It is 1665 and Hannah is full of excitement at the prospect of her first trip to London. She is going to help her sister, Sarah, in her candy shop,...
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Nov 09, 2008
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
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Excellent historical novel about two sisters who struggle to survive the Great Plague of London in 1665. The author took her research from first-hand accounts, vividly bringing out the details of life and death at that time. The two sisters were candy makers, creating their confections from flowers and herbs, the details of which I found fascinating. Recipes for making some of these candies is included in the back of the book. This story is the first I've read by Mary Hooper, and it leaves m
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May 24, 2009
Shanna
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Hannah and Sarah are teenaged entrepreneurs, sisters running a shop in 1665 London wherein they make sugar-frosted rose petals and other sweetmeats for the nobility. Hannah, who has recently joined her sister, is excited at the prospect of a big-city life and complacently dismisses rumors that the Bubonic Plague is reawakening in London. By the time she realizes her optimism is unfounded, the city is quarantined and she watches in horror as neighbors succumb, one by one, to the mysterious sick
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Feb 01, 2012
Cheryl in CC NV
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There are plenty of good reviews here, so I'll be brief. I'd never have picked this up except for my Children's Book group discussing it this month. But I'm so glad I did.
The dialogue was done beautifully - it 'sounded' natural and authentic, though of course it was in modern English, because Hooper got the rhythm right, and avoided all idioms that aren't common in both Hannah's era and ours.
I loved that there were minimal tropes - no guttersnipes with noble bearing, More...
The dialogue was done beautifully - it 'sounded' natural and authentic, though of course it was in modern English, because Hooper got the rhythm right, and avoided all idioms that aren't common in both Hannah's era and ours.
I loved that there were minimal tropes - no guttersnipes with noble bearing, More...
Jan 14, 2012
Terri Lynn
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In June of 1665, teenaged Hannah is delighted to finally be going to London to live with her older sister Sarah who owns and runs a sweets shop The Sugared Plum. She wants to live in the city and throw away the country lifestyle that bored her in exchange for the excitement of keeping up with the latest fashions, attending her first play, and finding an interesting man to spend time with.
Sarah is horrified when she arrives. She had sent a note to her that Hannah never received warni More...
Sarah is horrified when she arrives. She had sent a note to her that Hannah never received warni More...
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Jan 17, 2011
Roxy
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 15, 2011
Mel
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This is the second book in two weeks I’ve read set in the 1600s and I have to confess this is the book that most vividly invokes the period. Mary Hooper is celebrated for her historical YA books and after reading my first book from her I can understand why. The writing is simple and elegant, effortless painting pictures, sounds and smells of the period. In fact I just fell in love with Mary’s style of writing and descriptions!
The story focuses on Hannah, a young girl from the country More...
The story focuses on Hannah, a young girl from the country More...
Aug 18, 2011
Brett
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This book did an absolutely fantastic job of capturing the sights, sounds, & smells of plague-ridden London in 1665, as well as the feelings of overwhelming fear, helplessness, & despair it caused in the citizens. In this way it reminded me a great deal of Laurie Halse Anderson's "Fever, 1793", as well as the great protagonist. Hannah is so excited to be leaving her sleepy village for the bustle of London, where she has always dreamed of going. Arriving at the shop where her sister liv
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Aug 26, 2011
Rose
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This is quite a short book, but it's pretty enjoyable. I've read Mary Hooper before, both her historical and contempory books and I do enjoy her work, but this one wasn't my favourite. I found it interesting finding out about the sweetmeats shop, and the apocathery's shop. Hooper is an excellent historical author and you do feel as if you are in the past.
I also liked the relationship between Hannah and Tom, as well as Sarah and Abby. However I found Hannah herself really selfish at t More...
I also liked the relationship between Hannah and Tom, as well as Sarah and Abby. However I found Hannah herself really selfish at t More...
Dec 05, 2008
Clare
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The creepiest thing about this book, I thought, is actually that on the cover of the edition I read (pictured above) the light hitting Hannah's eye actually takes the shape of a skull. This strikes me as perfect, and I couldn't look at the book for weeks afterwards without getting chills down my spine.
Dec 01, 2008
Rachel
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This was about the plague in London in the 1600's as told by a girl recently arrived in London from the country in order to help her sister run a sweet shop. Interesting take on life in London both before and after the plague take holds.
Dec 15, 2011
Laura
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At the Sign of the Sugared Plum is set in London during the plague. The main characters are two sisters who run a sweet shop and become trapped in London when the plague hits. I don't read a lot of YA (I'm too old!) but I love Mary Hooper's historical YA novels. She has a fantastic ability to portray historical settings in vivid detail. She also creates strong and likeable heroines. This novel really made me think about what it would have been like to live in London during this period and watchi
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Aug 05, 2011
Sarah
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I enjoyed this story and raced through it on two long bus trips. The historcal side of it was clearly well-researched, but woven into the plot quite skillfully, not all 'hey kids here's some facts about the plague and/or life in London in 1665!' The main character was rather vain and shallow but still quite likeable and the plot kept moving along briskly without resorting to breakneck action sequences and dramatic cliffhangers. The thing I liked best about it was that it neither played down t
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Oct 10, 2010
Libby
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This book tells the story of Hannah, a country girl who travels to work with her sister Sarah in London. It's 1660, and unbeknownst to Hannah the Plague is about to hit London. Due to the era, of course Sarah's note to Hannah warning her not to come didn't arrive.
Sarah owns a sweetmeats shop. This is basically a shop selling sugared violets, marzipan fruits, angelica... That kind of stuff. It's going pretty well, targeting well-off middle-class customers. But as times get worse and d More...
Sarah owns a sweetmeats shop. This is basically a shop selling sugared violets, marzipan fruits, angelica... That kind of stuff. It's going pretty well, targeting well-off middle-class customers. But as times get worse and d More...
Feb 28, 2010
Rebecca
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Teenaged Hannah has lived all her life in the English countryside, so she is thrilled when, in the summer of 1665, her older sister Sarah invites her to come live with her in London and help her at her candy shop. However, arriving in London she finds Sarah had sent a second letter instructing her not to come. Plague has taken hold in London, and Sarah fears for Hannah's life. Hannah insists on staying, believing she will be safe. But to her horror, in the coming weeks more and more people die,
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Jan 16, 2012
Lisa
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I do love plague stories, and historical fiction stories, and coming of age stories, and I’m interested in the history of medicine, and there was quite a bit of all of those in this novel. I was particularly intrigued with the plague remedies and theories of the time.
There were particularly good descriptions of what London was like at the time (1665) and what the plague must have been like. I gradually grew to care deeply for the characters. Reading about the human suffering was palp More...
There were particularly good descriptions of what London was like at the time (1665) and what the plague must have been like. I gradually grew to care deeply for the characters. Reading about the human suffering was palp More...
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Jun 29, 2008
Allison
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I didn't have very high expectations for this book, but I was interested in reading about the creation of "sweetmeats", and stories on plague are generally pretty interesting. The book was about as good as I expected- it wasn't amazing, but it was a fast, entertaining read. I rather liked Hannah's character and her romance with Tom was a nice ray of sunshine in otherwise dark times. I was also amused when Nell Gwynne made an appearance, since I just read a book entirely about her (The
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Aug 04, 2011
Neill
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Hannah has traveled from a small village to London to help her older sister with her sweet shop when the plague hits. It is 1665 and as the epidemic increases travel, especially for those not judged as ‘quality’, have their travel restricted. As friends and acquaintances succumb to the plague Hannah and her sister struggle to help those around them and protect themselves. An accurate representation of 17th century London’s mores and values with emphasis on people helping each other cope.
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May 15, 2009
Jaclyn
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Historical fiction all too often lacks the proper spark, as if the writer got a leeeeetle bit too caught up in research and conveying the history and lost track of the "fiction" part just a bit.
This book thankfully doesn't fall into that trap. It's lively with voice and detail, and just fun to read--okay, if you can call a story about the plague "fun". There's gruesome death galore, but if you enjoy that sort of thing, and I'll readily admit I do!, then you'll e
This book thankfully doesn't fall into that trap. It's lively with voice and detail, and just fun to read--okay, if you can call a story about the plague "fun". There's gruesome death galore, but if you enjoy that sort of thing, and I'll readily admit I do!, then you'll e
Jul 21, 2010
Ashley
rated it:
The author did a fine job of describing the streets and fashions of London in 1665, as well as the horrors of the plague.
I liked that the story revolved around Hannah and her sister's sweet shop, and really enjoyed the explanations of the candy-ing process. However, the story was not a feel-good read. The images described about quarentined families going mad; the pain felt by the victims; the death pits; the corpse carts; and the tolling of the church bells were haunting.
I liked that the story revolved around Hannah and her sister's sweet shop, and really enjoyed the explanations of the candy-ing process. However, the story was not a feel-good read. The images described about quarentined families going mad; the pain felt by the victims; the death pits; the corpse carts; and the tolling of the church bells were haunting.
Sep 15, 2010
Sarah
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 10, 2012
Autumn
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I got this book because it was the Kindle daily deal, and I saw that it was about the plague, which has always interested me greatly. I loved it. I loved how the voice of the chracters seemed true to the times and that you could definitely imagine what life must have been like then through a young girl's eyes. It is also cool that she included the glossary in the back, some research, and even recipes. I am looking forward to reading the next book.
Feb 24, 2011
Valerie
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I really enjoyed this book about how two young women survive during the Plague of 1665 in London, England. It was very historical and interesting. However, our library has it as a children's book, but I would not recommend this to anyone under about 7th grade because of the graphic descriptions of the disease and the dying people. Also, because of the discussions of whores and their diseases, and the male comments regarding them. Otherwise it was a very interesting read.
Feb 09, 2011
Maia
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This book is too short. It's written in the same flawed and perfect style as all Mary Hooper's other novels, of which she has NOT written ENOUGH, because we can always use another one, and the characters are lovable, or hate-able, or you love to hate them. It's a marvelous take on the plague in London. Plus Hannah and Sarah run a candy store. Who wouldn't want to read this book?
May 02, 2009
Susan
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The author had me fascinated with the historical details that were used in this story; set in London during the time of the bubonic plague.
I happened to pick this book up because I thought the synopsis looked interesting. After completing the first few chapters, news came of our own modern day scare...the Mexican swine flu. Have we learned how to handle our current health crisis from the stories of the past? I certainly hope so.
I happened to pick this book up because I thought the synopsis looked interesting. After completing the first few chapters, news came of our own modern day scare...the Mexican swine flu. Have we learned how to handle our current health crisis from the stories of the past? I certainly hope so.
Feb 02, 2010
Elfiegirl
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This book i set back in the sixteen hundreds, and like all old-fashioned-set books, it's a big cliff hanger. Especially the end. It's a bit gruesome, too, when Mary Hooper the Queen of Cliff Hangers, is describing the mad men roaming the streets during the plague. If you like this one, read "Our Strange new land". You'll enjoy it.
Oct 29, 2011
Jennifer
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I seem to be on a kick of Elizabethan and post-Elizabethan books and this was pretty good. The characters are believable and sympathetic while the story is grim without being hopeless. It has recipes in the back for 5 popular candies of the era, which sort of makes me want to get my own copy and try to make some of them.
Mar 30, 2009
Bettie
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This is good reading for young adults to get a feel for the times.
Nell Gwynne House is the bow fronted building on the left behind the carriage - it was a jewellers but upon checking tonight it is some Law firm that now own the property.
Nell Gwynne House is the bow fronted building on the left behind the carriage - it was a jewellers but upon checking tonight it is some Law firm that now own the property.
Oct 20, 2009
Jo
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Set against the time of the great plague in London in 1665, this is a wonderfully atmospheric story of how the disease spread and left ordinary lives devastated and destroyed.I especially liked the characters of Hannah and her sister, Sarah.The story leaves you wanting more, so looking forward to the next book in the series.
Sep 06, 2011
Carina
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Loved this book the first time I read it around 3 years ago and it's still fab!!! Easy read with historical value and I absolutely love the fact that Hooper has added some of the sweatmeat recipies at the end - I have tried the sugared orange peel - it's quite good actually!!
Nov 27, 2007
Ana
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Warning Spoiler
This book is more than amazing! It is the storie of two girls that are atacked by the plauge, they have money by seling candies, but it wil not save them from death. They meet a young family that were okay at first. After sometime they start to get the plauge. First it was the maid, then it was the woman, then the man, and then... The baby survived , he was the only one. To prevent the litlle criture from diyng the girls take the baby to another pl More...
This book is more than amazing! It is the storie of two girls that are atacked by the plauge, they have money by seling candies, but it wil not save them from death. They meet a young family that were okay at first. After sometime they start to get the plauge. First it was the maid, then it was the woman, then the man, and then... The baby survived , he was the only one. To prevent the litlle criture from diyng the girls take the baby to another pl More...
