Where is the frost? Caught in the year 1793, all residents of Philadelphia prayed for a blanket of snow to appear each morning. While reading “Fever 1793,” I would catch myself wishing that the upcoming chapter would contain the visual of snow, lighting up the page, leading the way to a hopeful ending.

Early in the book, Yellow Fever hit the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hitting the readers hard with the first death, was a close friend of Mattie’s, who had worked in their family’s coffeehouse. After the death rates grew, it was almost possible to hear the Liberty Bell ringing, signaling another’s passing in your own head.

Once Mattie’s mother received the illness, the story’s beginning took off. Each day, another yellow flag would go up on a door of a fever victim. When the numbers increased and Mattie’s mother showed no sign of improvement, Mattie and her grandfather headed for the city leaving the housemaid to tend for her mother. Catching a ride in a covered wagon, the two were caught by a guard of the neighboring city. He told Mattie her grandfather had come down with Yellow Fever also and could not pursue through the city. Left on the side of the road, Mattie had to care for her ill grandfather.

Unaware if her mother was still alive, Mattie had to care for what was happening around her currently. Her fate is revealed in the ending chapters and giving it away would ruin the book for all who are interested. Based on a real event, learning new facts is easy to do. I highly recommend reading “Fever, 1793.”