It's the year 1793 and the only thing little fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook needs to worry about is how to avoid her mother’s scoldings. Her mother was always the perfect girl. Always up stitching quilts, spinning wool, she constantly kept herself busy. There was never a moment to spare. Mattie lives with her mother and grandfather in Philadelphia in an apartment over their family business, a coffeehouse.
Young adult readers will honestly enjoy this book because this is the story about a young girl who the readers can really relate to. While reading the book, you feel drawn towards and close to our heroine, Mattie. Historically accurate and excellent at describing vivid and bone chilling images, Laurie Halse Anderson puts the reader smack-dab into 1793 and onto the streets of Philadelphia. Mattie’s father had dreams about owning their own coffeehouse. Bustling with people from all over the city, it seemed like a cheerful dream to look towards. Unfortunately,
Towards the end of the summer an outbreak of yellow fever spreads like wildfire.“ ‘Where’s Polly?’ I asked. ‘I spoke with her mother’ Mother answered softly, ‘It happened quickly. Polly sewed by candlelight after dinner and then she collapsed. Matilda, Polly’s dead.’” The fever then spreads from the docks and creeps up the front steps of Mattie’s home and threatens her family and friends she has known all her life. One of the worst epidemics in United States history, it killed nearly five thousand people. With thousands fleeing the city and Mattie trapped amidst the chaos, heavy responsibility is thrust upon her and she must overcome obstacles and work full-time and be able to run the coffeehouse on her own. Catching the fever, her resilient mind and body makes a full recovery and she sets off to help others in need. By the time the epidemic is over, Mattie emerges a woman, poised and strong. She is even beginning to strive towards her dream; ru
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