BIBLIOGRAPHY
Murphy, Jim. 2003. AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793. NY: Clarion. ISBN 0395776082.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jim Murphy presents the details of Philadelphia’s yellow fever epidemic factually and interestingly. The book is not suitable for the very young, as the format contains few black and white illustrations and little white space. The facts are presented in a very straightforward way, often using direct quotations for emphasis and credibility. For example, the diary entry for Elizabeth Drinker on August 28 sums up quite clearly the spread of the disease with “There is a man next door but one to us, who Dr. Kuhn says will quickly die of this terrible disorder. Caty Prusia, over against us is very ill, and a man at ye Shoemakers next door the Neighr Waln’s; some sick in our Alley.”
The facts are presented in chapters named (with great use of foreshadowing) followed by a quotation of either a victim or survivor, subsequently followed by a date; therefore the course of events unfolds in perfectly logical manner. In the course of his text, Murphy covers not just the actual epidemic of 1793, but also timely descriptions of state and national affairs, the medical community, injustices in society, and personal vignettes of post-Revolutionary residents. Murphy uses each of those descriptions not to tease the curiosity rather than preach his convictions.
Overall, the text is clear, factual, and interesting in an attempt to explain a disease that is unclear, mysterious, and scary. Murphy uses the final chapter to explain the current threat of yellow fever and the probability that it will be just as devastating in the 21st century as it was in the 18th.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Grade 6-10-If surviving the first 20 years of a new nationhood weren't challenge enough, the yellow fever epidemic of 1793, centering in Philadelphia, was a crisis of monumental proportions. … An afterword explains the yellow fever phenomenon, its causes, and contemporary outbreaks, and source notes are extensive and interesting. Pair this work with Laurie Halse Anderson's wonderful novel Fever 1793 (S & S, 2000) and you'll have students hooked on history. -- School Library Journal
Mary R. Hofmann, Rivera Middle School, Merced, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 6-12. History, science, politics, and public health come together in this dramatic account of the disastrous yellow fever epidemic that hit the nation's capital more than 200 years ago. .. . ]T]he most interesting chapters discuss what is now known of the tiny fever-carrying mosquito and the problems created by over-zealous use of pesticides. Hazel Rochman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved -- Booklist
"Murphy's dramatic history book...brings to life the determination and perseverance of a people whose future was uncertain." CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR -- Review
"A mesmerizing, macabre account...powerful evocative prose... compelling subject matter...fascinating discussion...valuable lesson in reading and writing history. Stellar." KIRKUS REVIEWS, STARRED REVIEW
"Leisurely, lyrical tone...Murphy injects the events with immediacy...archival photographs...bring the story to life...comprehensive history." PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY
"laudable insight...Readers view the panic from several vantage points...allows his audience to share the contemporary complexity...truly absorbing" THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS, 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
"diverse voices...representative images...Everywhere, Murphy is attentive to telling detail...Thoroughly documented...the work is both rigorous and inviting." THE HORN BOOK MAGAZINE
"Nobody does juvenile nonfiction better than Murphy...transparently clear and well-paced prose...grueseome medical details...also plenty of serious history" --The Washington Post
"superbly written...represents nonfiction at its best...extremely accessible and readable...captivating...an outstanding annotated bibliography...an excellent choice" VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES (VOYA) VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)
"Lavishly illustrated . . . Murphy unflinchingly presents the horrors. . . . he has produced another book that can make history come alive. . . ."--NY TIMES BOOK REVIEW The New York Times Book Review
CONNECTIONS
*Gather and display for further reading other books on epidemics, diseases, and/or yellow fever
*After further reading, students can make up “Did you know?” mobiles or posters with facts they discovered during their research
*Coordinate with a science class or county extension agent to discuss mosquitoes and their breeding grounds. See if you can identify the kinds in your area and determine the kinds of diseases they may carry.
*Borrow a microscope and allow students to see more closely pond water, mosquito larvae, or other gross materials
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