Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Here's a blurb from the author's webpage: 
“Where’s Polly?” I asked as I dropped the bucket down the well. “Did you pass by the blacksmith’s?”
“I spoke with her mother, with Mistress Logan,” Mother answered softly, looking at her neat rows of carrots.
“And?” I waved a mosquito away from my face.
“It happened quickly. Polly sewed by candlelight after dinner. Her mother repeated that over and over, ‘she sewed by candlelight after dinner.’ And then she collapsed.”
I released the handle and the bucket splashed, a distant sound.
“Matilda, Polly’s dead.”
August 1793. Fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook is ambitious, adventurous, and sick to death of listening to her mother. Mattie has plans of her own. She wants to turn the Cook Coffeehouse into the finest business in Philadelphia, the capital of the new United States.
But the waterfront is abuzz with reports of disease. “Fever” spreads from the docks and creeps toward Mattie’s home, threatening everything she holds dear.
As the cemeteries fill with fever victims, fear turns to panic, and thousands flee the city. Then tragedy strikes the coffeehouse, and Mattie is trapped in a living nightmare. Suddenly, her struggle to build a better life must give way to something even more important – the fight to stay alive.

My Take:

I wasn't so sure that I would like this book.  On occasion I have a hard time with books set deep into the past.  I really liked this book a lot though.  The story was wonderful.  Mattie is a great character.  I thought of all that 14 year olds had to deal with back in those days.  I don't think kids now could make it through.  Heck, I don't know that I would make it through it!  Ms. Anderson is a wonderful writer whose characters breathe and the story is alive among the pages.  I'm giving this one 5 feverish kisses!

Safekeeping by Karen Hesse

Here's a blurb from Macmillian's site: Radley’s parents had warned her that all hell would break loose if the American People's Party took power. And now, with the president assassinated and the government cracking down on citizens, the news is filled with images of vigilante groups, frenzied looting, and police raids. It seems as if all hell has broken loose.

Coming back from volunteering abroad, Radley just wants to get home to Vermont, and the comfort and safety of her parents. Travel restrictions and delays are worse than ever, and by the time Radley’s plane lands in New Hampshire, she’s been traveling for over twenty-four hours. Exhausted, she heads outside to find her parents—who always come, day or night, no matter when or where she lands—aren’t there.

Her cell phone is dead, her credit cards are worthless, and she doesn’t have the proper travel papers to cross state lines. Out of money and options, Radley starts walking. . . .

Illustrated with 50 of her own haunting and beautiful photographs, this is a vision of a future America that only Karen Hesse could write: real, gripping, and deeply personal.

My Take:

This book was very interesting.  Radley spent the first part of the book so alone, you could almost feel her despondance.  I was relieved once she met up with Celia and Jerry Lee.  As she begins to piece together a life and work her way back home to try to set her old life right again, she learns what has happened in her absence and comes to understand just how strong she really is.  While not for everyone, I liked the book well enough.  The pictures that accompanied the story were lovely.  I'm giving this one 3 1/2 safe kisses!

Oh and now for the legal mumbo jumbo: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free as part of an early book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”