Book Review of AN AMERICAN PLAGUE by Jim Murphy (Genre 4)

   

**Please note: The following review has been completed as part of coursework for Texas Woman's University.


1. Bibliography
Murphy, Jim. 2003. An American Plague. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395776082

2. Plot Summary
An American Plague takes readers back to Philadelphia in 1793.  Yellow fever is slowly making its way through the population, and medical doctors don't know how to contain it.  This fascinating informational book shows readers what it's like to live in a city ravished by a deadly killer.  Readers learn about the state of medicine at this time in American history as well as treatments that doctors used to attempt to cure people stricken with the disease.  Murphy concludes the book with a discussion of how doctors uncovered the cause of yellow fever and the steps that countries have taken to prevent it from spreading again.


3. Critical Analysis
As an author of over 30 books about American history whose works have received countless awards, Jim Murphy is a well-respected nonfiction writer.  In preparation for writing An American Plague, he consulted many primary and secondary sources such as firsthand accounts from both medical and non-medical sources, fiction and nonfiction books about the yellow fever, books about "doctoring in the old days," and other research topics necessary for the writing of this book.  All sources are thoroughly documented within the text and at the end of the book in an annotated bibliography.  Additionally, drawings pertinent to people and places at the time and clippings from newspapers and books are found throughout the text with appropriate documentation to give the reader further insight into life in Philadelphia during the outbreak of yellow fever.  The book is organized into 11 chapters with a table of contents at the front and sources, acknowledgments, and index in the back, all of which help the reader find quick reference to parts of the book.  Murphy's writing style is engaging, and readers will find themselves amazed at how doctors of the day knew very little about the human body.  The vocabulary is appropriate for young adult readers, and readers of all ages will be captivated by Murphy's story-like writing style.  While this book is filled with facts, adult readers will find that it is much different than the boring nonfiction books from their childhood days.  This informational book is literary nonfiction at its best. 

4. Review Excerpts
2004 ALA. Newbery Honor Book Award
2004 ALA. Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
National Book Award Finalist Medal
NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
A YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
A SLJ Best Book of the Year

*Kirkus, Starred review: "A mesmerizing, macabre account that will make readers happy they live in the 21st century. Powerful, evocative prose carries the compelling subject matter. Stellar."

*School Library Journal, Starred review: "Murphy chronicles this frightening time with solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories."

*The Washington Post: "Nobody does juvenile nonfiction better than Murphy." 

5. Connections 
This book would be a great selection for class literature circles at the middle school level.  Teachers could use books about other health epidemics and disasters in America and around the world and divide the class into reading groups.  Book selections could include the following:
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850. ISBN 0618548831
Murphy, Jim. The Great Fire. ISBN 0590472674
Murphy, Jim. Blizzard!: The Storm that Changed America. ISBN 0590673106

Teachers will find activities at Scholastic for using An American Plague in their classroom.  Visit the following website for activities: Classroom Activities

After reading An American Plague, consider reading a historical fiction novel such as Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (ISBN 0689848919) or Graveyard Girl by Anna Meyers (ISBN 0802782604).