Historical fiction is “history set in the
past”. Usually fifty or more years in the
past.
 We are reading two books of historical
fiction. The main topic is disease. The
books that we are reading should help
us better understand diseases in the
past.

Written by Mary Hooper.
 In the time period of the plague in
London in 1665.
 Another event is the Great Fire of 1666
but we are going to focus on the plague
in this book.


The year is 1666 and Hannah is determined to get
back to her little sweetmeat shop in London as soon
as the plague is gone. She returns with her younger
sister Anne because older sister Sarah wants to stay
with their mother – to help her and also to stay closer
to a certain young man she’s met. Hannah, on the
other hand, is impatient to return to London and find
out if any of their friends and neighbors survived the
terrible plague, and to seek out her own sweetheart
Tom. But omens and predictions are rife – the year is
1666 and 666 is the number of the Beast. Many are
afraid that the plague is just the beginning,
something even worse is about to fall on London.

Hannah: Hannah tells the story of the
plague in London. She is a sweet girl who
must learn to fight the sickness in London
and hold on to what she has left. She has
a big family but does not live with her
family in the country. She instead helps
her sister in a shop selling sweetmeats in
London.

Sarah: Sarah is Hannah's older sister. She
and Hannah both own and run a small
shop called The Sugared Plum. Sarah is a
great sister to Hannah and is always
there for her and tries to help Hannah in
every way she can. Then about halfway
through the book Sarah leaves Hannah
and the shop and moves back in with
the family so Anne comes to help
Hannah instead.

Anne: Anne is Hannah's younger sister
who comes help run the shop after Sarah
is gone. She is still maturing and therefore
looks up to Hannah and learns from her.
Anne is an eager worker and always
ready to learn something new as long as
she gets paid. Anne used to be very lazy
when she lived with her family in the
country but working in London changed
her into a hard working young woman.

Kitty: Kitty is Hannah’s and Anne’s pet
cat. Anne sneaked Kitty into a basket
while on her way to London so Hannah
had no choice but to let Anne keep the
kitten. Kitty is a special cat the Hannah
and Anne because they used to have a
family cat long ago and it died so they
took especially good care of this one.

Tom: Tom worked for the apothecary
Doctor da Silva. He was also Hannah’s
sweetheart. Then Hannah left London
until the plague passed and when she
came back she was told that he had
died. He didn’t die and he started
working for a magician. He also
searched for Hannah but was told she
had died also. Fate brought them
together later on in the book.

Mr. Newbery: Mr. Newbery was Hannah
and Anne's neighbor. He also owned a
shop called the Paper and Quill where
he sold parchments and fine writing
paper. He was a good neighbor
although he did have a relish for
conversation of a morbid nature.


In the spring and summer of 1665 an outbreak
of Bubonic Plague spread from parish to parish
until thousands had died and the huge pits
dug to receive the bodies were full.
Sarah and Hannah live in London for a while
but then as everybody starts dying, they move
out to the country to save themselves and also
a little baby that was left in their care. They
had orders to take the child to relatives and
the relatives happened to be living in the
country. That is where they stay until the
plague passes.
Written by Laurie Halse Anderson.
 Time period is the summer of 1793.
 This book is about the Yellow fever
disease.


This book is about a girl who escapes from home with her
grandfather to escape the yellow fever which her mother
has. She was unwilling to go but was urged by her mother.
They go on a wagon and try to enter the next county
where no one has the fever but they are kicked out
because her grandfather coughed a lot which could be a
sign of the fever. Her grandfather gets the fever and she
gets it too. As she is trying to get water for her grandfather
from a stream, she passes out. When she wakes up, she
finds herself in a hospital specifically built for people with
the fever. She finds out that her grandfather is well again
and that he walked for miles trying to find a place for her.
They go back home but nobody is there. So they decide
to stay there for a little bit. But some robbers come and
they kill her grandfather. Then, she is reunited with her
mother who isn't sick anymore at a coffee shop.

Matilda Cook-Main character of the book. She
is a fourteen year old girl who is nicknamed
"Mattie". She has a crush on Nathaniel Benson,
a painter's assistant, and once watched the
first hot air balloon (Blanchard's balloon) in
America rise with him. She matures throughout
the course of the book which forces her to
control her own life instead of her mother.
Matilda got yellow fever, but survived, being
taken care of at a hospital in Bush Hill. She then
finds and takes care of a small orphan girl, Nell,
whose mother died of yellow fever. Both of
them survived at Eliza's home.

Lucille Cook-Lucille is Matilda's mother.
Matilda's mother is the current owner of
the coffeehouse she is very strict with
Matilda. She catches Yellow Fever and
throughout the book she tries to be
reunited with her daughter. It is really
hard for her to locate her but after the
epidemic is over she returns to her
beloved Matilda.

William Cook-William is Matilda's
grandfather. He was once a captain in
the Revolutionary War under General
Washington's command. After his son
dies, Grandfather began helping Lucille,
Eliza, and Matilda run the coffeehouse.
Grandfather dies along the journey he
and Matilda embark upon to get away
from the disease.

King George-A parrot named after the
British King George III. Grandfather won
him in a card game and he is often
disliked by Matilda. Matilda realizes she
has lost King George after she gets back
to her grandfather under the tree.

Eliza-The coffeehouse cook. Eliza is a free
African American and is part of the Free
African Society. Mattie also claims Eliza
to be her best friend. Eliza is about 30.
She helps Mattie live through the fever
and they both survive. Then she is offered
a partnership with Mattie and the
coffeehouse which she accepts.

Joseph-Eliza's brother. He works as a
cooper and has twin sons: William and
Robert. His wife, Betty had recently died
from the fever and when Mattie first met
him he was still recovering. When ill, he is
taken care of by Mother Smith and Eliza.

Mother Smith-A member of the Free
African Society. Sent to help take care of
Joseph due to his tragic loss, she tries all
that she can to help him recover. Mother
Smith is very wise and tells Mattie if she's
doing wrong. At first Mattie doesn't
appreciate her then grows to love her.

William and Robert-Joseph's young twin
sons. They become friends with Nell, who
is about their age, when Mattie stays at
Eliza's as the yellow fever dies down.
They become ill with yellow fever but
recover.

Edward Ogilvie-Edward's family are the wealthy
family of Philadelphia. Lucille (Matilda's Mother)
knows about Matilda's crush on Nathaniel and
doesn't believe he is worthy of being Matilda's
husband, although William is a well behaved,
mannered and a well dressed (wealthy) gentlemen
Matilda does not like him. Matilda and Lucille are
invited over to the Ogilvies for tea by Mrs. Ogilvie, as
a response to Lucille's letter. Lucille had very high
hopes of Matilda and William being wed, of course
this did not happen. It was not what Matilda had in
mind because her heart was set on Nathaniel. When
they arrived at the Ogilvies only the women of the
house seemed to attend, Mrs. Ogilvie and Edwards
two sisters.

Nathaniel Benson-Matilda's crush and friend. He is a
teenage boy who works for Mr. Peale the painter; as
an apprentice who survived the epidemic. Nathaniel
snatches apples from Mattie’s basket when he sees
her at the market because he has a crush on her too.
In the beginning of the book Mattie’s mother does
not like him because she thinks he does not behave
like a gentleman. He works for Mr. Peale and stays
with the Peales through the epidemic. He shows his
love toward Matilda by throwing flowers to her and
painting a picture. Matilda often daydreamed of
him, wondering what he was thinking, thinking of him,
and praying he was safe and not taken by the fever.

Polly Logan-Polly Logan was one of the
workers in the coffee shop. Mattie and
her mother were wondering why Polly
was late for work and a few hours later
they heard that she had died of the
yellow fever.

Mrs. Bridget Flagg-A nurse at the
mansion at Bush Hill who takes care of
Matilda. Grandfather charms her, sweet
talking to her, and constantly telling her
"real" stories of his braveness. After a
while she reveals her given name:
Bridget. She soon restores Matilda to
black people full health, overcoming
yellow fever.

Nell-A small blonde girl whose mother died
of yellow fever. Matilda finds a broken doll
on the sidewalk and looks up, a house is in
front of her and the door is open. She finds
Nell in the house curled up beside her dead
mother. Matilda takes Nell thinking it would
be better for her to take care of her. Eliza
says she should take Nell to the orphanage
but finding that the orphanage cannot
take anymore children she decides to be
the parent for her.

Silas-Silas is a cat who belongs to Mattie's
family. Silas lives in the coffee shop with
Mattie and her mother. Her mother
despises the cat but Silas brings comfort
to Mattie at times. He normally catches
the mice in the house but makes a
ruckus while doing so. He later steals
Mattie's food while she is scavenging
The fever breaks out.
 Disease sweeps the streets, destroying
everything in its path and turning Mattie's
world upside down.
 Mattie's mother gets the fever.
 Mattie flees the city w/ her grandfather.
 The sickness is everywhere and Mattie
learns quickly how to survive.
