabulary is easily comprehended, and the story line is meaningful. You will not be disappointed.

Young, gifted students could read this book. The only mature topic covered is death (no sexual stuff). The target audience is high school age, but I am in my 30's, and I loved reading the book. I cried along with the main character and hoped she would find her mother alive. I originally read the book to screen it for my daughter who is a gifted student, but very young. I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would.

I liked how at the end the author lists what she made up and what is real, so kids can understand the real event.

If your mother was always on top of you for every little thing, do you think you would be independent? 14 year-old Mattie Cook isn't. In the book Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson, a historical fiction book, Mattie lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her mother and grandfather run a local coffeehouse. It is 1793 and Philadelphia is ravaged by the disease Yellow Fever. Mattie's mother becomes infected with yellow fever, and makes Mattie and her grandfather leave to the Luddington's farm, a family friend, in the country. While on the way, they are supposed to go through Pembroke, but are forced to go back because city guards think she and her grandfather have the Yellow Fever. The theme of growing up is expressed by the fact that Mattie is forced to start doing things she never would've had to do if the fever had not struck. Mattie, her mother and her grandfather are the most important characters because they affect the story the most. Over time, I think Mattie grows as a person because she becomes more mature, and she also starts to welcome the fact that she's going to work in her family's coffeehouse because she's going to start to take pride in it. I like this book because it shows how people don't just grow up one day, they have to be forced to realize something, or forced through an experience, and this book shows that on pages because Mattie is dependent upon her mother until after she comes back to Philadelphia after the fever. I think this book is suited for anyone, because it has a lot of good information, and a steady plot (not too fast or intricate to understand). Overall I think this is a good book to read to get some background on the fever, and would recommend it to anyone learning about it.

I think that Fever 1793 is a wonderful book. It is very realistic and it kept me interested even though I'm not too fond of history. A good story is told, and the author has obviously done her homework because it stays true to actual historic events. The reader can get a pretty good idea of what it was like during the yellow fever epidemic while still getting the story that they are reading for.
The actual story of the book is about a girl trying to survive the yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia that occurred in 1793. Mattie, the main character, is originally lazy and would rather sleep than do her share of work, but she learns responsibility and realizes that work isn't all-bad and that it is essential for her survival. She overcomes the odds and survives her own case of yellow fever but then is faced with other problems that she needs to solve. The city of Philadelphia has become a not so pleasant place. The fever has left Philadelphia full of scoundrels and thieves. Everyone else is either dead or deathly sick. The thieves have stolen everything that Mattie has to her name and she has to basically start all over. Her fight for life has become harder and she is beginning to break down emotionally when she meets up an old friend and realizes she is not in this alone. I think that this book not only demonstrates how hard work can help you in the long run but also how standing by your friends can help you through these hard times.
This book is a good book for teens to read because it is written as from a teen's perspective. We can relate to the lazy feelings she has and the want to just give up. Mattie also has a somewhat of a lesson to teach us. She teaches us that if you want to make a difference in this world you can't give up. You have to keep trying and you will eventually reach you goal.

I don't usually like history in school, but our teacher read this book to us and I never wanted her to stop. This book has everything I like - a really great main character (the other characters are interesting, too), an exciting plot, and lots of interesting little things that made me really see what was going on, even though it took place so long ago. Plus, my teacher read it during class time, so we got out of work! If you're a teacher, read this book to your class. If you're a kid, read it on your own time. You won't be sorry. Trust me!!!

Reading Fever 1793 you get so pulled into the story that it feels like you're there. Mattie Cook is the main character, but this book also circulates around her mother, grandfather, and an African American ex-slave, Eliza, who works at Mattie's mother's coffeehouse. Soon into the story, Mother becomes ill with the dreaded yellow fever, and sends Mattie and Grandfather to the countryside to avoid contamination. While away, Mattie becomes infected with the disease, but is able to outlive it. Upon returning home, Grandfather dies, and Mattie and Eliza are left to take care of Cook's Coffeehouse. As the story continues, you under stand the hardships faced, the friendships kept, and the scary, lonely feelings faced by Mattie Cook.

Before I read this book, I had absolutely no idea what it would be about. I never would have guessed i would learn so much from it. I also was surprised by how real it felt, like i was there with Mattie experiencing it all. I find this book to be influential because it helped me understand how real diseases are, and how seriously they need to be taken. Life isn't forever, and sometimes people are gone sooner than you would like them to be. As i read about the death of Mattie's Grandfather, it made me think about a time when i lost someone important to me. After i had read this selection completely, it helped me to understand the past, mainly the epidemic known as the yellow fever.

Fever 1793 has given me a better awareness of sicknesses, and the reality of them. The amount of shows on television and movies being made where characters die or become ill make people think that this wont happen to them, because television and movies aren't real. Although yes, they arent real, sicknesses can be. Sicknesses can wipe out nearly an entire city, like in Fever 1793.

This book was very interesting, and i really enjoyed reading about the historicallity of it. Being a historical fiction, it had an air of realness, while still containing a story to be told. This book is comprised of 29 chapters, all five to ten pages in length. The lengths of the paragraphs are quite diverse. anywhere from one to 15 sentences. It is written in a simplistic way, and has a fair amount of dialogue between characters.

The book that I read was called Fever 1793. This was probably one of the most interesting books that I have read in a very long time. In the beginning, the pace that the author set was very laid back. Then when people started to get the fever, you could tell how much faster the pace started to move. The setting of the book is in Philadelphia. I think this is the only good setting for this book. At the time lots of people lived there, and it was a very fast paced lifestyle. When you have this sickness in a major city it is a huge deal.

The setting even in my opinion fit well with the main character. It was a little girl named Mattie Cook who lived in this fast pace lifestyle. She was definitely a city girl who could live this type of lifestyle. She fit perfectly with this book because of her adventurous, fast pace, curious life style. The main character is so interesting. You always wonder what she will do next. While I was reading the book, it felt almost like I was playing a guessing game with Mattie. Mattie is a very believable 14-year-old girl. Everything that she does you understand why she has done this. It seems like she always has reasons to back up why she has done something. Though believable and interesting to me, Mattie is the farthest thing from being sympathetic. She is just too serious, like an old person in a young person's body. It was hard to sympathize with someone so mature. There would just never be anything to be sympathetic about for her.

This was a great book in many ways, not in just the plot but the author's style. I loved how the author would suddenly pick up the pace of the book, and then slow down more and more with details. Then she would suddenly pick up the pace again with action. This really just pulled me into the book like no author has ever done to me before. I wish I could enjoy every book as well as I did this one.

This was a fascinating way to write a book. This novel had a huge impact on me. It would be so weird to have lived in a time where if you got a disease, you basically couldn't do anything about it. It is just simply unreal how dangerous this fever was. If somebody asked me if they should read this book I would say absolutely. I think everybody should know how America was back then and how hard it was to live over 200 years ago.

By Holden McLemore

Author of Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson writes her amazing historical fiction book, Fever 1793 about a teenage girl named Matilda a.k.a. Mattie who faces difficulty and fights for her life. The story is written really well and Laurie Halse Anderson does a good job making Matilda sound like a girl in the 18th century. In Fever 1793 the bonds of friendship and love is written really well.
16 year-old Matilda Cook's mother and grandfather owns a popular coffee shop on High Street. Mattie was a lazy girl with a comfortable and plain life. Her whole life changes when the yellow fever epidemic arrives in Philadelphia. Her mother caught the fever and sends Matilda and her grandfather away to be safe. They leave Philadelphia and on their way both Matilda and her grandfather catches yellow fever. So much happens like the death of Mattie's grandfather and her mother goes missing. The epidemic kills thousands of people. When winter comes the epidemic ends. The fever might have ended but the bad memories are still there.
The epidemic caused Mattie to change a lot. She was a lazy girl in the beginning of the book but then she became more responsible and strong. The character shift that Laurie Halse Anderson did was really good.
I had read her other book Speak and thought it was an ok book. But Fever 1973 is one of the best books I've ever read. This book was written I such a way that it is hard to put down. Anderson makes you want to keep reading. I read this book in 3 days and couldn't put it down. I never knew historical fiction could be so fun to read.
Fever 1793 is written so well. I couldn't find any downside besides the fact that I thought the beginning was boring, other than that it was perfect. This book really gives you a picture of the 18th century. This book was not only fun to read but it also was educational. These are two qualities that make the book great.

Mattie lives in a time of despair. Her city has a plague of Yellow Fever, and her only hope to escape it is to go with her mom to a farm out of town. Matilda Cook's town of Philadelphia gets the plague of the yellow fever, and her mother escapes to a friend's farm. She is to go later, with her grandpa, but they get puled over and are forced to walk 3 miles back home. On their way back, Mattie gets caught with the fever and survives, but unfortunately her grandpa doesn't and dies of old age. Mattie then reunites with the cook of her family's old coffeehouse and helps hr younger twin siblings survive the fever themselves. This book is really awesome, and I would recommend this book to kids 8 and up.

The characters don't miraculously recover from any thing. When Mattie is invited to have tea with a rich family, the eldest daughter chokes and dies. At the hospital where Mattie is cared for, A French doctor has to come and look at her to solve the problem, and even then it takes a long time. When the twins catch the fever, it takes them until the first frost to survive, and even then it still takes a while longer.

The descriptions of places were well detailed. When the author talks about how the coffeehouse looked, I could smell the honey rolls on the oven and hear the men gambling in my imagimation. When the Hospital is described, I feel like I am surrounded by people coughing and dying of fever. And finally, when the graveyard is described, you could just see the dead, thrown out on the grass or in small holes, with no one caring about them or saying a prayer.

The one bad thing, in my opinion, in this book is that too many people die. The book starts off with Mattie's best friend dying of the fever. The author describes how bodies were flung out of houses for people to pick up and fling in the graveyard. And Mattie's grandfather dies, just when she would need him for support.

This book is really good, and one of my favorites. If you are in the 3rd grade or older, you are sure to love this book!

Fever 1793 is an interesting but very outstanding book. Fever 1793 is written by Laurie Halse Anderson. Laurie has also written Big cheese on Third Street, Fear of falling, and many, other fun filled books. This book has been a great experience for me because it showed me how life was like back in the 1700s and what illnesses there were back then also. This was a real enjoyable book to read.

A family with not so much money runs a coffeehouse. Then out of where no a bad sickness sweeps through the town. The mother catches it, yellow fever. Then the main character Mattie and her grandfather flee from the town to get away from the fever. They are going to a farm far away from their home town. They start their journey with a farmer and his wife and their baby riding in their carriage. Then doctors come along to inspect them to make sure they don't have yellow fever, and they think that the grandfather has it. The farmer and his wife kick them out so the farmer and his wife can continue their ride. Will they make it to the farm? Will they survive? Do they have yellow fever?

This book will make you feel happy inside in some parts of the book. When you think the little kids are going to die the first frost comes. Also when Mattie and her grandfather are walking forever, and they finally find food, water, and shelter. The book being happy in some parts makes it more interesting, and makes you want to keep reading. The cover of the book doesn't look so bright, but you can't judge a book by its cover.

I was also impressed by how the author makes it so descriptive. hen the cat was chasing the mouse, they explained it so well I felt like I was there. Being descriptive makes it easer for me to make pictures in my head. Also when Mattie was outside working and the sun was blazing on her, I felt like I was sunburned too.

This book has become one of my favorite historical fiction books. I liked how it was funny but serious at the same time. This book will grab you and won't let go until you finish it. I recommend this book because it is a fun filled book full of surprises, and they pop out at you when you least expect them to.

The book that I have been reading was Fever 1793. Fever 1793 was written by Laurie Halse Anderson and was published in 2000. She has written over 21 books and some of the books she has written where, Speak, Time to fly, Trapped, Say goodbye, Homeless, and Fight for life. The length of the book Fever 1793 is 251 pages. The book was really interesting and most of the book I could just visualize. Laurie Halse Anderson writes books for all ages starting at kindergarten levels. The book was really descriptive and enjoyable.

Matilda a fourteen year old girl who lives Philadelphia, Pennsylvania she has a really hard life. Her mother works at a coffee that they own. There for many have been getting the illness called Yellow Fever. Polly who works for Matilda's family dies. One day Matilda was walking home and she sees some homeless guy drop something big on the side of the road. "It's my mom", Matilda called. Now Matilda/Mattie's grandfather who lives with her family sends her away so she doesn't get the fever from her mother. Now people are struggling.

I enjoyed reading Fever 1793 because it was an interesting story. When the illness Yellow Fever was going around I just wanted to keep reading on. I liked the idea that when her mother gets yellow fever because I less expected that

I also liked the settings because in most of the settings I could visualize what's going on. A setting that I could picture was when Matilda went to the market and she said that there where little markets set all down the rode. I also pictured when Matilda said she had her basket in her hand and was walking to the market.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a creative book. If you really want to read an awesome book Fever 1793 is the one. This is one of my favorite books I would rate this book ****4 stars because it was a great book. However, in this book it was filled with interesting facts

The book fever 1793 is a must read book, once you start there is no possible way to stop. This book is intriguing,sad,and most of all exciting. You the reader will never regret reading this heartfelt sad story of a girl named Matilda Cooks who lives in Philidelphia and has to deal with fever every where she goes. The climax is already in chapter 3! I cant wait you to read this story I guarente you will love it!!

The historical fiction novel Fever 1793 is written by Laurie Halse Anderson, also author of the award winning book Speak. The story is mainly about the epidemic, Yellow Fever set in Philadelphia in the late 1700's. Fever 1793 includes an appendix with lots of information about this deadly disease.

The novel is about a young girl, Matilda Cook, who runs a small coffee house in the city of Philadelphia. She'd never in her life imagined having to face her town with Yellow Fever. First, it was just a rumor. But it turned out it really was true. Things already start to look bad when her widowed mother catches it. She and her grandfather must flee the town, along with everyone else who wants to survive, to the country side. But little do Matilda and her grandfather know that she, too, is sick with the fever. The country refuses to let them in, so they must survive on their own. As Matilda recovers, and people she love pass away, the epidemic ends. But can she live without some of her closest friends and family, along with the horrendous memories from the past?

Laurie Halse Anderson's use of language really paints images in your mind. Also, Fever 1793 includes excellent vocabulary from the past times. Anderson shows great sentences and phrases full of fluency and voice from the author, herself. They literally bring the book to life, and you'll NOT want to put it down!

This book is recommended for all ages and is a fabulous story with some dark times, suspense, happiness and historical information. If you like this, then you'd certainly like Speak. It is another novel by Laurie Halse Anderson. Unfortunately, it is not historical fiction, but has the same voice from the author--and you'd be able to tell it was her right away.

Mattie Cooks worries were not much, just the usual, like serving all the customers at the coffee house before getting scolded by mother, or flattering Nathanial Benson, who was becoming more then a childhood friend. But as the heat in the city rises, the city of Philadelphia turns into a baking oven, and Mattie former worries become trivial. Soon the heat and rapidly multiplying mosquitoes becomes a deadly killer. Yellow fever is taking its toll on the citizens as busy city streets are slowly transformed into ghost-like graveyards full of the sick and the dead. Mattie flees with her grandfather, leaving her sick mother behind in the fever stricken city. They don't get very far; grandfather has the fever and cannot be allowed past the city limits. Mattie and her grandfather return to the city where all eyes are yellow, and dead bodies are stacked on top of each other, rotting in the sweltering heat. They try to survive, but their chances are as scarce as a smile in the dieing city.

The author's style is very easy to read. I really liked how she summarized each chapter and made you want to keep reading. There was never a dull moment in this book. She had wonderful descriptions that drew a picture in my head. I also liked that there was a quote at the beginning of each chapter that kind of set the scene. You also really got to know the characters and when one of them died it seemed very real.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was suspenseful, not too slow, but gave enough detail. Some parts were like a sad poem, while other parts were actually funny. I was really surprised because usually I hate historical fiction books. But let me tell you, this book is the opposite of boring, and a definite must read.

...It was about when the yellow fever broke out in the city of Philadelphia, in the late 1700's. Everyone wants to flee the city to the countryside so they too didn't become infected with the illness. The main character Matilda Cook, who likes to be called Mattie, helps out around the coffeehouse that her mother and grandfather own. Her grandfather is very kind and protective. Mattie's mother Lucille Cook is very stubborn and is very strong within her self. The author's point of writing this book is to inform more people about what really happened during the fever in 1793. She also wanted to tell what it was like to live back then. One event that happened in this book is that the mother Lucille Cook became ill with the fever. To avoid becoming sick Mattie and her grandfather must make a life threatening decision.

My favorite quote in the book Fever 1793 is when Mattie said "Mother wouldn't allow it. She had given birth to me in the morning and cooked supper for ten people that night." I think that that quote means a lot, it shows how strong her mother was. Mattie said this when her mother was sick. Mattie knew how strong her mother was and couldn't understand why she wasn't getting better. My favorite character in this book is Mattie. She is a very strong person and I admire that. My least favorite character is that person who discards the dead bodies. They don't even say a pray when they buried them. They say a pray for all of them at the end of the day. I guess that someone has to do that job though.
I liked the book Fever 1793 a lot. It was very interesting to read and had a lot of action. I never wanted to put the book down. The type of reader that would like this book is someone who likes Historical Fiction. This book was about something that really happened. I thought that this book was really interesting. I would recommend this book to everyone because all ages would like this book. Go pick up Fever 1793 and read it, you won't regret it.

Fever 1793

Along the streets, yellow eyes stare blankly into the sky, and you look away, with horror. Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson is a book that will send you 100? into shock, and surprises. It is historical fiction about the epidemic of Yellow Fever. It is set in Philadelphia, the capital of the country, in the hot, muggy summer. Matilda Cook is fourteen when townsfolk start to die and weaken. But this is only the beginning. She begs her mother to let her stay in town, but she is forced to go to the countryside. Upon returning she is confronted by decaying people lying on the cobblestone streets. Because she can't find her mother, she knows she must find a way to get through this alone. The main characters are young Matilda, her mother and their African American maid, Eliza. Poor Matilda has to face a lot, but she is brave and responsible. Over the book she certainly grows up!

One of my favorite parts is the part where Matilda orders the grave diggers to bury a person with respect. She makes everyone say a prayer and has a moment of silence. I really like this part because she takes charge and quickly grows up. It shows how much you can do when a loved one has passed away.

I learned a lot about times more than 200 years ago, Especially when there were horrible epidemics like Yellow Fever. I liked the different characters and what happened to each character. For example all characters had it hard, so it is more realistic that way. The book was suspenseful and memorable, but it was a little under my reading level. Overall though, I am glad that I read it!

This book was an okay book. It has its ups and downs meaning it has its good and bad chapters.

The way I would summerise this book without giving anything away is like this: Mattie Cook,her mom,her grandfather,and Eliza go through some rough times throughout the book. They have to stick together to get through the hard times.

The bite of a certain creature causes bad things to happen. The certain creature's bite causes a certain conditon and extraordinary effect to the target of this creature. The target will go through some rough times. They will have demise.

I've wanted to read this book for quite some time now. I finally got my hands on a copy this past week and I read it in 4 days. I love this book because it just draws you in to the point where you don't want to put the book down. The excerpts in the beginning of each chapter just make you realize how real this story really is
Mattie is a young girl that lives during in Pennsylvania during the summer of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793. She's like every other teenager and wishes she didn't have to do chores or listen to her mother complain and boss her around. But during this summer, Mattie has to face reality and grow up on her own to survive the yellow fever.
Laurie Halse Anderson did a great job in writing this book. I highly recommend this book, it's a pretty fast read and you won't want to put the book down until you finish reading it.

It's hard to find books these days that are historical and yet still interesting for youn readers. This book fits the bill. Although detailing the accounts of a young girl, my son was enthralled by the story. The descriptions of what life was like back then and the tragedy of yellow fever brought many discussions to the dinner table. History would be so much easier to teach if we had books like this on every subject to engage children's interest for more in depth study.

"Fever 1793" is about Matilda Cook, who is a teenager when the yellow fever sweeps through her hometown. Her mother was a yellow fever victim, but when Matilda left her mother was still alive. Matilda survived the yellow fever, but thousands in her town alone were carelessly thrown into graves.
"Fever 1793" is a great story about determination. What this historical fiction character did in this book could teach us all a bit about confidence and determination.

This was a good, quick read with nice suspense and a fair amount of historical references. Living around Philadelphia, this book held a special place for me because I recognized many of the places that were discussed in this book as places I've visited many times. Ms. Anderson did a good job of sharing the horror of the yellow fever epidemic, while at the same time telling a story of an incredibly courageous young woman.

The great author Laurie Halse Anderson, wrote the splendid, magnificent, and adventurous book, Fever 1793. Laurie Halse Anderson also wrote Speak, and other great books. Laurie Anderson wrote Fever 1793, so people would understand the devastating yellow fever that struck Pennsylvania in 1793. This story explains the harsh reality Mattie was in, and it sounds real. Laurie Anderson wrote as if she was Mattie Cook, a fourteen-year-old girl who lived in Philadelphia. Her parents owned the Cook Coffeehouse, and Mattie was very proud. She had big dreams to make the coffeehouse a big company for the president. MattieÕs life and dream takes a turn after her playmate, Polly, dies of a mysterious fever. The fever turns outs to be the deadly yellow fever. Mattie was shocked of PollyÕs sudden death, but she was more shocked when she found out that her mother had gotten it. She couldnÕt admit that it was really happening. MattieÕs mother decided to send Mattie to the LudingtonÕs house, with grandfather to take her. Mattie was surprised that no one was stopping her mother. Not even Eliza, a freed slave that works for them. Eliza usually is understanding, and Mattie thought Eliza would stop Mother, but she didnÕt. Mattie is terribly scared when her grandfather becomes ill on the trip. Mattie and the driverÕs family fears that it is yellow fever, and the driver kicks Mattie and Grandfather out of the carriage. Now it was all up to Mattie to save her Grandfather and herself. She ends up catching the yellow fever herself, and is taken to Bush Hill. There, Mattie learns the true fear and terror of the yellow fever. She hears terrifying screams at night, and smells blood and death everywhere. Worst of all, she sees victimsÕ dead bodies being carried out. Laurie Anderson uses great imagery to describe Bush Hill, like how Mattie felt when she had yellow fever. The imagery was amazing, and it makes the reader feel like theyÕre Mattie. As the story goes on, it explains how Mattie goes back to her house with Grandfather. As soon as they go back to they house, the worst thing happens. Grandfather is killed and Mattie is alone by herself. This is the turning point that changed Little Mattie to Ms. Cook. Which means that Mattie changed from a little, irresponsible girl to a very responsible hard working girl. Two robbers killed grandfather, and Mattie needs to pay attention to her, not trying to find her mother. First Mattie couldnÕt find any hope of survival, and wondered around the streets looking for help. The climax began as Mattie tried very hard to survive, and on the way she met Nell. Mattie found NellÕs mother dead, and Nell by herself sobbing. Mattie understood how the poor little girl felt, and took Nell with her since she felt sympathy for Nell. Mattie was losing all of her hope, and was about to give up when she saw Eliza. Eliza was helping the Free African Society, and taking care of the fever victims. Mattie stayed with Eliza, which stayed with ElizaÕs brother. Her brother had two sons, and took care of Nell for Mattie sometimes. Then another terrible incident occurred. The two young sons and Nell, were stricken with yellow fever. Eliza and Mattie panicked, and they were losing every hope they ever had. Then, a miracle occurred. There was frost everywhere, and the yellow fever died away. Then to make things better, Mother came back to the Coffeehouse alive. Then the Coffeehouse was reopened, and everything was back to normal. Mattie had survived through the harsh fever season, by herself. This story is exciting, and is a great story. Mattie keeps on losing hope, and realizes that she isnÕt dreaming. She learns a harsh reality about life and death as her life goes on. This is a perfect book for people who want to know about the harsh yellow fever, in Philadelphia, over 208 years ago. You will be able to taste the reality of that time period.

I applaud Anderson for her abilities to bring Philadelphia, during the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793, to life. Mattie, the female protagonist of the novel and her grandfather, Captain William Farnsworth Cook of the Pennsylvania Fifth Regiment, are the standout stars of the text. They are written with such authenticity and full-bodied emotion that readers find themselves on the edge of their seats as the plot twists and turns. From a historical perspective the inclusion of characters that really lived in Philadelphia during that time period, like Dr. Benjamin Rush who actually treated fever victims, offered a great deal of substance to the novel. I would recommend Fever 1793 for both middle-level English and Social Studies classrooms as it brings history to life and thematically shows the evolution/coming of age of Mattie's identity through the trials and tribulations of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793.

While I don't usually love historical fiction, this one had me transfixed. The flawed yet lovable characters and the onslaught of challenges they faced had me unwilling to put if down. Few stories have conveyed they power and necessity of hope so intensely. The story reminded me of zombie apocalypse fiction, but with the added chill of being based on historical events. This book was a joy that I'll certainly buy pass alone to my nieces and nephews.

I think this book would be a great way to introduce the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 to a classroom. Students would become lost in the characters and forget that they are actually learning some history in the process. As a teacher, I always look for books that have a historical basis. And Laurie Halse Anderson did a great job researching this topic and providing the facts. Philadelphia is a great place to visit because of the history here and would be an interesting field trip following the reading of this book. She has a great talent for creating strong, yet vulnerable characters. I found myself engrossed in Mattie's trials throughout this novel! I give it 5 stars!

Life was pretty good for Mattie Cook in 1793. She lived in Philadelphia with her grandfather and mother over their family owned business, the Cook Coffeehouse. Her mother believed in hard work so Mattie was usually working. She would hear about all the people getting sick but never thought it would happen to her or anyone she knew. Then she came home to find her mother sick and lying on the doorstep. Her mother wouldn't let Mattie come anywhere near her for fear that she would get sick as well. One of her friends had also become sick with yellow fever, and the severity of the situation started to sink in. Her maid Eliza stayed behind to care for her mother while she and her grandfather fled the city. Her grandfather had a cold at the time, and so Mattie and he were kicked out of the carriage they were on because the people were afraid he had yellow fever. Many hardships faced Mattie as she struggled to stay healthy and survive the epidemic.
This book was very well written. I enjoyed it very much. The description of the city with bodies lying in the street and the cart going around looking for dead people made you feel like you were really there and could see it. I felt like I was really there and like the things happening to Mattie were happening to me as well. I cried a few times. This story is very good and shows how Mattie was brave and overcame the obstacles in her life.

The book Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is a very good book about the hardships of life. Mattie Cook, a girl that owns a coffeehouse with her mom, is very close to her family. Yellow Fever starts spreading quickly around Philadelphia. Everyone in the family gets the fever and it separates Mattie from her family. She struggles to rejoin her family but the fever is still spreading fast which makes it hard to survive.
Mattie is a very strong, brave, and likeable girl. Her mom is also very brave but can be strict. Captain William Farnsworth Cook, Mattie's grandfather, is easygoing and becomes Mattie's best friend during this hard time. This novel has a great message that every reader can apply to their life: family and friends are the most important things that you will ever have. The best thing about this book is the part where Mattie finds a little girl named Nell that is all alone because her mom died of the fever and the worst thing is that so many people die from Yellow Fever. The end to this novel is very satisfying and exciting.
The author's style keeps the reader's interest on every page in the novel. She gives the perfect amount of details, not too many not too little. The vocabulary is pretty easy except for a few words. I would recommend this novel for ages nine through thirteen because it has a great message about life, some dialogue, and some hard vocabulary. I like the way this book is written because there aren't any parts that drag out like some other books. I would give this book a rating of five stars *****.
M.A.J.

Any sixteen year old can relate to Mattie Cook. She and her mother argue about Mattie's chores that need to be completed, such as helping the family servant prepare food. However, what some teenagers may not be able to relate to are the hardships that the Cook family has to endure for every day survival in 1793. Mattie lives with her widowed mother and grandfather and helps work in the family owned coffee shop. Everything seems to be going well for Mattie, until the fatal yellow fever epidemic sweeps through the city, separating her family and endangering their lives.

Anderson, in my opinion, recreated historical Philadelphia in an exquisite manner. The characters and plot were believable, and the dialogue between the characters is developed in a realistic manner. Mattie like any sixteen year old is defiant and opinionated. On the other hand, her mother is portrayed how every teenager sees their parents, demanding and authoritative. Also, the language used by the author has a natural flow. For example, Mattie, in chapter one, describes a balloon as a "yellow silk bubble escaping the earth". In addition, the point of view for this powerful novel was presented by a young girl, which provided interesting insight on the scenes presented. An adult would have an entirely different perspective than Mattie did, but it was interesting to see how a child viewed what was happening in the world around her.

There are many ways that this book could be used in a classroom curriculum. Enhancing a lesson on historic Philadelphia or the late 1700's is one example of how this book could be used. Also, this novel could be used to see how Philadelphia differs from the time period that the novel was written in to modern Philadelphia. Slavery is another topic that could be explored. Overall, there are several different themes from the novel that could easily be incorporated into classroom lessons. This book was enjoyable and I would definitely choose this novel for a classroom library, and recommend it for a child to read to get a historical perspective on what happened

This book is a great book. Its one of those books that it starts out and the story progresses then something happens that you never saw coming. I love how this book does this at the beginning and end like how in the beginning the epidemic starts then all of a sudden Mattie wakes up and its the first frost and the epidemic is over. The mother that you may think is dead comes back and the Grandfather dies. This book is just full of suprises

the fever of 1793 is a WONDERFUl historical ficition book im in 7th grade and i injoyed this book so much, and im the kind of girl who isnt a big reader but this book grabed my attention and i didnt give it a second thought but to buy it and i know what your going to say..."so what?" well ill tell you. this book was the most attention grabbing real fact baced historical ficiton book than i will probably ever read but thats MY opinion. so for anyone who is unsure to buy this book in my oppinion i HIGHLY suggest this book an i may be 12 but you have to take my word for it and if you dont like it its not a problem its your opinion not mine to tell you that have to like it.

Imagine fleeing your home, leaving family members behind, just trying to get away from the plague!
In the book Fever 1793 written by Laurie Halse Anderson, a fourteen year old girl named Mattie Cook, has to leave her home in Philadelphia during 1793. She lives with her mother and grandfather above their family business, the Cook Coffeehouse. Many citizens come down with yellow fever and when Mattie comes home to find her mother sick, lying on the doorstep, she must help her. Ms. Cook refuses to let Mattie get near her, in fear of Mattie getting ill as well. Mattie and her grandfather decide to flee the city. Eliza, their maid, stays behind to care for Ms. Cook and other friends who have also come down with yellow fever.
I thought this was and excellent book. The author gave fantastic descriptions of what Philadelphia looked like during this crisis. she makes it posible to actually see the run-down city, and the corpses lying in piles at the cemetary waiting to be buried. What also made this book so interesting was that it was written about every day. It was almost like reading a journal. All of the details made it seem so real that I could put myself in Mattie's shoes. She had to grow up fast so that she could help out and she had to deal with so much.
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is and excellent historical book. It is filled with descriptions that make you feel like you were in that time period.

I would have to say that fever1793 is one of the best books I have read in my whole life. This book is about a girl named Mattie Cook who lives with her widowed-mother, her grandfather, and his parrot. When the fever strikes out and her mother falls ill with it Mattie and her grandfather flee the city but have nowhere to go. Soon, Mattie falls ill with the fever and has to go to Bush Hill hospital. WILL MATTIE SURVIVE? YOU have to find out when you read the book.

"'Bring out your dead!" This short yet meaningful passage from FEVER 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson describes the dismay that Philadelphia citizens suffered during the yellow fever epidemic in 1793. It shows that families just dumped dead loved ones into the street, which connects to the theme, being how a tragic event can cause cities and even families to turn against each other. This is a historical fiction book that tells the story of Mattie, a young girl living in Philadelphia just trying to bypass her chores, but then the first case of yellow fever appears. Philadelphia suddenly goes into a state of panic and Mattie has to figure out how to survive. As the story goes on, Mattie becomes more mature and learns how to take care of herself. I thought this book was very good and an easy read. "Once a day they remove the bodies for burial. A neighbor threatened to burn the place town if the sick are not removed,..." This is a passage that displays the theme of this story and how interesting the story is. I recommend this book to anyone 5th grade or older. FEVER 1793 is a fairly easy read that many people can enjoy. Overall, this is a very good story that tells the story of Mattie through a tragic time.

"Fever 1793" is a great book and a great way to learn how yellow fever can destroy lives. Having never read about the yellow fever epidemic in 1793, this novel gave plenty of detail of how the young city of Philadelphia was affected by the disease, how doctors treated patients, and how quickly family and friends turned on each other. The Appendix was very neat because it gave a brief history lesson of events and people mentioned throughout the book. I recommend.

Fever is a book, which takes place in 1793, just after the American Revolution. Yellow Fever spreads throughout the cities, including Philadelphia, where Mattie Cook lives. Mattie and her grandfather flee the city, and try to escape into the country where the air is clean. They are stranded in the country after being thrown out of a wagon, and have to survive with the conditions they are living in. This book includes many thrilling, and frightening obstacles that Mattie has to overcome.
It also made me think about how far we have come with medicine, and cures. Back in 1793 they thought that bleeding people was the right way to cure people of sicknesses. It turns out that bleeding people eventually kills them. We are very lucky to have the intelligence we have now.
I also like this book because helped me understand what it would have been like in a 14 year olds mind when all of the chaos was happening. The book expresses Mattie's feelings and helps you understand what kind of things she was going through.
I would definitly recommend this book to people 10 and older, or anyone who wants to read a book that is adventurous but factual at the same time.

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is a great historical fiction novel for upper elementary students to read. Told from the viewpoint of Mattie, a teenage girl who lives with her mother and grandfather in the family's coffeehouse, this novel has the reader travel back in time to the year 1793. Mattie's voice carries the reader through a suspenseful story of the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. The characters and setting are very lifelike and accurate for the time period of this book. Mattie and her family struggle to overcome the yellow fever in and around their coffeehouse. The suspenseful plot keeps the reader's mind focused on whether Mattie will be able to maintain her courage to survive the raging fever to reunite with her mother, who is struggling to recover from the fever. The plot evolves one day at a time to give the reader an accurate account of life during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793.
I recommend Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson to children above the age of ten who enjoy reading serious, suspenseful novels. The theme of courage prevails as Mattie struggles to survive through a very difficult situation. This novel pulls the reader in from the very beginning and does not allow the reader to put the book down until the final page. Fever 1793 is also a great novel for children who are learning about yellow fever and other fatal epidemics of the past. Anderson makes Fever 1793 rich in historical content by giving an accurate account of the fever in 1793. I encourage not only children, but people of all ages, to pick up Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson and experience the fever!

I bought this at the school book fair for my daughter when she was 11 or 12. She did not like the book when it turned to people dying, and stopped reading. I picked it up and could not stop reading until I reached the end! Fascinating book! Loved it!

This is one of the two best books I've ever read - I absolutely could not put it down! The main character is Mattie Cook, a 14 year old girl who lives in Philadelphia, and her hardest struggle is dealing with her mother. When the Yellow Fever strikes Philadelphia, Mattie's life turns upside down. She must leave Philadelphia, and is torn between many things. It was a very moving, and very realistic story - I highly recommend this book to anyone of any age.

Fever 1793 was a pretty good book, and I rate it five stars. It's about this girl named Matilda Cook, AKA Mattie. A strange fever starts in her town, Philadelphia of Pennsylvania, causing a few deaths. People think nothing of it at first, for small summer fevers were nothing new to them, but a few others take the threat seriously, and move out to the countryside, saying it is better safe than sorry. It turns out that the fever in the town is indeed something to worry about as the death toll rises. How will Mattie cope with the dead surrounding her, and will Mattie even survive?