SOLVED. Childrens book about bubonic plague [s]

[Lauren]

I read a book sometime in the late 1960s.early 1970s that involved time travel and the bubonic plague. It was definitely fiction. I believe the novel was set in England.

Anybody?

[Andria]

Poor Tom's Ghost? I think it was first published in 1977, so maybe too late. But just in case, here's a detailed review http://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com...

[Andria]

And there's also The Children of Green Knowe - which has the ghosts of children who died of the plague haunting an old estate.

[Louise]

Time frame is completely out but Doomsday book by Connie willis fits othewise and is fab. Maybe a read while you wait? http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24...

[Dee]

zomg - I know this book - blanking on the title - hang on - I remember reading it in high school

[Dee]

i just sent a msg to my mom who is a high school English teacher - I think either I read in for school, or she taught it - so maybe she'll remember

[Cheryl]

A children's book to read while you wait, if it's the theme you're after - At the Sign of the Sugared Plum. (Willis's book is not aimed at children and is huge. :)

I hope Dee's mom remembers - back then historical fiction for children was a little different than it is now.

[Dee]

i want to say that the authors name was later in the alphabet - because I remember it being on the backside of the bookshelves at school - back when the fiction section for YA was only a row of books (lol!) -

[Andria]

Dee, are you possibly thinking of The House on Hound Hill?

[Dee]

nope - doesn't sound familiar - if this is the book - i'm thinking of, it was relatively short - maybe 150ish pages; when they first go back in time, it is a snow-storm and they take shelter in a barn (or something like that) - they don't realize that they have gone back in time for a while

[Dee]

maybe Children of the Plague - Pamela Oldfield? (published 1979)

My mom also came back with The Plague (Plague 99) - Jean Ure - which also sounds familiar - but it is more dystopia than historical fiction (and not published in the 60/70's)

[Lauren]

Dee, 1979 is too late. I was in college by then. But your description of the barn and the snowstorm really rings a bell.

[Lauren]

Might it have a one word title- like the name of a village?

[Dee]

this is really going to bug me now!! lol!

[Wendy]

The Pit. This is the only book I can think of with these themes. I read it when I was a kid so can't remember many details.

[Mary]

Was the village called Eyam? it is famous because it endured the plague. I'll keep looking- cause its going to bug me until I remember

[Mary]

Got it! children of winter- berlie doherty fits the idea but was published in 1995 which might be too late.

[Mary]

Children of Winter originally written in 1984 but that still might be too late. However, Dee, this would be right for you at Woodies.

[Dee]

Lol - hi mom ;)

[Kate]

A good possibility is The Cure by Sonia Levitin. It involves time travel, the plague. However, it was published in 1999.

[Lauren]

Nope. Too late. This is driving me nuts.

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

The Peace Child I believe had a scene with a barn in it..and the plague plays a big part in the story.

But yet again 1988..too late

[Mary]

Dee wrote: "Lol - hi mom ;)"

HI Dee

[Lauren]

The search continues........

[Dee]

on the bright side - the one I was thinking of was the Berlie Doherty one - sorry it isn't the one you were looking for though

[Marion]

Playing Beattie Bow by Ruth Park? Although this was set in Sydney...

[karen]

Ann Benson has a trilogy about the plague that also deals with modern times, but i don't think there is time travel... i haven't read them - sorry... just thought i'd drop it here...

[Lauren]

Nope. :)

[karen]

oh, and i didn't even see that this was a children's book - sorry. i am the worst.

[Antonomasia]

I'm pretty sure it's Astercote. This was a favourite of mine and I still have a copy.

A Parcel of Patterns is too recent and but seems worth mentioning in case anyone else wants books like this.

[Lauren]

Astercote could be it! The pub date is right.

Wow! I need to find this and read it right away.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Let us know if that is it Lauren. We always love to celebrate with the person who has found their missing friend.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Lauren, was Astercote the right book?

[Lauren]

It was! Thank you so much. I just got it and read it again. Thank you to Antonomasia and everyone else who chimed in!

I loved reading it again and was delighted to find out it was by Penelope Lively whose adult fiction I've been reading for years.

[Christine]

definitely Astercote, I just searched for this as well, it was madeinto a children'S series in the late 70s, very early 80s and totally haunted me!

[Christine]

series was called The Bells of Astercote

[Lauren]

I'll have to look for that. I didn't realize it was a show. Was this in england?

[Christine]

Yes Lauren. Unfortunately, I can't find much on it but I remember it clearly - there was a golden cup, like a grail in it and I got my dad to make me one to protect me from the plague! It was broadcast in 1980 when I was an impressionable 7 year old!

[Christine]

Hardly info, unfortunately - another fab series lost in the archives somewhere... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403873/

[Christine]

I just bought it to read to my 6 year old!