Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature)
The multiple-award-winning nonfiction writer Jim Murphy has done it again. He has taken an oft-forgotten incident (with the recent exception of Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever, 1793) in America's early history and brought it to startling life. Murphy begins by setting the stage: Philadelphia in the summer of 1793. George Washington is sweltering in the presidential home of the young nation's capital. He is trying to stave off war with France when bodies mysteriously begin to drop. Washington--and nearly every other resident of means--flees. The city is left with its middle class and poor, and a handful of doctors without a clue to the causes of the epidemic. The death toll rises day-by-broiling day. But read on to learn of chaos and fear, and the unexpected free Black saviors of Philadelphia. The book is a page-turner. And it ends with a useful chapter describing how yellow fever was finally controlled--not to mention an impressive section on sources--as well as an excellent index. 2003, Clarion, $17.00. Ages 10 up.

Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature)
People are dying horribly, others are fleeing the city, the government is shut down, food is scarce, doctors (and gravediggers) are few--Philadelphia, America's largest city, is in the grip of a yellow fever epidemic. From August to November of 1793 the fever would rage, killing nearly five thousand citizens and causing infinite controversy. As the city ground to a halt, heroes were few, the most notable being the mayor--a prominent doctor--and above all, the leaders and members of the Free Black Society, asked to help since doctors believed they had immunity to the fever. Although this immunity proved untrue, elders Absalom Jones and Richard Allen mobilized an army of dedicated black nurses and caretakers who served in spite of little gratitude. Award-winning author Murphy (Newbery Honor, Golden Kite, Orbis Pictus) tells this fascinating story of the epidemic in clear, lively prose, hard to put down once begun. From the heavy brown end papers to Murphy's exceptional annotated bibliography, the entire book is beautifully produced. Carefully chosen illustrations are all reproductions of prints and engravings from the period, while pages from a contemporary newspaper or from a list of Philadelpia's dead preface each chapter. The final section deals with other epidemics of yellow fever, the cause or which was not discovered till 1900 and for which, frighteningly, there is today no available vaccine and still no cure. This outstanding informational book provides, in addition to an engrossing re-creation of the past, both warnings and signposts for the future. A must for all libraries! 2003, Clarion, $17.00. Ages 11 up.

Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
All was not right" in the summer of 1793 in the city of Philadelphia. It was hot, and the city stank more than usual. At that time hygiene was in its infancy, as were many aspects of medicine. When yellow fever struck the city and began to kill more and more people with each passing day, panic ensued. Those who could afford to fled the city, including the first president of the young republic, George Washington. There were many who could not flee, and for them, the next few months were a living hell. Jim Murphy has once again created a masterful, impeccably researched book that both enthralls and horrifies the reader. It is hard to imagine disinfecting a house by burning gunpowder and by bathing everything in vinegar. Even worse was being dosed with mercury if one was unfortunate enough to get sick. One of the truly wonderful things about this book is that, as with Murphy's other books, he strives to tell the whole story. We read about the selflessness of members of the black community who courageously tended the sick and buried the dead when no one else would. Their story is told in its entirety as is that of the remarkable mayor of Philadelphia, Matthew Clarkson, who would not allow his city to die. The people in Philadelphia and its environs at that awful time are brought to life through Murphy's skill as a writer. Included are illustrations, portraits of key players in the events described, and newspaper pages from the times, providing the reader with an opportunity to read the very words of those experiencing the plague first hand. The reader will find suggestions on how to avoid getting the plague, and even worse, suggestions on what to do if one gets it. All in all, this is a wonderful book for anyone interested in history and in the ways of people. Readers may also enjoy some of Murphy's other books including The Great Fire, Across America on an Emigrant Train, and Blizzard. 2003, Clarion Books, $17.00. Ages 12 up.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2004)
In 1793, Philadelphia experienced a devastating disease now known as the yellow fever epidemic. Murphy's compelling narrative leads readers through a medical mystery, a social history of Philadelphia (at the time the capital of the new nation), and a tribute to those Philadelphians, mostly African American, who did NOT flee to safer environs but stayed behind to care for the sick. As doctors looked for clues to understand the nature of the illness and the prognosis for its victims, they often disagreed on courses of treatment. Meanwhile, government leaders (those who remained in town) argued over how to respond to the crisis. Public health, it seems, was as much a political issue in our nation's early days as it is now, as those in power directly affected the pace at which the disease would be controlled. Wonderful reproductions of old maps and drawings of the key figures of the time, as well as of primary sources such as newspaper articles, obituaries, letters, and church records, add additional interest to this drama-filled volume. The last chapter traces the research that has been done on yellow fever from the early 1800's to the present and reminds readers that while scientists have traced the disease to mosquitoes, and a vaccine was developed in 1937, there is still no cure, and there will surely be new medical and public health crises in the future. An extensive resource bibliography rounds out this fascinating account. CCBC categories: Historical People, Places, and Events. 2003, Clarion, 165 pages, $17.00. Ages 10-14.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 7))
A mesmerizing, macabre account that will make readers happy they live in the 21st century. The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 snuck up on the people of Philadelphia during the hot summer; by the end of the year, some 10 percent of the city's population lay dead. Drawing heavily on primary sources, Murphy (Inside the Alamo, p. 393, etc.) takes readers through the epidemic, moving methodically from its detection by the medical community; through its symptoms, treatment, and mortality; its effects on the populace, and what Philadelphia did to counter it. Individual chapters recount the efforts of the heroes of the epidemic: the quasi-legal committee of 12 who took over the running of the city government; the country's preeminent physician, Dr. Benjamin Rush; and the Free African Society, whose members toiled valiantly to ease the victims' pain and to dispose of the dead. Powerful, evocative prose carries along the compelling subject matter. Even as the narrative places readers in the moment with quotations, the design aids and abets this, beginning each chapter with reproductions from contemporary newspapers and other materials, as well as placing period illustrations appropriately throughout the text. The account of Philadelphia's recovery wraps up with a fascinating discussion of historiography, detailing the war of words between Matthew Carey, one of the committee of 12, and Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, the leaders of the Free African Society-interesting in itself, it is also a valuable lesson in reading and writing history. Stellar. (bibliography, illustration credits, index) 2003, Clarion, $17.00. Category: Nonfiction. Ages 10 up. Starred Review. © 2003 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Vicki Arkoff (Midwest Book Review, "Vicki's Bookshelf" column, August 2003)
With a subtitle that screams like the headline of a yellow-journalism newspaper, how can kids possibly find history boring? Award winning author Jim Murphy hooks young readers from the start in this power, dramatic narrative that brings history alive. True to it's title, "An American Plague" tells the terrible story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1791, and the toll it took on the residents of Philadelphia, then the nation's capitol and the largest city in North America. Never before, or since, has an American city been so devastated by an apparently incurable disease. Most frightening, the cause of the frightening killer was unknown -- a complete mystery to medical practitioners of the time. Murphy does a wonderful job grasping the fear and the medical beliefs and practices of the times, and the conditions that helped the disease to spread through the city. The parallel story is equally fascinating: how free black Philadelphians played a heroic role in rescuing a city under siege by an invisible threat. The effort and intrigues of politicians and doctors -- including George Washington and Benjamin Rush -- as also an important part of the story, and the search for the fever's causes and cure provides a suspenseful counterpoint. Highly recommended as supplemental classroom material for ages 10 to 14 for its absorbing handling of a historical subject with contemporary relevance that will win over even reluctant readers. 2003, Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin, 166 pages, $16.

CBC Reviewer (National Science Teachers Association (NSTA))
This CBC/NSTA award winning nonfiction narrative describes the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The author weaves pertinent information about the medical history of the epidemic with a vivid description of the social context in which it occured. The use of newspaper articles and citations as primary documentation enhances this book’s portrayal of medical practice in the late 1700s, while illustrations from editorial cartoons, news and photographs help students appreciate the place and the period of the epidemic. Secondary students will find exciting nonfiction reading in this 140-page account, and may continue to use its extensive endnotes for research. Students will gain a great deal about the process of science as they read about the controversy among doctors over the cause of the disease and appropriate care of patients. This documentation of 18th century epidemiology can serve as a basis for understanding the challenges that today’s disease detectives face. This book would provide great excerpts to support secondary biology coursework or help students research topics in biology or social science. Grades 5-8. Keywords: Biochemistry, Bioethics, Health Education, Medicine, * Outstanding Science Trade Book *. 2003, Clarion Books, 176p, $17. Ages 10 to 14.

Myrna Dee Marler (The ALAN Review, Spring/Summer 2004 (Vol. 31, No. 3))
In late summer of 1793, while George Washington lived and held office in a borrowed house in Philadelphia and worried about the United States' relationship with France, a mysterious disease began to cripple the city. First afflicted were the people who lived along the docks, but as temperatures rose and humidity clogged the air, sickness spread rapidly among the bustling population of 50,000 people. Within weeks, those who could afford it, including President Washington, his cabinet, and other public servants, had fled to the countryside. This left only the poor to cope with the ravages of a disease whose source and cure were much debated but ultimately unknown until the 20th century. As the dead piled up and city services broke down, a heroic few, including members of the black community, two or three doctors, and a handful of civic leaders, emerged to handle the crisis. In prose as gripping and suspenseful as a novel, Jim Murphy recounts the story of a city in chaos saved by the superhuman efforts of a minority concerned more about others than themselves. In today's atmosphere heavy with the threat of bioterrorism, An American Plague will have particular resonance for young readers. Category: Non-Fiction/American History/Disease. YA--Young Adult. 2003, Clarion, 165 pp., $17.00. Ages young adult.Provo, UT

Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, June 2003 (Vol. 56, No. 10))
The young United States scarcely had time to draw a collective breath after the Revolutionary War when disaster struck the capital city of Philadelphia in the form of mortal epidemic. Murphy, who has covered other historic disasters with laudable insight (The Great Fire, BCCB 5/95; Blizzard, BCCB 1/01), follows the progress of the disease from its quiet toehold among the hoi polloi near the docks, to its spread throughout the city, illuminating the social and political vulnerabilities of the new nation as sickness took its toll. Readers view the panic from several vantage points: the mayor, who overreaches his elective mandate to impose order on his city; Dr. Benjamin Rush and his medical colleagues, who squabble over cause and cure; the Free African Society, whose brave members nurse in stricken households, only to be accused of profiteering; and the doctor-merchant-barrelmaker team that runs the Bush Hill hospital with compassion and common sense, achieving impressive results. Murphy allows his audience to share the contemporary perplexity by deferring explanations of the nature of yellow fever until the last chapter and by offering scant comfort regarding current measures for mosquito control and the emergence of drug-resistant forms of mosquito-borne diseases. Period illustrations punctuate the text; reproductions of eighteenth-century newspaper articles and documents (particularly death-list excerpts) are truly absorbing. An index is forthcoming, and the list of sources with lively annotation should not be overlooked. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: R* -- Denotes books of special distinction. (c) Copyright 2003, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2003, Clarion, 176p, $17.00. Grades 5-10.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2003)
Murphy culls from a number of historical records the story of the yellow fever epidemic that swept Philadelphia, skillfully drawing out the fear and drama of the time and making them immediate to modern readers. Attentive to telling detail, Murphy offers representative images, from black-and-white portraits to plague scenes. Thoroughly documented, with an annotated source list, the work is both rigorous and inviting. Ind. Category: Nonfiction-Technology. 2003, Clarion, 166pp, $17.00. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Monica Irwin (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 1))
Jim Murphy tells the story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the late 1790s, sanitation was not provided by the city. Much of the waste from the downtown areas, boat docks, and all the residential area literally flowed through the streets. There were insects all over, and the temperature was high as is usual during the August days. At first, no one seemed to notice that there was an illness coming over people. Many of those first afflicted with the sickness were poor. When the disease was finally noticed, it was almost too late. This book shares with the reader the story of those who lived through the fever epidemic and those who tried to help. Readers will have a greater understanding of the times in which these people lived. The maps and drawings will assist in understanding how truly terrible this time was. The book will also make one be glad they live in modern times with greater medical knowledge. This book will find a place among history books, science books, and for the future forensic scientists among us. Nonfiction (614.5), Highly Recommended. Grades 7 and up. 2003, Clarion Books, 165p., $17.00. Ages 12 up.

Sarah Dornback (VOYA, December 2003 (Vol. 26, No. 5))
In this superbly written work, Murphy thoroughly examines the yellow fever plague of 1793 that paralyzed the city of Philadelphia for several months. Every aspect of the epidemic is brought to life, from the overall living conditions in Philadelphia just prior to the outbreak to the Constitutional crisis that seemed imminent because of President Washington's inability to convene Congress in a plague-ridden city. The disease itself is covered from symptoms to cause, as are the eighteenth-century treatments for yellow fever: bleeding and isolation. Murphy ends with bringing the reader up to date on the state of this terrible disease, including the chilling revelation that "there is still no cure for yellow fever." This book represents nonfiction at its best. Although the subject matter does not cover typical teen reading choices, Murphy's book is extremely accessible and readable. The story is captivating, and the writing is straightforward. Readers come away with a sense of the era as a whole and a keen picture of the overall devastation brought by yellow fever. The text is followed by an outstanding annotated bibliography, which includes ample primary source material, including diaries, newspapers, and numerous manuscripts and pamphlets written during and just after the outbreak. Murphy provides an excellent choice for most school and public libraries. VOYA CODES: 5Q 2P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, Clarion, 165p.; Index. Illus. Biblio. Source Notes., $17. Ages 11 to 15.