An American Plague
The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793
Powerful and riveting, this Newbery Honor-winning narrative describes the illness known as yellow fever, the toll it took on the nation's capital--and the eventual triumph over the disease.
Long before Covid and the West Nile virus, yellow fever was a medical mystery that forced thousands in Philadelphia, the nation's temporary capital, to flee and brought the workings of the federal government to a virtual halt. A riveting account of this country's first large-scale medical epidemic, An American Plague is generously illustrated with archival prints and photographs and includes a bibliography, map, and index.
This is the story of how half the city's residents fled and half of those who remained died; neighboring towns, cities and states barricaded themselves; George Washington himself fled, setting off a constitutional crisis; and bloodletting caused blood to run through the streets. It is also the story of a little known chapter in Black history in which free Blacks nursed the sick only to be later condemned for their heroic efforts.
Meticulously researched, first-hand accounts, newspaper clippings, death lists, and period engravings recreate the fear and panic while exploring the political, social, cultural, medical and scientific history of the times. A final chapter explores the causes of the epidemic and provides a wake-up call about the potential for epidemics today.
Newbery Honor Book * National Book Award Finalist * Winner of the Sibert Medal
Yellow fever -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- History -- 18th century -- Juvenile literature.
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
C HEALTH Disease Mur | Main (Downtown) | Garden Level, Children's NonFiction | In |
C HEALTH Disease Mur | Main (Downtown) | Garden Level, Children's NonFiction | In |
C HEALTH Disease Mur | Main (Downtown) | Available by placing a hold, Repository - Children's | In |
C HEALTH Disease Mur | Edgewood | Children's NonFiction | In |
C HEALTH Disease Mur | Southeast | Children's NonFiction | In |
C HEALTH Disease Mur | Wheatley (Shandon) | Children's NonFiction | In |
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John Newbery Medal Honor, 2004.