An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

Murphy, J. (2003). An American plague: The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Summary: It is the beginning of August in 1793, and the hot, humid weather in Philadelphia is making everyone miserable. Little do the city’s residents know, however, that the same weather is creating a breeding ground for a deadly disease that will soon ravage the city: yellow fever. At first, the relatively few cases seem as though they could be nothing more than a regular fever caused by the heat. But then Dr. Benjamin Rush begins to notice an alarming pattern that he recognizes from his previous encounters with the illness. Despite his attempts to warn others in the city, nobody believes Dr. Rush’s claims that yellow fever has struck until it has begun its rapid spread. Now, those wealthy enough to leave—including most of the newly formed government’s officials, President George Washington among them—are fleeing the city, leaving a catastrophic situation behind them. The poor left behind and the few rich brave enough to stay are left to muddle through as best they can. With surrounding cities shunning them, insufficient supplies, and too few healthy hands to accomplish much-needed work, Philadelphia’s most courageous inhabitants must step forward and work together to return the city to its former health and prosperity.

Standard(s): California History/Social Science 5.8: Students trace the colonization, immigration, and settlement patterns of the American people from 1789 to the mid-1800s, with emphasis on the role of economic incentives, effects of the physical and political geography, and transportation systems; California History/Social Science 8.4.1: Describe the country’s physical landscapes, political divisions, and territorial expansion during the terms of the first four presidents; California History/Social Science 8.4.4: Discuss daily life, including traditions in art, music, and literature, of early national America (e.g., through writings by Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper).

Suggested age range: 10 and up

Annotation: Jim Murphy’s narrative history of Philadelphia’s yellow fever epidemic is both fascinating and horrifying. Not shy about delving into the gory medical detail, Murphy presents a lesser-known yet highly impactful event in early American history in a very readable way. With generous use of primary sources, including newspaper clippings, paintings and drawing, and quotations, Murphy introduces his readers to many new historical figures in addition to shedding some new light on those who are already familiar. An American Plague covers nearly every aspect of the epidemic imaginable, from medical to political to economic to social to racial. Murphy’s inclusion of an annotated bibliography of his sources makes this resource even more valuable. Readers will emerge from this text highly knowledgeable about not only yellow fever, but about the state of much of the country in its early years.

Subjects/themes: Yellow fever, epidemics, American history, political figures, health/medicine, racial issues

Awards:

• 2003 National Book Awards (Finalist)
• 2004 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature
• 2004 James Madison Book Award
• 2004 Newberry Honor Book
• 2004 Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
• 2004 Sibert Informational Book Medal

Reviews:

• Kirkus Reviews (April 1, 2003; starred review)
• School Library Journal (2003)
• Voice of Youth Advocates (December 2003)

High interest annotation: Yellow fever has come to 1793 Philadelphia—and try as they may, nothing and no one can stop its destructive run through the city.