Hello Book Lovers!

Man is it hot and humid in Missouri! Heat and humidity means a lot of bugs and bug-related illnesses.

Cue in my latest read of Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. 

Historical fiction isn’t typically my thing, but when I saw this book at Trailhead Books earlier this year there was just something about it that caught my interest.

Going in, I knew pretty much nothing of Yellow Fever, so I just dove into the book and gave it a shot. Let’s see how it went!

Blurb

It’s late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn’t get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. New customers have overrun her family’s coffee shop, located far from the mosquito-infested river, and Mattie’s concerns of fever are all but overshadowed by dreams of growing her family’s small business into a thriving enterprise. But when the fever begins to strike closer to home, Mattie’s struggle to build a new life must give way to a new fight—the fight to stay alive.

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I am an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate and earn a small commission for purchases made through the links in this post at no cost to you. It’s a great way to help me keep things running on my blog if you’re already intrigued enough to make a purchase. 

The Review

I loved this book to pieces!

At the turn of the 18th century, young Mattie works with her mother in a coffeehouse in Philadelphia. Desperate to grow up and make choices of her own, her life is upended when an epidemic of yellow fever rocks Philadelphia to its core.

Historical fiction is not my typical genre, but there was something about this book that drew me in and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. This is a story of survival and perseverance. I’m no expert on 18th century America, but I loved all the details of day to day life. It painted a very clear picture that I could see in my mind.

Mattie (Matilda) was a great main character. She started out rebellious, but through her hardships she grew into a capable and smart young woman. I loved the dynamics of her household and the differing personalities of her mother, her grandfather, and Eliza.

The pacing of this book is fast with small pauses in intervals. Each chapter was a surprise, and I loved not knowing what direction things were going to go. Zero complaints with this book. It’s a must read if you love historical fiction or just want a nice story to dive into.

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this book review. Like what you see? Leave a tip!

Have you read this book? Are there other similar books you’ve read that you simply have to gush about? Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to start a conversation!

Have a great day!

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