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

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

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 1,430 ratings · 262 reviews

1793, Philadelphia. The nation's capital and the largest city in North America is devastated by an apparently incurable disease, cause unknown . . .

In a powerful, dramatic narrative, critically acclaimed author Jim Murphy describes the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the city's residents, relating the epidemic to the major social and political events...more

Hardcover, 176 pages

Published June 23rd 2003 by Clarion Books

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Newbery Medal Honor Books

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Apr 15, 2012 karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mark-harmon

it is inconceivable to me that this is a book intended for children. the beginning part is fine, but the last chapter or so is paralyzingly terrifying. if i had read this as a child, it would have given me night terrors for years and even now i would think of it with chills, as i do with "tailypo". brrr... this book chronicles an outbreak of yellow fever that killed 5000 people. and by chronicling, i mean it goes into details of black-bile-vomiting, and women giving birth to babies where both di...more

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Jan 04, 2008 April Helms rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

A narration of the Yellow Fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793, which claimed the lives of between 4,000 and 5,000 men, women and children. It relates the medical practices of the day, such as blood-letting, the use of mercury and other remedies considered of questionable (at best) value today. It contains pictures and illustrations, including pages from a list compiled of the dead.

This is a very sobering read, especially after Hurricane Katrina. Teens won’t miss parallels between then, with t...more

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Mar 26, 2008 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: top-10-true-stories, history-american

A fascinating review of an event not so long ago that could be repeated in our heavily populated cities and poorly prepared hospitals. An interesting aspect is the courageous role that African Americans played which was largely ignored by history. Also, the aspect of scentists battling an unknown disease with some unfortunate consequences. The man who should be credited with figuring it out watched the mosquito bite him that ended up killing him.

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Jul 08, 2008 Wendi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Interesting history of Philadelphia at the time. Very readable history. The author made the book interesting while presenting a good historical narrative of the events.

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Feb 01, 2010 Melinda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science, american-history, medicine, 2010, worth-owning, history

Ok, so I'm on a roll here reading about disease and epidemics! This one sparked my curiosity because in "The Great Influenza", Philadelphia is hit badly by the 1918 influenza epidemic. It looks like in this book Philadelphia was also badly hit in 1793 by the yellow fever epidemic. Gotta read it to find out more!
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This book is a Newberry Honor book for children. As such it is not difficult reading at all, but still was worthwhile to read.

In the summer of 1793 yellow fever hit Philadelphia and...more Ok, so I'm on a roll here reading about disease and epidemics! This one sparked my curiosity because in "The Great Influenza", Philadelphia is hit badly by the 1918 influenza epidemic. It looks like in this book Philadelphia was also badly hit in 1793 by the yellow fever epidemic. Gotta read it to find out more!
******

This book is a Newberry Honor book for children. As such it is not difficult reading at all, but still was worthwhile to read.

In the summer of 1793 yellow fever hit Philadelphia and killed 10% of the population of the city in the first month of the epidemic, eventually killing 4 to 5,000 people. At the time, the cause of yellow fever was unknown, and treatments went from mild to extreme. Philadelphia in the 1790's had cramped and dirty streets, trash and rubbish and sewage standing in stagnant ponds in the streets contributing to the breeding of mosquitos, the carrier for yellow fever.

The mosquitos that carried yellow fever to Philadelphia most likely came from Haiti where many French refugees fled from the revolution going on there, and arrived in Philadelphia. Some of these people may have been ill with yellow fever when they arrived, and also the ships may have brought mosquitos that were carriers into the city.

Controversy raged between doctors over appropriate treatment. Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the founding fathers of the Unites States was also a physician. He was known as the "king of the bleeders" because that was his preferred way to treat yellow fever patients during the epidemic. One other physician at the time accused Dr. Rush of killing more yellow fever patients with his "cure" than would have died from the disease itself! It is hard to criticize either doctor, because of course neither one of them knew for sure what really caused yellow fever.

The epidemic waned as cooler weather came, as the marshes and swamps dried up (and thus the mosquitos had fewer breeding places). There were subsequent yellow fever outbreaks in following years, but never the extent of what they had been in 1793. The 1793 epidemic did result in a clean up of the streets of the city, removing dead animals and rubbish, emptying barrels of stagnant water and anything that contributed to the stench around the harbor area. In doing this, the mosquito breeding grounds were reduced, and that brought better health to the city even though they did not know that mosquitos were carriers of the disease.

Even more interesting to me was the fact that George Washington, President of the United States at the time, was kept from making important decisions largely because Congress could not be convened anywhere other than Philadelphia.... and yet all governmental officials had fled the city because of the epidemic. The founding fathers had had a healthy fear of a king whimsically calling the government into session in some remotely located area, thus keeping the government from holding him accountable.... so they had pretty much said that Congress could only meet in Philadelphia. The epidemic meant that for 6 to 8 weeks, no one could conduct any governmental business! So after the epidemic, Congress did allow a provision that the president could call congress into session at another location in emergency situations.

It is interesting to note that the issue of whether the United States would support their former ally, France, in their revolution needed to be decided in exactly this time. Because Washington was unable to convene Congress, this approval was delayed. And by the time the epidemic was over, support for the French issue had waned. (less)

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Melinda Janet wrote: "Oooooo.....so what is it about Philadelphia that we need to learn from (and avoid)? Anticipating with relish, your next review on this s...more
Feb 03, 2010 05:04am

Melinda Janet wrote: "A fascinating review, especially about the pestilence overflowing from Haiti, and the part about the medical treatments of the day. Than...more
Feb 03, 2010 05:09am

Sep 23, 2008 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

Murphy has written a fascinating and very well researched account of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 that took place in Philadelphia. At that time, Philadelphia was the capitol of the fledgling nation of United States. President Washington and his family were one of the first to flee the city when the epidemic began. Murphy recounts the events leading up to the epidemic, from the first few cases to the massive number of deaths. The descriptions of early medical treatments for the yellow fever...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Joy rated it 3 of 5 stars

2004 Newbery Honor Book

This was an excellent nonfiction book about the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793. I knew about the plague because I've read Fever 1973 by Laurie Halse Anderson which is a fictionalized account of the event. What I didn't realize in reading the fiction novel was that at the time, Philadelphia was the capital of the United States and George Washington resided there at the time of the plague.

Murphy goes into how the doctors attempted to treat the disease. The or...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Dannie Gonzalez rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall, I think this book was an 'ok' read. I do believe that some children will find this book extremely fascinating, however, others I think would be bored with it, that is why I think its just 'ok' and not great. I think the intended audience is narrow, due to the specificity of the plot and the form in which the novel is told. This book is informational, weaving in medical and historical facts into one book. This book also incorporates a mysterious component, but as I mentioned above, I do...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Wallace Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Genre: This title is non-fiction history. I placed it under my Other listings of Junior Books

Summary: Philadelphia, home of President Washington and the nation’s federal government, is dealing with the deaths of thousands due to Yellow Fever in 1793.

(a.) The strength if this titles lies within the author’s ability to gather factual evidence, enlightening today’s readers on this dreadful time in our history and how it affected thousands of people. From newborn children to the elder, nearly every...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Ashley Adams rated it 4 of 5 stars

1. Junior Book: Informational
2. This dramatic narrative highlights the outbreak of the yellow fever in 1793 Philadelphia. This book describes the primitive and dangerous medical procedures, such as bloodletting, used to help cure the disease, and even accounts the heroic roles of African Americans in the epidemic. This book thoroughly describes the horrible time in history when almost 5000 men, women, and children were killed.
3. Critique:
a. The pictures provided contribute to the theme of chaos...more

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Nov 20, 2012 I Heart Corgis rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Grade/interest level: grades 5-9th
Lexile level: 1130L
Genre: Informational, Historical
Main Characters: Dr. Rush, Dr. Hodge and Foulke, George Washington, and many political and other historical figures
Setting: Philadelphia, 1793
POV: 1st person

An American Plague is a well written account of the 1793 yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia. The book integrates history with suspense, telling us the historical background of the story as we try and figure out why people are dying. People are dropping d...more Grade/interest level: grades 5-9th
Lexile level: 1130L
Genre: Informational, Historical
Main Characters: Dr. Rush, Dr. Hodge and Foulke, George Washington, and many political and other historical figures
Setting: Philadelphia, 1793
POV: 1st person

An American Plague is a well written account of the 1793 yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia. The book integrates history with suspense, telling us the historical background of the story as we try and figure out why people are dying. People are dropping dead of a horrible disease, and nobody can figure out why. Early medicine blamed most illness on the air and foul smells associated with unsanitary conditions. As the deaths increased, physicians from all over started throwing out theories. A famous physician named Dr. Rush declared it a yellow fever outbreak, but that did little good. There was no known cure at the time, partly because there was no known source, so people kept dropping down dead. The book goes on to discuss the turmoil our country faced during the epidemic, how the government and citizens handled their growing concern, and how doctors rushed to find a cure to this horrible disease. It was eventually discovered that yellow fever was spread through the bite of a mosquito, and measures could be taken to reduce risk. As the epidemic cooled down people started to get out of the panic it had caused. The last chapter relates the entire book to today, reminding us that this particular outbreak of yellow fever was not and will not be the last.
This book is absolutely wonderful to use with children in the classroom. It’s extremely informative, weaving history into a suspenseful novel. I am currently using this book in a thematic unit on Epidemiology (discussing germs in science, mapping and collecting data in math, and research writing in literacy). This book is particular good because it is so culturally relevant. It doesn’t just focus on the white middle class. What I found particularly impressive was that the author included the role of free blacks in eradicating the disease. Children should be reading books like this all the time, it would encourage some critical thinking. Maybe more of children would go into the medical field if we got them interested at an early age.
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Nov 16, 2012 Megan Reichelt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s, non-fiction

I absolutely loved this book. I was shocked that it was for kids! It was so gory and psychologically scary, and utterly compelling and informative. I definitely recommend it for people who love zombie plague stories. Or the 1700s. Or both!

This book tells the story of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. It starts out slow, listing one death, then several in a boarding house. Then, it spreads down the street and to other portions of the neighborhood until the entire city is infected. I...more I absolutely loved this book. I was shocked that it was for kids! It was so gory and psychologically scary, and utterly compelling and informative. I definitely recommend it for people who love zombie plague stories. Or the 1700s. Or both!

This book tells the story of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. It starts out slow, listing one death, then several in a boarding house. Then, it spreads down the street and to other portions of the neighborhood until the entire city is infected. It chronicles the panic, how people left the city in droves, and abandoned family members. It describes in detail the horrifying symptoms (complete with illustrations), including vomiting black blood and bile. And it tells of the heroic efforts of those who stayed in the city to help, which to me was the most interesting part of the book: the survival efforts, what happens when government breaks down, the unlikely heroes. It concludes with the sociological aftermath, those who wished to forget the plague, those who pointed fingers, those who had to defend their actions. As an afterward, it tells of the discovery of the causes of yellow fever a century later, and a vaccine in the mid 20th century. It ends with a warning that there has been no recent vaccine for yellow fever, and if it reemerges, we would be almost powerless to stop it. Upbeat ending for a children’s book, huh?

And that is exactly why I loved it. I enjoy kids books that don’t pull punches. They tell it like it is. I feel that what kids fear most is the fear of the unknown. The things parents are whispering about, but won’t tell them straight up. The monster in the dark that you can’t see. I feel that adults are this way too. Once you know what something is, once you can name it, once you know how to fight it, it loses some of it’s power.

This book is not only compelling, but it is highly informative. Jim Murphy did extensive research into primary sources, including letters, diaries and personal accounts of those who were there. Because of this, he was able to build a very intimate and highly descriptive narrative without embellishing with fiction. It does what the best nonfiction does: place you there in the dirty, quiet street, watching another cart full of dead bodies creak by. You feel you know the historical figures personally.

I would recommend this book to my adult friends too! Nowhere in this book did I think for a moment that it was “dumbed down” for children. I think it is comparable to John Adams by David McCollough (though a lot shorter) or Devil and the White City by Erik Larson (but with less speculation)!

If you want a quick, informative, highly disturbing glimpse into a moment of real life in the 1700s, this is the book for you! (less)

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Oct 30, 2012 Janna Gifford rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-literature

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy is a nonfiction book that won the Newbery Honor Award. This book is intended for the intermediate and advanced age level. This book is about an incurable disease that took over the town of Philadelphia in 1793. The book went over on how the first person died on August 3rd to how the Free African Society took time to help take care of the victims of the illness. I rated this book five stars based...more

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May 30, 2012 Ebookwormy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: world-usa, history-byzantium-to-french-rev, healthmedical, non-fiction

I feel divided about this highly acclaimed book (three medals appear on the cover: Newberry Honor, National Book Award Finalist, Robert F. Siberi Medal).

Certainly the research is good and the story telling adequate to pull the reader through the harrowing account of the 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic of Philadelphia. The author shows us the honorable service of those who compassionately intervened to serve the stricken, as well as documenting the larger impact of the epidemic upon the State of Penns...more I feel divided about this highly acclaimed book (three medals appear on the cover: Newberry Honor, National Book Award Finalist, Robert F. Siberi Medal).

Certainly the research is good and the story telling adequate to pull the reader through the harrowing account of the 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic of Philadelphia. The author shows us the honorable service of those who compassionately intervened to serve the stricken, as well as documenting the larger impact of the epidemic upon the State of Pennsylvania and the Nation (both of which had Philadelphia as their capitol at the time of the outbreak). Murphy also covers the race angle, accounting the willingness of the black population to step up in service to others, even others who had previously been hostile to them, as well as the disturbing condemnation of white neighbors during the recovery period. A thorough bibliography at the end gives plenty of direction for future exploration.

But I find myself somewhat unsatisfied with these accomplishments. The author is a bit to heavy handed and dismissive of those who chose to flee, and a bit too accommodating of those who chose to stay, as if the situation was full of clarity for those living through it. This kind of black and white treatment, while I suppose makes for easier narrative for the author, relieves the reader of the confusion of the times. I felt the perspective of time is, perhaps too clear.

The final chapter was also perplexing. Skipping over the many occurrences of yellow fever and other plagues that afflicted cities in the 18th and 19th centuries, the author launches into an analysis of the current state of our fight against microbials. He helpfully documents the long struggle to determine the cause of yellow fever (unknown until the 20th Century, with a vaccine finally available in 1937) and then proceeds to criticize the doctors involved in the great triumph of determining the dreaded fevers course. But there is plenty of heavy handed criticism to go around, the author also berates doctors who were skeptical of the proposed cause (mosquito carriers), as well as 1793 Philedelphian's (if only they had paid attention to one small column in the paper amidst hundreds that were published about how to deal with the epidemic - many of which the author portrays as humorous snake doctor attempts to get rich!). While he lauds attempts to break up nesting grounds for mosquitoes, he criticizes those who used chemicals to do it, as if they should have understood the the unintended consequences. He ends, not too hopefully, with a commentary on drug resistant disease within the context of global travel, and the reality that we still do not have a cure for yellow fever.

And herein lies my problem with the work: TONE. Instead of creating an account that details the valiant fight waged by many generations against the disease, the confusion of epidemics and the steps and missteps in solving the compelling mystery (this could have been a wonderful story to encourage future scientists), Murphy gives us a berating, superior tone that takes advantage of the perspective of time to accuse and discourage. I prefer my reading, especially on such a topic, to be inspiring. And I think most children (and their parents and teachers) would prefer it so as well. So, what I cannot figure out is: Why all the awards?

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Apr 22, 2012 Jessica Scranton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: eced221

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy is a book about an epidemic known as the yellow fever that took place Philadelphia in 1793. This book discussed the effects of the yellow fevers and its impact on the people of that time. I never really thought about the yellow fever before reading this book. This book provided factual information in chronological order and gave me insight on the topic in the book.
The story was very well writte...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Lacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: eced-221

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy is a book about the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the city of Philadelphia in 1793. The book talks about how this illness affected the city and the city’s residents. This illness took the lives of between 4,000 and 5,000 men, women, and children. The end of the book explains yellow fever in relation to our society today.

I thought this book was very well written. It is ver...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Jane Woodside rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: eced-221

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy was an amazing book! The book is about an incurable disease, yellow fever, in Philadelphia in 1793, the largest city in North America and how it affected the city’s residents.

The book is extremely accurate and presents factual information about yellow fever. It talks about specific information that was happening in that time period such as the medical beliefs and practices from the day it happen...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-level, eced-221

This book describes the Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793. It explains exactly what yellow fever is and how Philadelphia reacted to the outbreak, as well as what happened afterwards. In the end, the book explains yellow fever in relation to our society today.

This book was very accurate, and the author provided many sources to back up his claims. The information is in chronological order, so it is very easy to follow. The design is appropriate for children, and there are pictures to a...more

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Jun 07, 2011 Michael Elrod rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adults

This book was very cut and dry, but I guess where it is a historical non-fiction I should've expected that. I knew of the Yellow fever epidemic a long time ago, but I now feel a lot more enlightened on the subject. I mean, think about it...The states were in their first 20 years of statehood, and to have an epidemic like this sweep Philadelphia, and a good portion of the nation was absolutely devastating. Another thing I didn't know was that they'd ring the bell with each death. That was kind of...more

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May 31, 2011 Linda Lipko rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: newbery-winner, young-adult

In this 2004 Newbery Honor book, the author makes history come alive. As always, when I read a book wherein I learn about a particular subject, I'm intrigued to learn more.

The summer of 1793 brought death came to more than ten percent of the population of Philadelphia, PA. When the yellow fever abated, estimates are that at least five thousand died within a few months time.

This book is excellently researched and it meticulously portrays not only the devastation of the yellow fever, but in additi...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Cindi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

It was my nine year old son's turn to pick the book I would read aloud to the kids. He chose An American Plague : The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. I bought the book from a book order a couple of years ago. It's just been sitting on my shelf since then. It was about time we read it. For the past week I have been reading (and dreaming) about a horrible plague illness wiping out large chunks of the population.

In the late summer of 1793, Philadelphia, then the nati...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: award, death, historical, non-fiction, tween, illustrated, medical

I'm a big fan of history, and think that the past is a great source for story material, both real and imagined. Ever since I took a class and had to read A Midwife's Tale, about a midwife in the late 18th century, I've been especially interested in medical history. From fiction for younger readers, like The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman to grown-up non-fiction like Pox Americana by Elizabeth Fenn, medical history is fascinating. This book is no disappointment, integrating well-told chapt...more

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Apr 27, 2010 MissDziura rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: award-winning-nonfiction-books

An American Plague tackles the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 and does include quite a bit of authoritative documentation including excerpts from diaries of those living back during the epidemic and an extensive list of sources considering there are no survivors around today to confirm what really happened. The text attempts to describe how Philadelphia became almost unrecognizable when the yellow fever hit in 1793, using historical stories to paint a grim picture. One of the negative features of...more An American Plague tackles the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 and does include quite a bit of authoritative documentation including excerpts from diaries of those living back during the epidemic and an extensive list of sources considering there are no survivors around today to confirm what really happened. The text attempts to describe how Philadelphia became almost unrecognizable when the yellow fever hit in 1793, using historical stories to paint a grim picture. One of the negative features of the book involves the visual information used to add on to what the text was describing. There are numerous instances where the reader may ask how an illustration relates to what is being said. For example, each chapter begins on the right side, and on the left is a full page picture of a portion of one of Philadelphia’s papers during this time. While there is potential for the illustration to add to what was to come in each chapter, it does not and in fact some of the newspaper pictures have nothing obvious that connects it with the overall telling of the yellow fever. This presents a problem to a reader because there are many instances of illustrations being used without an appropriate connection, which can be confusing. In terms of appropriateness, the intended audience is middle to high school students yet there are quite a few stretches of pages where there is nothing but text. While this is not a bad thing, there are no side boxes that further define or explain something that may be complex. For example, in the first chapter Murphy discusses how there was a French fear because of the Revolution happening in Paris, but it is so wordy and it is hard to find out how it connects with the larger story. Perhaps Murphy intended his book for older readers, but even so there are many dry parts that a reader may find inaccessible to make appropriate connections. The information is also ineffectively organized in quite a few places. In chapter seven, Murphy describes the committee that was formed in Philadelphia to deal with the epidemic, then comments on slavery, and mentions the African-Americans who were instrumental in taking care of the sick. The text could have benefitted from even subheadings to make a particular part clearer. The wordiness of the book is mentioned in a review from the American Library Association, which states:
full, chatty source notes, he tells of those who fled and those who stayed--among them, the heroic group of free blacks who nursed the ill and were later vilified for their work. Some readers may skip the daily details of life in eighteenth-century Philadelphia; in fact, the most interesting chapters discuss what is now known of the tiny fever-carrying mosquito and the problems created by over-zealous use of pesticides.
Another unfortunate result of the inaccessibility of the text for most readers is that there is little to no literary artistry. While there are full stories of certain people in the book, it reads more like an encyclopedia article than an award-winning informational text. As previously stated the use of illustrations is done poorly and instead of enticing a reader into the content, it confuses and drives them away. I was extremely disappointed overall in this book, and find it amazing that it won the Newbery Honor, National Book Award and Sibert Medal-maybe I am missing something.
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Mar 09, 2010 Lauma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: informational-books-and-biography

This is an excellent dramatic account of the yellow fever plague that hit Philadelphia in 1793--an historic time in the formation of our country. The author provides great detail about the illness, the people's reaction to the disease, the medical community's disagreement over its cause and treatment, and the political ramifications for the government. It was fascinating to learn how the plague affected George Washington's ability to lead our nation from Philadelphia, which at that time was the...more

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Apr 15, 2009 Melissa added it

3Q 2P M
I selected this as my non-fiction Best Book title, as I thought it would correlate well with my Margaret A. Edwards award selection “Fever 1793”. The book was a very detailed account of the yellow fever epidemic as it devastated the city of Philadelphia. Excerpts are made for important happenings beginning August 3, 1793 and continuing through September 1, 1858. The book covered aspects such as politics; the federal government was put on hold since Congress could not convene in Philadelph...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Ray Chen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not much of a fan of informational books, but "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" is one of my favorite books in this genre. It follows the severe impact of the Yellow Fever on Philadelphia, beginning in early August and ending in November, when the frost had killed the mosquitoes, finally putting an end to the raging disease. What makes this book unique is how the author managed to incorporate actual artifacts into the story, such as news...more

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Mar 22, 2010 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

I saw this book in the monthly book orders I send home with students from Scholastic. I thought it would make an interesting companion to Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever 1793. I was right! Jim Murphy has written a very good non-fiction book about the Yellow Fever epidemic that's appropriate for middle school students.

This fact-filled book is easy to read and contains many quotes and anecdotes, making it far less stuffy than a book written for an adult audience might be. While this book may be a bi...more

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Feb 08, 2010 Kthomp25 added it

Shelves: is-571-child-literature

Philadelphia, Yellow Fever, Dr. Benjamin Rush, President Washington, French Revolution, African American Society

Murphy has written a fascinating and very well researched account of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 that took place in Philadelphia. At that time, Philadelphia was the capitol of the fledgling nation of United States. President Washington and his family were one of the first to flee the city when the epidemic began. Murphy recounts the events leading up to the epidemic, from the fir...more

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May 09, 2012 Casey Strauss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: info-bios

An American Plague, written by Jim Murphy, details the yellow fever epidemic of 1793, which occurred in Philadelphia. The book is written in a easy to follow narrative, with excellent details, its evident that Murphy did his research about this time in history. At the beginning of the book is a map of the city of Philadelphia, which outlines the different streets and locations referenced in the chapters. It all began in August, when there was an alarming amount of flies, insects, and mosquitoes....more

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Nov 15, 2011 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: informational-biography, juv-nonfiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was a historical informational text about the Yellow Fever of 1793. It was a very interesting read, which I chose because I didn't have a lot of knowledge about this plague. The ending was very scary, in that the author stated that if the Yellow Fever were to come back today (and he hypothesized that it most definitely would at some point)we wouldn't be able to stop it quickly because we no longer manufacture vaccines. This plague still does not have a cure.

This book contains accurate...more This book was a historical informational text about the Yellow Fever of 1793. It was a very interesting read, which I chose because I didn't have a lot of knowledge about this plague. The ending was very scary, in that the author stated that if the Yellow Fever were to come back today (and he hypothesized that it most definitely would at some point)we wouldn't be able to stop it quickly because we no longer manufacture vaccines. This plague still does not have a cure.

This book contains accurate knowledge of the the Yellow Fever plague and its effects. The source list is broken up into several sections with annotations. For example, Murphy sites the firsthand accounts from both medical and non-medical sources in addition to books about Philadelphia, Blacks in the area, George Washington, just to name a few. The variety and quality of these sources demonstrates that this book is indeed written based on fact. Occasionally, I find non-fiction less than interesting; however, Murphy's writing style helped to bring the effects of the Yellow Plague to life. I constantly wanted to read on to find out more information, similar to the way I would read a fiction book. It takes a great author to write an informational text which keeps the reader engaged.

This book also presents the information in a very organized way. The table of contents and index both provide ways to travel though the book without reading the entire text. Each chapter starts off with a date, and the subsequent text refers to this date as well as events that happen on future days. The chronological order of the book helps the reader to understand the progression of the epidemic.

Although the bulk of the material is presented through text, original documents and drawings are utilized as well. The visuals are interspersed through the book, which helps to add visual appeal. The captions are also helpful to readers who have difficulty comprehending the pictures. At the beginning of each chapter there is also a relevant quote. This feature gives the reader further understanding of the Yellow Fever, as well as helps to frame the chapter for the reader.

I would recommend this book to any older student who wants to learn more about the Yellow Fever. It would be a great resource for a research project, as bits of information are easily accessible, or as a book to read all the way through!
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“Sometimes...I lose myself in looking back upon the ocean which I have passed, and now and then find myself surprised by a tear in reflecting upon the friends I have lost, and the scenes of distress that I have witnessed, and which I was unable to relieve.

—Dr. Benjamin Rush” — 4 people liked it

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

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