An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy (165 pages; 3 books) #13, 14, & 15
Murphy, Jim (2003). An American plague: The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
Awards: 2003 National Book Award Finalist, 2004 Newbery Honor Book, 2004 Robert F. Sibert Award, 2003 Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award, 2004 ALA Notable Book for Children, 2003 School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year, 2003 Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books -- Blue Ribbon Winner, 2004 NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, 2004 ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2004 Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, 2004 Orbis Pictus Award, 2004 Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts, 2004 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, 2003 Voice of Youth Advocates Nonfiction Honor List
Murphy, Jim (2003). An American plague: The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
Awards: 2003 National Book Award Finalist, 2004 Newbery Honor Book, 2004 Robert F. Sibert Award, 2003 Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award, 2004 ALA Notable Book for Children, 2003 School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year, 2003 Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books -- Blue Ribbon Winner, 2004 NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, 2004 ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2004 Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, 2004 Orbis Pictus Award, 2004 Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts, 2004 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, 2003 Voice of Youth Advocates Nonfiction Honor List
Grade Level: 5-8 grades
Author Credibility: Jim Murphy has won several awards for his books. He becomes an expert in whatever he writes by choosing a topic that is interesting to him then researching it thoroughly. As soon as he has gathered enough information on the topic, he writes a book concerning his research.
Summary/Response: It is hard to imagine our country facing the diseases it did during the beginning. However, Philadelphia, the first location for the capital of the U.S., was hit by a relentless violent disease called Yellow Fever in 1793. The fever filled the town with fear and a vast majority left the city. Those that were left were either slaves instructed by their masters to stay and guard the house, too poor to leave, or too noble to leave the great city. Murphy does an outstanding job painting a picture and providing quotes from people to depict an accurate picture of the horror the sickness brought. You can only imagine the stench from the dead and by product of the fever. An expectant mother pleading for a passerby to help deliver her baby while in the same room with her recent dead husband and two children.
A few of the preachers blame it on Philadelphia’s turn from God and when a meteorite fell and hit a side walk in the city, everyone thought that this was a heavenly sign that all was lost. The physicians in the story work tirelessly on a cure and after the scare of 1793 was over, there were still cases that demanded to find the culprit. Finally in the early 1900’s scientist were able to prove the transfer of the disease from the mosquito. This shone new light in the prevention of the disease and was followed by a safe, proven vaccination.
This is a book that I pick up and say, “Wow, I didn’t know that happened!” This book extends history to what the textbooks don’t talk about. This is a must read for anyone studying Early U.S. History.
National Standards: Language: Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
Social Studies: What is citizenship?, What are the rights of citizens?, What are the responsibilities of citizens? , What dispositions or traits of character are important to the preservation and improvement of American constitutional democracy?, How can citizens take part in civic life?
Science: Personal health, Populations, resources, and environments, Natural hazards, Risks and benefits, Science and technology in society
Illustrations: Sketched maps, primary source documents, black and white sketches and photographs.
Access Features: Table of contents, Sources, Acknowledgements, A note about the illustrations, Index
Related Texts: Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse, The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic That Shaped Our History by Molly Cladwell Crosby, American Plagues: Lessons From Our Battles with Diseases by Stephen H. Gehlbach
Classroom Use: I would use this in U.S. History as we talk about this time period with George Washington as our first president. It can be used as a compare/contrast of medical practices and medicines used then and now. You could discuss the use of pesticides and whether it is justifiable in the case of eradicating a mosquito that carried disease.
Author Credibility: Jim Murphy has won several awards for his books. He becomes an expert in whatever he writes by choosing a topic that is interesting to him then researching it thoroughly. As soon as he has gathered enough information on the topic, he writes a book concerning his research.
Summary/Response: It is hard to imagine our country facing the diseases it did during the beginning. However, Philadelphia, the first location for the capital of the U.S., was hit by a relentless violent disease called Yellow Fever in 1793. The fever filled the town with fear and a vast majority left the city. Those that were left were either slaves instructed by their masters to stay and guard the house, too poor to leave, or too noble to leave the great city. Murphy does an outstanding job painting a picture and providing quotes from people to depict an accurate picture of the horror the sickness brought. You can only imagine the stench from the dead and by product of the fever. An expectant mother pleading for a passerby to help deliver her baby while in the same room with her recent dead husband and two children.
A few of the preachers blame it on Philadelphia’s turn from God and when a meteorite fell and hit a side walk in the city, everyone thought that this was a heavenly sign that all was lost. The physicians in the story work tirelessly on a cure and after the scare of 1793 was over, there were still cases that demanded to find the culprit. Finally in the early 1900’s scientist were able to prove the transfer of the disease from the mosquito. This shone new light in the prevention of the disease and was followed by a safe, proven vaccination.
This is a book that I pick up and say, “Wow, I didn’t know that happened!” This book extends history to what the textbooks don’t talk about. This is a must read for anyone studying Early U.S. History.
National Standards: Language: Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
Social Studies: What is citizenship?, What are the rights of citizens?, What are the responsibilities of citizens? , What dispositions or traits of character are important to the preservation and improvement of American constitutional democracy?, How can citizens take part in civic life?
Science: Personal health, Populations, resources, and environments, Natural hazards, Risks and benefits, Science and technology in society
Illustrations: Sketched maps, primary source documents, black and white sketches and photographs.
Access Features: Table of contents, Sources, Acknowledgements, A note about the illustrations, Index
Related Texts: Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse, The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, the Epidemic That Shaped Our History by Molly Cladwell Crosby, American Plagues: Lessons From Our Battles with Diseases by Stephen H. Gehlbach
Classroom Use: I would use this in U.S. History as we talk about this time period with George Washington as our first president. It can be used as a compare/contrast of medical practices and medicines used then and now. You could discuss the use of pesticides and whether it is justifiable in the case of eradicating a mosquito that carried disease.
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