6.18.2007

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 2004 Honor Book ***


An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 is an account of the events during the plague that hit the nation's capital at the time, Philadelphia. This plague was so devastating that it essentially shut down the federal government. The author Jim Murphy chronicles the events using documenations, pictures and vivid descriptions.

I found this book to be fascinating but not appropiate for children. Some of the accounts are graphic and disturbing. I think a high school student could handle the information, but I wouldn't go much younger than that. Interestingly former slaves from Africa and West Indies were immunized because they had had it children in their homeland. This put them in the perfect position to truly serve the community and try to help the sick and dying. How they were treated after the epidemic is truly tragic.

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