1793. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0395776082.
This book tells the account of the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. It includes many firsthand accounts of the time period and disease and keeps you in suspense as to what the cause of the epidemic is.
The facts are current because most of the book deals with events of the past which are unchanging. Some of the medical information deals with current thoughts and practices, but is most likely correct because the publication date is 2003. The most important facts are included, such as what caused the illness and how it was spread, how people at the time thought the illness was caused and spread, what actions were taken both medically and politically, citizens� personal thoughts on the fever, and what important historical figures of the time did in regards to the epidemic. The distinction between fact and theory is clear. The sources are cited in quite an extensive annotated bibliography. The book was both the Orbis Pictus award winner and a Newbery Honor book for 2004. The author has received the Newbery Honor in the past as well as the Robert F. Sibert Information Book Award. Therefore the facts in the book are most likely accurate.
The layout of the book is logical and there is a clear sequence of information because the story is told chronologically. There is no real pattern to the information aside from the chronological nature of it. The book starts off very detailed and continues this trend throughout. The book has a table of contents and index. The index has the pages with pictures in bold, which is very helpful.
The book is both attractive and readable. The cover has the title displayed in large, bold letters which creates interest and will make a child want to open the book to see what it�s like. The font within the book is double spaced for easy reading. The illustrations are all black and white which is both necessary and appropriate because of the time period this book deals with. There are pictures of prominent people at the time such as doctors and political leaders, political cartoons, newspaper clippings and drawings of different areas around town. The illustrations complement the text well. For instance, after the text talks about how the disease first began in a dirty alley, there is a drawing of a very dingy looking alley on the opposite page.
The writing is clear and interesting. The opening paragraph draws the reader in and creates a feeling of suspense early on. For instance, the author begins the book by describing the scene in different parts of the city the day someone first falls ill. He describes how, �Dead fish and gooey vegetable matter were exposed and rotted, while swarms of insects droned in the heavy humid air.� The book not only creates curiosity and fear on the part of the reader, but makes the reader want to read more on the topic. For instance, the conclusion of the book points out other deadly plagues that have struck around the world and warns the reader that if yellow fever were to strike today, there wouldn�t be enough vaccines to go around. Then there is the annotated bibliography which not only shows the reader different books that are out there about plagues, but gives descriptions on each of the books to create more interest.
The book is full of quotes from various people who lived during this epidemic. One of the main doctors in Philadelphia at the time said this after the plague had ended � �I lose myself in looking back upon the ocean which I have passed� find myself surprised by a tear in reflecting upon the friends I have lost, and the scenes of distress� I was unable to relieve.� This really helps the reader capture the horror of the disease and how many of the survivors must have felt. The book is also full of interesting details. For instance, an after effect of the epidemic was a better water system which meant people could bathe more often. One citizen who kept a journal during the time period took a bath for the first time in twenty-eight years.
This book is not only informative, but has the suspense of a mystery novel. Children will not be able to put the book down until the find out the cause of the epidemic. It is well written and entertaining.
