Genre Four - Nonfiction

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Murphy, Jim. 2003. AN AMERICAN PLAGUE THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395776082.

PLOT SUMMARY:
AN AMERICAN PLAGUE THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793 is the true story of an outbreak of yellow fever in the city of Philadelphia in 1793. The residents of Philadelphia are becoming ill and no one knows why. While many people fled the city to avoid the illness, half of those who remained died from the disease. George Washington was one of those who fled the city (then the capital of the United States) and this act caused a constitutional crisis. It details the events that occurred in Philadelphia during the epidemic including the role free blacks played in tending to those who were sick. Jim Murphy tells this horrific tale in gory detail that leaves nothing to the imagination. Anyone interested in American History or science will love this story.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The story of the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia is told through a progression of events that leads the reader through the first year of the disease. Each chapter begins with a newspaper article or other primary source of information on the opposite page of the chapter’s text and a quote from the era is also included. This gives readers a taste of what the chapter is about and makes the readers eager to continue reading.

This book is filled with drawings, sketches, newspaper clippings, and other artifacts from historical societies and other sources to allow the reader to know that this was a real event in our past. Mr. Murphy has done an immense amount of research as shown in his extensive list of sources and acknowledgements. Famous historical figures, such as George Washington are mentioned in the book as well as regular people.

Historically accurate, the gruesome details provided about the tolls of the disease, allow the reader to experience what life was like in the 1700’s before sanitary and medical advances were made. Murphy not only does his research on historical events but also in the medical field. The last chapter of the book provides suggestions about how the disease began and was spread. He explains how mosquitoes were eventually identified as the culprit.

This book is great for young as well as older adults. As a U.S. History teacher I will be sure to add this book to my collection of ancillary teaching tools. I recommend this book to history lovers as well as science enthusiasts alike.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Publishers Weekly
"Leisurely, lyrical tone...Murphy injects the events with immediacy...archival photographs...bring the story to life...comprehensive history."

School Library Journal Starred
"solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories...extensive and interesting...you'll have students hooked on history."

The Washington Post
"Nobody does juvenile nonfiction better than Murphy."

2003 National Book Award Finalist

2004 Newberry Honor Book

2004 The Robert F. Sibert Medal

2004 ALA Best Book for Young Adults

2004 Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

2004 Orbis Pictus Award

CONNECTIONS:
Use as a tool for teaching the concepts of primary and secondary sources.
Use as a reading extension in American History.
Have students create a timeline of the book.
Students can publish their own newspaper about the events of 1793.
For science class, students can read this book and study the spread of disease through mosquitoes.