A look at the yellow fever epidemic that took place in Philadelphia during the summer of 1793 from the viewpoint of 14-year-old Mattie Cook.

This particular copy has an interesting story: I went to a rummage sale at a large condo and a young woman had a basket of books marked "Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover". The books were wrapped in brown paper with limited labeling and tied up with string. Since they were 4 for $1, I picked 8 to buy. Based on the labeling I was virtually certain which book this was so it was one of the ones I chose. Apparently it was part of an English project and she was going to write a paper about her experience: I thought it was a fun idea and I hope she sold the rest of her books. My only quibbles were that (1) she taped the inside edge of the wrapping paper to the books (fortunately it came off) and (2) the pen she used to write on the outside bled through the paper, so most of the books have little black spots on the cover.

Larger photos:

• Basket
• Wrapped
• Front
• Unwrapped

Margaret A. Edwards Award winner, 2009.

Here's another copy on my shelf.

Headed out in quietorchid's Medicine Chest V box - go book, go!

I'm claiming this from the Medicine Chest bookbox. The subject sounds interesting, and I enjoyed the anecdote about its "Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover" origins!

Later: A quick read, and a dramatic one; the author paints a clear picture of this bleak period in Philadelphia's history, from the daily lives of young Mattie and her family as they run their coffee house to the increasingly-difficult chores involved in tending the sick and even finding enough food after fear of the fever keeps farmers away from the city. (Just imagining how hard it would be to try and keep clean when all the water has to be hauled up from a well and heated over a fire makes me want to thank my plumbing and washing machine and everyone involved in inventing and maintaining them!)

Despite the growing horrors and the tragedies, the book emphasizes the ways in which people pulled together to help and support each other in the face of what must have felt like the end of the world.

I also appreciated the author's detailed after-notes explaining more about the real-life elements of the story. Good book!

I left this book in the Little Free Library at around 1:30; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2015 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2015 Allergic to A challenge. ***