Will I love Fever 1793?

This may be weird, but stay with me: I’m fascinated by the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793. The disease and its aftermath shaped modern-day Philadelphia. 

Anderson’s story centers on 16-year-old Matty. When residents of means, including George Washington and his cabinet, fled crowded downtown Philadelphia, Matty could not. I felt her fear and confusion when it seemed like the epidemic would never end. I was frustrated with her when her plans to get away went awry.

We modern readers know that the fever, spread by mosquitoes, would stop being a problem in November when it was too cold for the… show more.

When I first read Fever 1793—set in Philadelphia during a yellow fever epidemic—I thought it was a well-written and thought-provoking glimpse into how people would respond in a crisis. After re-reading it post-pandemic, I would now add “prophetic.” Mattie is a typical grumpy teen who would rather have fun than work in her family’s coffee house. But there is a deadly fever rapidly spreading through the city. Desperation unleashes her inner strength, allowing her to prevail over disease, fear, food shortages, unscrupulous thieves, and well-intentioned but poorly-managed medical science.

This historical YA novel is remarkable for its sensitive and vivid portrayal of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. I recommend it for kids and teens looking for historical analogs to our present moment. I strongly believe that an understanding of the past is the best way to contextualize the present. 

A fast-moving plot, poignant drama, wonderful historical details. In Philadelphia, 1793, people first deny that yellow fever is back in town after a thirty-year absence. They try to blame the “dirty refugees” coming in by boat. No one wants their world to be suddenly overthrown like this, their lives torn apart, their parents and children and friends dying. But that kind of change is always possible and always pertinent. Fever 1793 brings this reality to life, with a completely believable main character and compelling verisimilitude.