What I’m Reading: Fever 1793

I just finished up listening to the audio book Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I have known about this book for some time.  I almost bought it out of the kids’ book orders for myself when they were in school (that’s how you know you’re a real historical/juvenile fiction nut-buying books for yourself from the book order).  I never did by the book but when I saw it was available as and audio book via the online library, I snapped it up.

The book was pretty good…easy for kids to understand.  I can see if I was a upper elementary teacher that this might be a good choice to have my classroom of kids read.  The book was fast moving and had lots of scenes where kids could pick up pieces of history.

Here’s what Amazon had to say, “During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out. 
Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie’s world upside down. At her feverish mother’s insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city turned frantic with disease.”

Amazon readers give it 4.5 stars….I guess reading it as an adult, I’d say 4.2 stars.  I could see a few flaws.  The author would occasionally sound like a modern day teen, then she’d fall back to the formality of the times.  It was nothing serious, but as an I am an adult reader, it’s something I noticed.  All in all, it’s a quick read and a fine book.