Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Maddie is a young teen living in Philadelphia in 1793.  Her father has died, but she helps her mother run a successful coffee shop.  One day in September one of their serving girls dies suddenly of a mysterious illness.  Soon others around the city are dying and word gets around that it is the yellow fever. Maddie and her mother try to keep the coffee house open, but then her mother falls ill. Maddie is convinced to flee the city with her grandfather, but when they both fall ill, they have to rely on the kindness of others to get through.

This is a vivid look at a brief, but devastating flu epidemic.  Anderson adds a lot of carefully researched detail to put the reader into the experience.  Maddie is a strong and appealing character whose resolve not to give up keeps her going. We are doing this book for our November Parent/Child book club.  I was a little worried that is might be to realistically harsh for a 9 year old.  We will see what kind of response I get. (2000, 251p.)