Fever 1793

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Year of publication: 2000Genre: Historical Fiction

Elicia GonzalesPeriod 7

Setting• In the book Fever 1793, the setting is at

a coffee house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is a picture of the coffee houses from the late 1700’s.

CharactersCharacters: Physical

Characteristics:

Adjectives of Personality:

Matilda Dusty brown Long hair

Stubborn

Tall Curious

Brown eyes Hopeful

Grandfather Old Caring

Taller than Matilda

Strong

Brown eyes Sure

Characters continued (Matilda)

o The reason why I say that Matilda is Stubborn is because in the beginning she is always complaining to do her chores around the coffee house that her family owns and runs.

o The reason why I say that Matilda is demanding is because when she takes her grandfather to be buried with all the other fever victims she makes everybody stop and pray with her because she wants her grandfather could have a little respect when he got buried.

o The reason why Matilda is hopeful because throughout the whole time the fever was going on she never gave up and made it to the end .

Characters continued (Grandfather)

• The reason why I say the Grandfather is caring is because before he dies he watches out for Matilda the best he can.

• The reason why I say that Grandfather is strong is because even though he doesn’t like something he can deal with.

• The reason why I say that grandfather is sure is because he always has to be right. (He is a know it all)

Conflict

• An epidemic breaks out on the streets of Philadelphia. When Matilda’s mother gets the fever, she orders Matilda to flea the city with her Grandfather, but on their way out of the city they get kicked off their ride at the line of another town and have to walk all the way back to Philadelphia.

Plot summary• Matilda is living in a coffee house in

Philadelphia with her mother and grandfather. A fever breaks out and Matilda’s mother gets sick. When Matilda and her grandfather skip town, they get on a wagon with some other people that are also fleeing the city. While on the trip, the people who own the wagon kick them off because they assume that Grandfather has the fever. On their long trek back to Philadelphia , Matilda has to use her knowledge and instincts while Grandfather has to use his military skills to survive back to Philadelphia. Will they make all the way back to Philadelphia?

Theme• Never give up.• Mother gets sick- She never gives up

while she is sick. Throughout the process of getting well, she never gives up and eventually she overcomes the fever.

• Grandfather dies- Matilda doesn’t give up when she looses all she has left. Her grandfather. she now has to face life on her own.

Theme continued• Never give up.• Nell and the twins get sick with the

fever- Eliza and Matilda use this theme in their life because they try everything they can to help Nell and the twins overcome the fever. Then a miracle happens. The FROST.

Point of View• Fever 1793’s point of view is first person. This

book’s audience is for young adults. The main character or the person who the book surrounds is a young adult. That’s how I think it helps the reader understand the book better. If the point of view were different the book would be harder to understand because you wouldn’t see the same meaning to it. In this book you see how it would be like to be a teenager living in the time of the fever. I think that it would be harder to understand that if it were in another point of view.

Symbolism• George Washington. He symbolizes

optimism. When George Washington comes back to the city, people think that the city is safe now so they all return after him. Some people didn’t arrive right after the frost, they waited for George Washington to arrive in Philadelphia to know for sure that it was safe to return.

Recommendation • This book is worth reading because if

you like to read about history but don’t like to read it straight out of a textbook then this book is for you. I really like it because these are the types of books that I like to read. It looks boring by the cover but never judge a book by its cover!!

You have to read this book!

Sitings • Slide 1: http://www.en.wikipedia.org• Slide 2: http://www.london-footprints.co.uk• Slide 6: http://pestspective.blogspot.com• Slide 12: http://inaugural.senate.gov• Slide 14: - http://echouser.com - http://www.tracykraussexpression.com- http://www.mandatory.com- http://kawzmikworld.wordpress.com- http://mandatory.com- http://barnesandnoble.com