Fever 1793
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, published by Simon and Schuster in September 2000, is a historical novel set in the tumultuous backdrop of late 18th-century Philadelphia. This first edition, comprising 251 pages, follows the story of fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook, who dreams of transforming her family’s coffeehouse into a thriving business. As a fever outbreak begins to spread from the docks, Mattie’s ambitions are overshadowed by the looming threat of disease, forcing her to confront the harsh realities of survival in a city gripped by panic.
Readers will find a narrative that intertwines themes of ambition and resilience against the backdrop of a historical health crisis. The story explores Mattie’s journey as she navigates personal loss and the chaos that ensues when the fever claims the lives of those around her. With elements of action and adventure, the book delves into the impact of illness on daily life and the struggle for survival during a time of crisis. Fever 1793 offers a vivid portrayal of a young girl’s fight to maintain her dreams amid overwhelming challenges.
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From Fever 1793
“Where’s Polly?” I asked as I dropped the bucket down the well. “Did you pass by the blacksmith’s?
“I spoke with her mother, with Mistress Logan,” Mother answered softly, looking at her neat rows of carrots.
“And?” I waved a mosquito away from my face.
“It happened quickly. Polly sewed by candlelight after dinner. Her mother repeated that over and over, ‘she sewed by candlelight after dinner.’ And then she collapsed.”
I released the handle and the bucket splashed, a distant sound.
“Matilda, Polly’s dead.”
August 1793. Fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook is ambitious, adventurous, and sick to death of listening to her mother. Mattie has plans of her own. She wants to turn the Cook Coffeehouse into the finest business in Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States.
But the waterfront is abuzz with reports of disease. “Fever” spreads from the docks and creeps toward Mattie’s home, threatening everything she holds dear.
As the cemeteries fill with fever victims, fear turns to panic, and thousands flee the city. Then tragedy strikes the coffeehouse, and Mattie is trapped in a living nightmare. Suddenly, her struggle to build a better life must give way to something even more important — the fight to stay alive.
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