fever 1793 by laurie halse anderson summary

When Mattie realizes that her grandfather is sick, she does her best to help him. He decides that he’ll stay behind while Mattie goes on ahead without him. Because it looks suspicious for him to cough, Grandfather isn’t allowed through either. When they are just 10 miles outside of Philadelphia, however, their wagon is stopped by guards who tell them that people from outlying towns aren’t allowed through because there’s an outbreak of yellow fever nearby. They hitch a ride with a farmer who offers them food for the journey. Grandfather agrees that he and Mattie should flee to the country while Eliza stays behind to take care of Lucille. The next day, a doctor diagnoses Lucille with yellow fever and bleeds her as a remedy. She regrets their past arguments and feels like she has failed in taking after her strong-willed mother. The mother begs her to leave so that she won’t get sick, but Mattie refuses and instead stays there to take care of her mom. Mattie’s grandfather continues to believe that there is nothing to worry about, but one day he sees Lucille being dropped off at their coffeehouse-she looks very sick.Ī girl named Mattie spends the night with her sick mother. Many people leave the city, including President Washington and other important politicians. People in Philadelphia are starting to get sick because of the fever. Just as Jeannine is picking a fight by insulting the Cook Coffeehouse while Colette collapses from yellow fever right next to them…

However, she reluctantly goes along when Lucille insists that it’ll be good for business if she meets wealthy men like them. Mattie hates Pernilla’s snobby daughters Colette and Jeannine, and doesn’t share Lucille’s desire that she marry an Ogilvie son because they’re snobs who don’t appreciate her love for books or her passion for social justice work at the Cook Coffeehouse. One day, a neighborhood aristocrat invites Mattie and Lucille to tea. A couple of weeks later, many have died from the fever, but Grandfather argues that it’s nothing to be concerned about. Mattie takes over Polly’s duties in the coffeehouse, hearing her beloved Grandfather debate with customers about rumors of a yellow fever outbreak in the city. But then Mother interrupts again to tell Mattie that Polly has died suddenly of a fever. While she’s working in the garden she daydreams about running businesses someday and meeting Nathaniel Benson, who she likes.

Mattie reluctantly gets up and helps out in the coffeehouse with her friend Eliza, who feeds her breakfast before sending her outside to tend to the garden. She’s late for work at the coffeehouse because their serving girl Polly has died from a fever. In August of 1793, 14-year-old Matilda “Mattie” Cook is awakened by her mother, Lucille Cook. 1-Page Summary of Fever 1793 Overall Summary

Fever 1793 by laurie halse anderson summary