Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Chapter Book #8


Title-An American Plague-The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

Author-Jim Murphy

Illustrator-Jim Murphy

Genre-Chapter Book

Subgenre-Non-Fiction-Historical

Theme-Yellow fever, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 18th century, history


Award(s)-ALA Newbery Honor Book Award; ALA Robert F. Sibiert Informational Book Award; Orbis Pictus Award; ALA Notable Children’s Book; YALSA Best Book for Young Adults; SLJ Best Book of the Year; Blue Ribbon, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books; Editor’s Choice, Kirkus Reviews

Date of publication-2003

Publishing company-Clarion Books

Brief summary- It's 1793, and there's an invisible killer roaming the streets of Philadelphia. The city's residents are fleeing in fear. This killer has a name--yellow fever--but everything else about it is a mystery. Its cause is unknown and there is no cure. This powerful and dramatic account by Jim Murphy traces the devastating course of the epidemic. An American Plague offers a fascinating glimpse into the conditions in American cities at the time of our nation's birth while drawing thought-provoking parallels to modern-day epidemics.

I would use this book for older students to show the reality and history of the Yellow Fever. 
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1 comment:

  1. cuffelmanMarch 14, 2012 at 11:23 AM

    This looks like a very interesting book but I agree that this book is for older students who are studying about yellow fever or this time period. I have not read this book but I do know this topic is serious and might be scary or confusing to younger students.

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