Chains

Bibliography

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2008. Chains. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-1416905851.

Brief plot summary

Set during the American Revolution, Chains tells the story of thirteen-year-old Isabel and her sister Ruth, young slaves who expect to be freed when their owner, Miss Finch dies. Instead, they are sold to a cruel New York City couple, Mr. and Mrs. Lockton, who are British Loyalists. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners. Although reluctant at first, Isabel realizes that her loyalty is available to whoever can provide her with the promise of freedom.

Critical analysis

Written from the first-person point of view, Chains is a gripping historical thriller that tells the parallel stories of Isabel’s fight to gain her personal freedom and a young nation’s fight for freedom from the tyranny of England. The characters are skillfully drawn and Isabel’s emotional story is thought provoking. Slave masters are accurately depicted and Isabel gives insight into the experiences, feelings and opinions of slaves.

Anderson’s love for research is apparent throughout the book. Readers will feel as if they have been transported to 1776 through the detailed descriptions and rich imagery. The themes of power, freedom and the sources of human strength keep this engrossing story moving ahead at full speed from the first page through the last words. The epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter are well chosen and add to the authenticity of the story.

An appendix addresses many questions about history that readers will appreciate. This is the first book in a trilogy. The sequel, Forge, is already available and the final book Ashes is expected in Fall 2012.

Review excerpts

“Anderson explores elemental themes of power, freedom, and the sources of human strength in this searing, fascinating story.” – Booklist, Starred Review

“Readers will care deeply about Isabel….” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“The characters are well developed, and the situations are realistic. An author's note gives insight into issues surrounding the Revolutionary War and the fight for the nation's freedom even though 20 percent of its people were in chains. Well researched and affecting in its presentation, the story offers readers a fresh look at the conflict and struggle of a developing nation.” – School Library Journal

“Anderson (Speak; Fever 1793) packs so much detail into her evocation of wartime New York City that readers will see the turmoil and confusion of the times, and her solidly researched exploration of British and Patriot treatment of slaves during a war for freedom is nuanced and evenhanded, presented in service of a fast-moving, emotionally involving plot.” – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Anderson's novel is remarkable for its strong sense of time and place and for its nuanced portrait of slavery and of New York City during the Revolutionary War.” – Horn Book

“Engrossing . . . a heart-racing story.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Chains offers a perfect springboard for classroom discussion and history lessons. But don't dismiss it as academic fodder. Battle scenes and politics, heroic acts and secret plots fill its pages, making it as exciting for readers who prefer action (as do many boys) as it is inspiring for those more drawn to stories about people and relationships (as girls often are).” – Christian Science Monitor

Awards / Best Books

Cybil Award Winner, 2009

National Book Award Finalist, 2008

Parents’ Choice Award Gold, 2008

School Library Journal Battle of the Kids Books Nominee, 2009

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction Winner, 2009

School Library Journal Battle of the Kids’ Books Nominee, 2010

ALSC Notable Children’s Books, 2009

Amazon Editors’ Picks: Top 10 Books, 2008

Booklist Best Books for Young Adults, 2009

Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books, 2008

School Library Journal Best Books, 2009

Teachers’ Choices, 2009

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2009

Classroom Connections

 Schedule a Skype visit with Laurie Halse Anderson. The current fee is $300 for a 45-60 minute long session with Ms. Anderson. Students can hear the author talk about the book and ask her questions. Visit http://madwomanintheforest.com/teachers/skype/ for more information.

Students view “Liberty in the Air” episode of Slavery and the Making of America (PBS).  Students will examine the life of Titus, a runaway slave from New Jersey who led a band of guerilla soldiers for the British, and explore why and how African Americans fought during the Revolution. Students will then have the opportunity to visit online interactive resources. As a culminating activity, students creatively write journal entries from a variety of historical perspectives, including slave, runaway slave, slave owner, and British soldier. Full lesson plan can be found at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/teachers/lesson1.html.

Students view “Liberty in the Air” episode of Slavery and the Making of America (PBS).  Students will examine Thomas Jefferson’s complex and contradictory relationship with slavery. Through an examination of a variety of online primary source documents, students will examine his attitude toward slavery and how he addresses it in the Declaration of Independence. Students will rewrite portions of the Declaration of Independence to more accurately reflect Jefferson’s views and the views of contemporary American society. Full lesson plan can be found at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/teachers/lesson2.html.

Research and learn more about Colonial-era slavery or the American Revolution in New York City.

Other related books:

• Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson – ISBN 978-1416961444
• Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson – ISBN 978-0689848919
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson – ISBN 978-0763636791
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson – ISBN 978-0763646264
• Eyewitness: American Revolution by Stuart Murray – ISBN 978-0756610593
• George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer – ISBN 978-1426300424
• George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War by Thomas B. Allen – ISBN 978-1426300417

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Bibliography

Kelly, Jacqueline. 2009. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 978-0805088410.

Brief plot summary

Calpurnia Virginia Tate (Callie Vee) is an inquisitive eleven-year-old growing up in a small Texas town in 1899. She is the only girl in a family of seven children. Her mother is trying to prepare her for her life as a wife and mother by ensuring that she learns the domestic arts—knitting, tatting, cooking and playing the piano; however, Callie is more interested in exploring the natural world around her. During the closing months of 1899 Callie forms a deep relationship with her Granddaddy, who kindles her interest in natural science and encourages her to use the scientific method in her quest for answers about the natural world.

Critical analysis

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is that rarest of books that draws in readers who would not ordinarily turn to science. It makes a romance of the most mundane of scientific tasks as it embraces an early 20^th century Texas girl’s coming of age and the struggle to find one’s identity in a society with strict gender expectations.

Callie’s story of self-discovery is told through lively first-person narrative that includes sly humor and rich details that breathe life into the well-defined characters and settings. The culture and social life of the early 20th century is accurately depicted in Calpurnia’s family and the community. Fact and fiction are well balanced as historical details are carefully woven into the story, adding to its authenticity. Each chapter begins with an epigraph taken from Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species. These chapter headings not only provide a hint about what is occurring in Calpurnia’s life, but also provide the reader with a direct connection with Calpurnia, who is reading The Origin of Species.

The book’s themes of science, family life, and working toward a future dream should resonate with its audience. The story ends with a new century dawning and the reader is left rooting for Callie Vee to challenge traditional roles and expectations for the women of her times and to realize her dream of becoming a scientist.

Review excerpts

“Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman who’s refreshingly ahead of her time.” – Horn Book, Starred Review
“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family—the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings—all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life. The eye-catching jacket art, which silhouettes Callie and images from nature against a yellow background, is true to the period and the story. Many readers will hope for a sequel to this engaging, satisfying first novel.” – Booklist, Starred Review

“Readers will finish this witty, deftly crafted debut novel rooting for "Callie Vee" and wishing they knew what kind of adult she would become.” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“A charming and inventive story of a child struggling to find her identity at the turn of the 20th century… there’s no uncertainty over the achievement of Kelly’s debut novel.” – School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Callie’s transformation into an adult and her unexpected bravery make for an exciting and enjoyable read. Kelly’s rich images and setting, believable relationships and a touch of magic take this story far.” – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Each chapter of this winning…novel opens with a quotation from ‘On the Origin of Species’—a forbidden book that her own grandfather turns out to have hidden away.  Together they study Darwin’s masterpiece, leading to a revolution in Callie’s ideas of what she might accomplish on her own.” – The New York Times Book Review

Awards / Best Books

Indies Choice Book Award Honor Book, 2010

John Newberry Medal Honor Book, 2010

School Library Journal Battle of the Kids’ Books Nominee, 2010

ALSC Notable Children’s Books, 2009

Amazon Editors’ Picks: Top 10 Books, 2009

Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth, 2010

Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books, 2009

School Library Journal Best Books, 2009

Teachers’ Choices, 2010

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2010

Classroom Connections

Each chapter begins with an epigraph from Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species. Students take any given chapter and connect the significance of the epigraph to the theme of that chapter.

Calpurnia is fascinated with Charles Darwin and his book The Origin of Species. Students can research Charles Darwin’s life and the book that made him famous. What was his basic premise? How does it link to Callie’s observations about the green and yellow grasshoppers?

Callie longs to be a scientist. Have a discussion about how unusual this was for a girl growing up at that time. Students can research and write about the social or cultural obstacles Calpurnia might face in pursuing this goal and the possibility that she will be able achieve her goal?

Compare this book with Albert Marrin’s book Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy, another book that deals with women’s rights at the turn of the century.

Other related books:

• Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman – ISBN 978-0805087215
• Charles Darwin: Naturalist by Margaret J. Anderson – ISBN 978-0766027947
• DK Biography: Charles Darwin by David C. King – ISBN 978-0756625542
• Lifelines: Charles Darwin by Alan Gibbons – ISBN 978-0753462515
• Evolution: How We and All Things Came to Be by Daniel Loxton – ISBN 978-1554534302
• The True Adventures of Charley Darwin by Carolyn Meyer – ISBN 978-0152061944
• Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial by Ronald Kidd – ISBN 1416905723
• Who Was Charles Darwin? by Deborah Hopkinson – ISBN 978-0448437644

Lily's Crossing

Bibliography

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1997. Lily’s Crossing. New York: Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0385321426.

Brief plot summary

Lily Mollahan spends the summer of 1944 at her family’s summer beach house in Rockaway, as she has for as long as she can remember; but World War II has changed everything. Her father goes overseas to war and her best friend, Margaret, has moved to a wartime factory town. Left without her best friend, Lily feels alone until she meets Albert, a refugee from Hungary. Over the summer they develop a friendship, sharing adventures and secrets.

Critical analysis

Lily’s Crossing is a moving story set during World II that will give young readers an idea of what it was like to grow up during that time and an understanding of how the war affected people on the home front. As the plot and characters develop the reader will be challenged to think about the meaning of family, dealing with guilt, separation and loss, the consequences of dishonesty, and the rewards of honesty–themes readers will easily identify with through the characters of Lily and Albert.

Giff tells a compelling friendship story that includes believable main characters, well drawn and clearly presented. Poppy is the exception—he seems to lack dimensionality. The narrative gives insight into Lily’s private thoughts that ultimately result in her decisions and actions. We are able to experience Lily’s growth as she moves beyond her self-centered childhood and navigates her way into adolescence. The historical details are accurate and non-intrusive, providing the setting for an appealing, realistic and relevant story.

Review excerpts

"Details...are woven with great effect into a realistic story." – Horn Book, Starred Review
"With wry comedy and intense feeling...Giff gets across a strong sense of what it was like on the home front during World War II...The friendship story is beautifully drawn." – Booklist

“…Nonfiction writing at its best. Essential for WWII collections as well as teaching units on conformity, peer pressure and resistance.” – Kirkus Reviews
“The developing friendship between Lily and Albert, and Albert's plan to swim to Europe to find Ruth, will grab readers' attention and sustain it to book's end. Despite convenient plot twists to reach a happy ending, Giff's well-drawn, believable characters and vivid prose style make this an excellent choice.” – School Library Journal
"Exceptional characterizations and a robust story line...this has all the ingredients that best reward readers." – Publishers Weekly

"Brilliantly told." – The New York Times Book Review

Awards / Best Books

Newberry Medal Honor Book, 1998

Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book, 1997

ALSC Notable Children’s Books, 1998

Teachers’ Choices, 1998; International Reading Association

Classroom Connections

Explore the ThinkQuest student project, HomeFront (http://library.thinkquest.org/15511/), about life in the US during World War II. Students can create timelines showing what might have been happening in Lily's life, in the US, and in other parts of the world during each year of the war.

Albert comes from Hungary. Students can research Hungary and how it was involved in World War II.

Students research how and why World War II ended and create a news story about the end of the war.

After finishing the novel listen to an episode of Portia Faces Life (http://www.otrcat.com/portia-faces-life-p-49242.html). Assign groups of students portions of Lily’s Crossing and have them develop an episode of a radio soap opera based on the novel. Each group records their episode adding sound effects and music. They also develop a commercial as part of the episode.

Other related books:

• DK Eyewitness Books: World War II by Simon Adams – ISBN: 978-0756630089
• The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won by Stephen E. Ambrose – ISBN: 978-0689843617
• Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn – ISBN 978-0547076607
• Willow Run by Patricia Reilly Giff – ISBN: 978-0440238010

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

Bibliography

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction. ISBN 978-0439353793.

Brief plot summary

By 1939, more than 7 million German children belonged to the Hitler Youth, a political machine that capitalized on the youth, innocence, and enthusiasm of Germany's children. Bartoletti explores how Hitler gained the loyalty, trust, and passion of so many of Germany's young people. Following the lives of twelve children who grew up in Hitler's Germany, the author uses their stories to reveal the actions and emotions of a generation who were enticed and then used by the Nazi party. The work weaves together the stories of former members of the Hitler Youth, young people who chose to resist the Nazi movement, and Jewish youths and others who were targeted by the Nazis.

Critical analysis

The story of the children and teenagers of Germany during World War II is told from multiple perspectives: members of the Hitler Youth, those who resisted, and those who were persecuted. Through twelve young people the reader experiences life during the war and comes to understand not only how the young were manipulated and used by Hitler’s regime, but also how difficult it was to risk one’s life by turning against the indoctrination and fight against them.

This carefully researched and powerfully narrated book will provide significant information for anyone with an interest in the Holocaust and/or World War II. Readers will gain an understanding of Germany’s part in World War II, along with a connection stemming from World War I. By focusing on the role of Germany’s young people in the war, Bartoletti provides today’s readers a connection with these historical events.

The book is organized chronologically from the early years of the Hitler Youth through the end of the war. An epilogue tells what became of all the young people who were featured in the book. The storytelling is supported by an abundance of historical photos, details, and relevant quotes. Includes a timeline of the Hitler Youth, an author’s note, and an index along with an extensive bibliography and list of sources for the quotes.

 Review excerpts

“The power of the account is matched by the many period candid and propaganda photographs, well-married to the text by strong captions and placement…” – Horn Book, Starred Review
“Bartoletti draws on oral histories, diaries, letters, and her own extensive interviews with Holocaust survivors, Hitler Youth, resisters, and bystanders to tell the history from the viewpoints of people who were there.” – Booklist, Starred Review

“…Nonfiction writing at its best. Essential for WWII collections as well as teaching units on conformity, peer pressure and resistance.” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Bartoletti lets many of the subjects’ words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has.” – School Library Journal
“This solid offering deserves wide readership by today's young people, and it is certain to promote extensive discussion." – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Awards / Best Books

John Newbery Medal Honor Book, 2006

Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honor Book, 2006

Parent Choice Award Gold Non-Fiction, 2005

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Honor Book, 2006

ALSC Notable Children’s Books, 2006

Booklist Editors Choice, 2005

Kirkus Best Children’s Books, 2005

Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books, 2005

School Library Journal Best Books, 2005

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2006

Classroom Connections

Before reading from the book students brainstorm reasons why and to what extent they think young people were targeted during World War II and the Holocaust.

Pair Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow with The Boy Who Dared. Use excerpts from this book to introduce or to build background knowledge while reading the historical fiction novel, The Boy Who Dared.

This book can be used as part of a discussion/lesson on propaganda in which students explore what it is and how it works.

Students select a quote from the book that resonates with them and explain why they chose the quote.

Students can write responses to the wonderings at the end of the book: Could another despot like Hitler rise to power on the shoulders of young people? What are you willing to do to prevent such a shadow from falling over you and others? Responses can then be used to organize a class debate or philosophical chairs activity.

Other related books:

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – ISBN 978-0375931000        
• DK Eyewitness Books: World War II by Simon Adams – ISBN: 978-0756630089
• The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won by Stephen E. Ambrose – ISBN: 978-0689843617
• Hans and Sophie Scholl: German Resisters of the White Rose by Toby Axelrod – ISBN 0823933164
• The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler by James Cross Giblin – ISBN: 978-0395903711
• Parallel Journeys by Eleanor H. Ayer, Helen Waterford and Alfons Heck – ISBN: 978-0689832369
• Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps by Adrea Warren – ISBN: 978-0060007676

Other books by Susan Campbell Bartoletti:

• Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 – ISBN 978-0618548835
• The Boy Who Dared – ISBN 978-0439680134
• Growing Up in Coal Country – ISBN 978-0395778470
• Kids on Strike! – ISBN 978-0395888926
• No Man’s Land – 978-0590383714
• They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group – ISBN 061844033X

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart

Bibliography

Fleming, Candace. 2011. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 978-0375841989.

Brief plot summary

Amelia Lost tells the story of Amelia Earhart, a courageous aviatrix who encouraged women to realize their dreams. The story begins with Amelia's birth and tells the story of her life until her disappearance.

Critical analysis

In this biography of Amelia Earhart historian Candace Fleming successfully alternates dual narratives, biographical information chronicling her childhood and growth into celebrity with the recounting of her final flight and the search that followed. The alternating narratives build suspense and keep the reader hooked through the conclusion of the book.

In an effort to take a fresh look at Earhart’s life, Fleming does not shy away from uncovering the “history in the hype” and separating the “truth from myth” of Earhart’s self-promoted celebrity image.  This is sympathetically achieved through primary sources and does not belittle Earhart’s achievements.  Through personal anecdotes, archival documents and photographs readers come to understand why everyone cared so much for this daring woman pilot. This book successfully imparts who Amelia Earhart was, what she accomplished along with her faults and shortcomings, and what drove her ambition.

The book includes many visuals to support the text: photographs, handwritten notes, documents, and maps. Sidebars and inserts are used to clarify information and facts related to the times, aviation, and Earhart’s life. The quality of research is apparent by the bibliography and detailed source notes.

Review excerpts

“The book’s structure and scope, along with the story’s inherent drama, provide a taut, cinematic backdrop for the history of Earhart’s doomed flight." – Horn Book, Starred Review
“Drawing on her training as a historian and her considerable writing talents, Fleming (The Great and Only Barnum, 2009) offers a fresh look at this famous aviatrix. Employing dual narratives—straightforward biographical chapters alternating with a chilling recounting of Earhart’s final flight and the search that followed—Fleming seeks to uncover the “history in the hype,” pointing out numerous examples in which Earhart took an active role in mythologizing her own life.” – Booklist

“Handwritten notes, photos, maps and inquisitive sidebars (What did Earhart eat during flight? Tomato juice and chocolate) complete this impeccably researched, appealing package. A stunning look at an equally stunning lady.” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Ho-hum history? Not in Fleming’s apt hands. What could be a dry recitation of facts and dates is instead a gripping and suspenseful thriller...This book is splendid. Hand it to everyone.” – School Library Journal
“Fleming cleverly structures this biography to give the tale of tragedy a fresh and dreadful impact...As a result, this offers not only a provocative introduction to Earhart but also compelling glimpse of what it was like to watch her disappear from the world." – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Awards / Best Books

Cybil Award Winner, 2011

Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honor Book, 2012

Horn Book Fanfare, 2011

Kirkus Best Children’s Books, 2011

New York Times Notable Children’s Books, 2011

ALSC Notable Children’s Books, 2012

School Library Journal Best Books, 2011

Washington Post Best Kid’s Books, 2011

Classroom Connections

Include this book as part of a unit on important women of the 20^th century or a unit on the history of flight.

Students can create a “did you know?” bulletin board focusing on events and accomplishments from Amelia Earhart’s life.

Students can read a book about or research the life of Charles Lindbergh and then compare and contrast his life in aviation with that of Amelia Earhart.

Other nonfiction books about Amelia Earhart:

• Amelia Earhart (DK Biography) by Tanya Lee Stone – ISBN 0756625521
• Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic by Robert Burleigh – ISBN 1416967338
• Sky Pioneer: A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart by Corrine Szabo – ISBN 1426300441
• Amelia Earhart: Legendary Aviator by Jameson Anderson – ISBN 0736896597
• Who Was Amelia Earhart? by Kate Boehm Jerome – ISBN 978-0448428567

Other nonfiction books by Candace Fleming:

• Ben Franklin’s Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman’s Life – ISBN 978-0689835490
• The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum – ISBN 0375841970
• The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary – ISBN 0375836187
• Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Remarkable Life – ISBN 978-0689865442

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

Bibliography

Murphy, Jim. 2011. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 978-0395776082.

Brief plot summary

In 1793 Philadelphia, the nation's capital and the largest city, is plagued by an apparently incurable disease with an unknown cause. Murphy describes the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the city's residents.

Critical analysis

This well-researched informational book takes the reader through the epidemic that plagued Philadelphia in 1793—from its detection, through its symptoms, treatments, and high number of deaths, how it affected the residents of Philadelphia, and what the city did to combat it. Murphy endeavors to tell the complete story by weaving together information about medical history with the political, economic, and social context in which the epidemic occurred. The reader experiences the yellow fever epidemic first hand through the words of those who were there and will be fascinated and horrified by the vivid details.

In the final chapter of the book Murphy deals with other epidemics of yellow fever, explains the nature of yellow fever, and tells how the disease was finally controlled. Readers are certain to come away with an appreciation for the medical advances that have occurred between then and now.

The included illustrations, portraits of key figures, maps, and pages from contemporary newspapers will help readers appreciate the setting and period of the epidemic. Sources are documented in an excellent annotated bibliography.

Review excerpts

"diverse voices...representative images...Everywhere, Murphy is attentive to telling detail...Thoroughly documented...the work is both rigorous and inviting."– Horn Book
"History, science, politics and public health come together in this dramatic account...brings the 'unshakeable unease' chillingly close."– Booklist

“A mesmerizing, macabre account...powerful evocative prose... compelling subject matter...fascinating discussion...valuable lesson in reading and writing history. Stellar.” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories...extensive and interesting...you'll have students hooked on history." – School Library Journal, Starred Review
"laudable insight...Readers view the panic from several vantage points...allows his audience to share the contemporary complexity...truly absorbing"– Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Starred Review

Awards / Best Books

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature Winner, 2004

National Book Award Finalist, 2003

John Newbery Medal Honor Book, 2004

Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Winner, 2004

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner, 2004

ALSC Great Middle School Reads, 2004

ALSC Notable Children’s Books, 2004

Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth, 2003

NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students, K-12, 2005

School Library Journal Best Books, 2003

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2004

Classroom Connections

Design a cross-curricular unit that includes reading Laurie Halse Anderson’s book Fever, 1793 and An American Plague during the time when students are learning about the late-18^th century in Social Studies. Science class can focus on the medical aspects of the disease and in Math class students can create and interpret graphs related to the disease.

Students can create a timeline to use their higher order thinking skills to highlight the most important information and events that were a part of the yellow fever epidemic.

Other nonfiction books by Jim Murphy:

• Blizzard!: The Storm that Changed America – ISBN 978-0590673105.
• The Crossing: How George Washington Saved the American Revolution – ISBN 978-0439691864
• The Great Fire – ISBN 978-0590472678.
• The Real Benedict Arnold – ISBN 978-0395776094
• A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy – ISBN 978-0395900192