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Deadly
Join the search for Typhoid Mary in this early twentieth-century CSI. Now in paperback!
Prudence Galewski doesn’t belong in Mrs. Browning’s esteemed School for Girls. She doesn’t want an “appropriate” job that makes use of refinement and charm. Instead, she is fascinated by how the human body works—and why it fails.
Prudence is lucky to land a position in a laboratory, where she is swept into an investigation of a mysterious fever. From ritzy mansions to shady bars and rundown tenements, Prudence explores every potential cause of the disease to no avail—until the volatile Mary Mallon emerges. Dubbed “Typhoid Mary” by the press, Mary is an Irish immigrant who has worked as a cook in every home the fever has ravaged. But she’s never been sick a day in her life. Is the accusation against her an act of discrimination? Or is she the first clue in solving one of the greatest medical mysteries of the twentieth century?
Prudence Galewski doesn’t belong in Mrs. Browning’s esteemed School for Girls. She doesn’t want an “appropriate” job that makes use of refinement and charm. Instead, she is fascinated by how the human body works—and why it fails.
Prudence is lucky to land a position in a laboratory, where she is swept into an investigation of a mysterious fever. From ritzy mansions to shady bars and rundown tenements, Prudence explores every potential cause of the disease to no avail—until the volatile Mary Mallon emerges. Dubbed “Typhoid Mary” by the press, Mary is an Irish immigrant who has worked as a cook in every home the fever has ravaged. But she’s never been sick a day in her life. Is the accusation against her an act of discrimination? Or is she the first clue in solving one of the greatest medical mysteries of the twentieth century?
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2011
65 people are currently reading
2912 people want to read
About the author
Julie Chibbaro
6 books60 followersJulie Chibbaro is the award-winning author of three novels: Into the Dangerous World (Viking, 2015), a hybrid graphic/novel about a girl artist on the NY streets in 1984, Deadly (Simon & Schuster 2011, Scholastic 2012), a medical mystery about the hunt for Typhoid Mary in 1906, and Redemption (S&S 2004) a historical novel about a girl's unintended trip to the New World in 1524.
Into the Dangerous World has received a starred Publishers Weekly review, is a Junior Library Guild Selection, and is a Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Book.
Deadly won the 2011 National Jewish Book Award, and was Top 10 on the American Library Association's Amelia Bloomer Project list. It was named a Bank Street Best Book, and an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teachers Association. It is now part of many schools’ curriculum.
Julie Chibbaro's first book, Redemption (Simon & Schuster 2004), an epic tale of love, kidnapping, and white Indians, won the 2005 American Book Award.
Into the Dangerous World has received a starred Publishers Weekly review, is a Junior Library Guild Selection, and is a Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Book.
Deadly won the 2011 National Jewish Book Award, and was Top 10 on the American Library Association's Amelia Bloomer Project list. It was named a Bank Street Best Book, and an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teachers Association. It is now part of many schools’ curriculum.
Julie Chibbaro's first book, Redemption (Simon & Schuster 2004), an epic tale of love, kidnapping, and white Indians, won the 2005 American Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
February 26, 2011
This book really surprised me in that the name somehow led me to believe that it would be about something supernatural. However, when I realized I had a high-quality work of historical fiction on my hands, I was very pleased. It traces the actions of the group of people tasked with tracing the sources of an outbreak as seen through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old girl coming into her own (and writing about it in her diary). The details and language of the 1900s were so well-done that at times I forgot that this was not an actual account.
Prudence's characterization was amazing to me. The phrases she uses are authentic to that time period, and her emotions are realistic yet very unique to her personality. Since she is interested in science and how things work, she stands as a different sort of heroine. Her goal is to become a master of logic and to make decisions free from the influence of her emotions. Due to the fact that she is a young woman, not being able to attain that lofty ideal is a source of major frustrations for her.
One area that she cannot control her emotions is in regards to her employer, Dr. Soper. She wants to be able to have a totally professional working relationship with him, to not notice the attractive and admirable qualities he possesses, but she cannot do this. I love how this serves to make her a real character.
There are many complex elements combined in this story that make it one solidly entertaining read. I was a little disappointed by the ending, but in view of literary merit, I think it actually adds to the story. The story can't help that I'm an adolescent girl at heart.
Prudence's characterization was amazing to me. The phrases she uses are authentic to that time period, and her emotions are realistic yet very unique to her personality. Since she is interested in science and how things work, she stands as a different sort of heroine. Her goal is to become a master of logic and to make decisions free from the influence of her emotions. Due to the fact that she is a young woman, not being able to attain that lofty ideal is a source of major frustrations for her.
One area that she cannot control her emotions is in regards to her employer, Dr. Soper. She wants to be able to have a totally professional working relationship with him, to not notice the attractive and admirable qualities he possesses, but she cannot do this. I love how this serves to make her a real character.
There are many complex elements combined in this story that make it one solidly entertaining read. I was a little disappointed by the ending, but in view of literary merit, I think it actually adds to the story. The story can't help that I'm an adolescent girl at heart.
February 20, 2011
Let me just start out by saying I am so disappointed with this book! (Can you hear my foot stomping in petulant frustration?) This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2011 and when I got an ARC I was beyond excited. And then, argh, I didn’t love it. How crappy is that feeling of book disappointment, right?
Ok, ok, you don’t want to hear me sob. I know you want to know why I was so disappointed. Here’s why, and most of it is my own fault. Part of the reason I enjoy historical fiction so much is because it’s a fun way to learn about history. I also have a strange fascination with learning about diseases. I was hoping this book would teach me a bunch of facts about typhoid and the early discoveries about the disease, but that didn’t happen.
We do learn about typhoid a little, and so I guess if a person really knows very little about the disease then they would learn a bit. But me, I guess I knew too much already because I learned nothing new. There was also very little about the disease itself: the symptoms and progression, how many people died, etc. You know, the gory details.
That turned out to not really be the focus of the book though, so you can chalk up my disappointment here more to my false expectations than any failing on the author’s part. Instead, the focus of this book was on the social and moral implications of quarantining an unwilling person. The question of where you draw the line between an individual’s freedom and the safety of the population at large was explored sensitively and in a way that really did make me think.
My second complaint is, again, not the author’s fault. Deadly is categorized as a YA book, but I think it really should be MG/juvenile. Prudence is a YA in age, but in voice she struck me as much younger. Her thoughts were simple and there was a certain immaturity to her voice. I found myself unable to really connect with her because of this.
The writing is simple with short chapters, a very straightforward plot, and subject matter suitable for a younger reader. I think this might have been a more enjoyable story if it had been written in the third person instead of journal entries (usually I enjoy journal entries). Part of this is because Prudence speaks in a very clinical, detached voice and that also made it difficult for me to connect to her.
I actually think the perfect audience for this book would be girls who adored the American Girl series but have recently outgrown them. There’s just something about the writing style, Prudence’s voice, her dilemma, and the little drawings that accompany her journal that reminded me of the American Girl books. If this book had been categorized as a MG/juvenile title I would have given it a higher rating (probably a solid four). As it stands, the book just doesn’t have the weight or depth of some other YA historical fiction novels (like Cate of the Lost Colony).
I do recommend this book to people who know very little about typhoid and don’t mind the younger tone. I think this book would also be a hit among MG/juvenile girls who enjoy the Dear America series, The Royal Diaries series, or the Lady Grace Mysteries.
Originally posted at Small Review
Ok, ok, you don’t want to hear me sob. I know you want to know why I was so disappointed. Here’s why, and most of it is my own fault. Part of the reason I enjoy historical fiction so much is because it’s a fun way to learn about history. I also have a strange fascination with learning about diseases. I was hoping this book would teach me a bunch of facts about typhoid and the early discoveries about the disease, but that didn’t happen.
We do learn about typhoid a little, and so I guess if a person really knows very little about the disease then they would learn a bit. But me, I guess I knew too much already because I learned nothing new. There was also very little about the disease itself: the symptoms and progression, how many people died, etc. You know, the gory details.
That turned out to not really be the focus of the book though, so you can chalk up my disappointment here more to my false expectations than any failing on the author’s part. Instead, the focus of this book was on the social and moral implications of quarantining an unwilling person. The question of where you draw the line between an individual’s freedom and the safety of the population at large was explored sensitively and in a way that really did make me think.
My second complaint is, again, not the author’s fault. Deadly is categorized as a YA book, but I think it really should be MG/juvenile. Prudence is a YA in age, but in voice she struck me as much younger. Her thoughts were simple and there was a certain immaturity to her voice. I found myself unable to really connect with her because of this.
The writing is simple with short chapters, a very straightforward plot, and subject matter suitable for a younger reader. I think this might have been a more enjoyable story if it had been written in the third person instead of journal entries (usually I enjoy journal entries). Part of this is because Prudence speaks in a very clinical, detached voice and that also made it difficult for me to connect to her.
I actually think the perfect audience for this book would be girls who adored the American Girl series but have recently outgrown them. There’s just something about the writing style, Prudence’s voice, her dilemma, and the little drawings that accompany her journal that reminded me of the American Girl books. If this book had been categorized as a MG/juvenile title I would have given it a higher rating (probably a solid four). As it stands, the book just doesn’t have the weight or depth of some other YA historical fiction novels (like Cate of the Lost Colony).
I do recommend this book to people who know very little about typhoid and don’t mind the younger tone. I think this book would also be a hit among MG/juvenile girls who enjoy the Dear America series, The Royal Diaries series, or the Lady Grace Mysteries.
Originally posted at Small Review
May 10, 2016
This was a great book. While learning about history through someone else's eyes it also keeps you interested in the topic. It shows you how life was around the time period and how investigations were around the 1900's.
February 23, 2011
A behind-the-scenes look at Typhoid Mary told in epistolary form from the point of view of a teenage girl with a curious mind, Deadly was a swift, fascinating read that had me running from one cover to another. Despite the fact that the letters were mere snippets in Prudence's life, despite the fact that the world is viewed very narrowly through her eyes, I felt everything she felt. I could see her mother, her boss and the female doctor she idolized as clearly as Prudence did.
The voice, while set firmly in the time, was every bit as relevant and poignant as any other voice in a modernly-set YA novel. Prudence had all the issues of a growing woman, only exacerbated by the era that held her brain hostage. Not only did she have to contend with boys, an absent best friend and standards held to her by her mother and her school's owner, Prudence was fighting the tide of female empowerment. She wanted to be a doctor. She held more interest in germs and how they worked than being a counter girl at a department store and marrying well. Prudence stood out against the backdrop of Victorian New York and she did it subtly.
Prudence's voice wasn't loud and brazen. She was timid, afraid, hesitant. She was trying to function outside the norms of women of her time and she was only a teenager doing it. Her personality reflected that yet she remained strong despite all the nagging coming at her, trying to get her to act "proper."
The far away love she carried for her boss was heartbreaking. When she took a leap of faith, one that could have rightly ended her career, she had all the normal doubts and regrets of doing it yet she soldiered on. She didn't cave and bury herself far away from him. She faced him and continued doing what she loved.
Chibbaro wrote an excellent story, one that could have rightly been the diary of a real girl during that time. Every word was believable, every emotion tugging. The simplicity of the story, how mundane it is to us in this century, was made vivid and alive. Frightening in all the right places, endearing and empowering in the rest. I wish there was more there but we're only allowed this small peek into Prudence's life. We must make up the rest.
If you're looking for an historical fiction piece that feels like it was cut right out of history itself and served to you on a platter, Deadly is it. You will feel New York for what it once was. You will feel and understand Prudence in her daily life, feel her struggles, her choices, her pain. For the short time you're reading it, everything will fade around you and you'll end up on a bench in Victorian New York, watching the story unfold around you.
The voice, while set firmly in the time, was every bit as relevant and poignant as any other voice in a modernly-set YA novel. Prudence had all the issues of a growing woman, only exacerbated by the era that held her brain hostage. Not only did she have to contend with boys, an absent best friend and standards held to her by her mother and her school's owner, Prudence was fighting the tide of female empowerment. She wanted to be a doctor. She held more interest in germs and how they worked than being a counter girl at a department store and marrying well. Prudence stood out against the backdrop of Victorian New York and she did it subtly.
Prudence's voice wasn't loud and brazen. She was timid, afraid, hesitant. She was trying to function outside the norms of women of her time and she was only a teenager doing it. Her personality reflected that yet she remained strong despite all the nagging coming at her, trying to get her to act "proper."
The far away love she carried for her boss was heartbreaking. When she took a leap of faith, one that could have rightly ended her career, she had all the normal doubts and regrets of doing it yet she soldiered on. She didn't cave and bury herself far away from him. She faced him and continued doing what she loved.
Chibbaro wrote an excellent story, one that could have rightly been the diary of a real girl during that time. Every word was believable, every emotion tugging. The simplicity of the story, how mundane it is to us in this century, was made vivid and alive. Frightening in all the right places, endearing and empowering in the rest. I wish there was more there but we're only allowed this small peek into Prudence's life. We must make up the rest.
If you're looking for an historical fiction piece that feels like it was cut right out of history itself and served to you on a platter, Deadly is it. You will feel New York for what it once was. You will feel and understand Prudence in her daily life, feel her struggles, her choices, her pain. For the short time you're reading it, everything will fade around you and you'll end up on a bench in Victorian New York, watching the story unfold around you.
December 30, 2010
In a literary world overrun by vampires and werewolves, Deadly is a rare entry in the YA genre that proves that history can be just as intriguing as the imaginary. The protagonist, Prudence Galewski, is a teenager at the turn of the 20th century, stuck in a school that has a singular goal: to turn out graduates who are well-groomed, socially adept, and ripe for marriage. Our heroine instead dreams of working in the sciences, delving into the mysteries of human disease and contagion. The story follows Prudence as she sheds her seemingly predetermined future and embarks on the adventure of working at the Department of Health and Sanitation. Prudence becomes directly involved with the investigation of curious outbreaks of typhoid fever at several wealthy homes in the area. Throughout the investigation, Prudence suffers from the typical afflictions of a teenage girl...insecurity, a school-girl crush, and emotional conflict. She is a strong female character who pursues her own dreams despite immense pressure from society and her peers. The story was simple and historically well-researched, ending neatly with a bright outlook on the future. Personally, I was glad that there were no resolutions to the potential romantic situations that could have evolved. It kept the story honest and the focus on Prudence's independence true. Just the right amount of feminism without being self-righteous. A fine example for the young readers of today, well done!
I won this through a Goodreads giveaway.
I won this through a Goodreads giveaway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2010
See full review here.
Deadly was not how I expected it to be. First and foremost, I read it fast. In a day and a half – and I was in school in these days, reviewing for exams. Second, it was engrossing. The narrative of Prudence a curious mind seeking answers in a world full of questions, in a historical fiction like Deadly, I appreciated this. We always strive to know more, to discover and to have our questions answered.
Deadly follows the story of Prudence, a Jewish girl who lives in the US. The death of her brother and the disappearance of her father are mysteries to her. These two unfortunate events left silence and emptiness in her house. The concept of death struck her as something so mysterious and tragic that falls upon everyone. She wanted to find out why death happens.
Deadly was written diary-style with brief but detailed entries and drawings from time to time. It was a reflection of a child-like mind, musing and questioning life, and at the same time it was a reflection of a simple teenager going through the stage of adolescence, encountering people and problems. Prudence was so reserved, prim and proper, and refined. It was refreshing to encounter another character like her after all the modern characters I have met.
Deadly was not how I expected it to be. First and foremost, I read it fast. In a day and a half – and I was in school in these days, reviewing for exams. Second, it was engrossing. The narrative of Prudence a curious mind seeking answers in a world full of questions, in a historical fiction like Deadly, I appreciated this. We always strive to know more, to discover and to have our questions answered.
Deadly follows the story of Prudence, a Jewish girl who lives in the US. The death of her brother and the disappearance of her father are mysteries to her. These two unfortunate events left silence and emptiness in her house. The concept of death struck her as something so mysterious and tragic that falls upon everyone. She wanted to find out why death happens.
Deadly was written diary-style with brief but detailed entries and drawings from time to time. It was a reflection of a child-like mind, musing and questioning life, and at the same time it was a reflection of a simple teenager going through the stage of adolescence, encountering people and problems. Prudence was so reserved, prim and proper, and refined. It was refreshing to encounter another character like her after all the modern characters I have met.
September 21, 2018
Helen Keller, the first blind and deaf person to earn a bachelor of arts degree once stated, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Keller is definitely right about how people need to come together to accomplish great tasks, but, the real task is being able to collaborate with completely different people of different backgrounds, wealth and gender in a time where differences are not accepted so commonly.
Time travel into New York City in 1906, from the point of view of a Russian Jewish 16 year old girl named Prudence. In Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro, Prudence faces prejudice because she is a woman trying to be have a respected profession instead of graduating a girl’s school, but she perseveres. Prudence never lets anyone tell her what she can’t be, and drives forward into the man-dominated fields of science and health to follow her dreams or becoming a scientists.
Prudence can definitely inspire the reader to persevere through any kind of prejudice. As a woman, she was faced with discrimination from colleague in the workplace because she is working in a job at the NYC Department of Sanitation where she was harassed. She had to shake it off, especially since no one would believe her because she was a woman, and she worked too hard for this job and was not going to quit just because of one man.
When the plot picks up, Prudence finds herself chasing who feels like one of her own. From reading the summary on the back of the book, she ends up chasing an Irish immigrant named Mary Mallon, who she and the Department of Sanitation thinks may be causing the spread of typhoid. A Jewish Russian 16 year old girl, doesn’t have much in common with a person from Ireland, but here are where bridges are made. They are both immigrants, they are both on the poorer side of the economic standpoint, and they have been harassed since the moment they docked in America. It is really enjoyable to read how Prudence copes with this and how she can feel a connection with a completely different person.
Not only the book, but the writing style is great. It is written is diary entries, and I makes the story just so much more interesting. The reader is able to tell Prudence’s deepest thoughts and secrets, because the book is told in her perspective.
Although this is a great book, there are minor criticisms about it. First of all, I felt like the book was a little short for a wonderful story like this. Since there were many different stories about Prudence and her relationships, I felt like having the book be longer would help in the understanding and enjoyment of the book.
All in all, this is a tremendous book. The plot kept me hooked, and the relationships were amazing and heart warming, and me, a person who has never really faced challenges that were so astounding, it was very inspiring to see someone keep going through all of the prejudice she is facing, and I hope anyone who decides to pick up the book can feel the same way I feel about it.
Time travel into New York City in 1906, from the point of view of a Russian Jewish 16 year old girl named Prudence. In Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro, Prudence faces prejudice because she is a woman trying to be have a respected profession instead of graduating a girl’s school, but she perseveres. Prudence never lets anyone tell her what she can’t be, and drives forward into the man-dominated fields of science and health to follow her dreams or becoming a scientists.
Prudence can definitely inspire the reader to persevere through any kind of prejudice. As a woman, she was faced with discrimination from colleague in the workplace because she is working in a job at the NYC Department of Sanitation where she was harassed. She had to shake it off, especially since no one would believe her because she was a woman, and she worked too hard for this job and was not going to quit just because of one man.
When the plot picks up, Prudence finds herself chasing who feels like one of her own. From reading the summary on the back of the book, she ends up chasing an Irish immigrant named Mary Mallon, who she and the Department of Sanitation thinks may be causing the spread of typhoid. A Jewish Russian 16 year old girl, doesn’t have much in common with a person from Ireland, but here are where bridges are made. They are both immigrants, they are both on the poorer side of the economic standpoint, and they have been harassed since the moment they docked in America. It is really enjoyable to read how Prudence copes with this and how she can feel a connection with a completely different person.
Not only the book, but the writing style is great. It is written is diary entries, and I makes the story just so much more interesting. The reader is able to tell Prudence’s deepest thoughts and secrets, because the book is told in her perspective.
Although this is a great book, there are minor criticisms about it. First of all, I felt like the book was a little short for a wonderful story like this. Since there were many different stories about Prudence and her relationships, I felt like having the book be longer would help in the understanding and enjoyment of the book.
All in all, this is a tremendous book. The plot kept me hooked, and the relationships were amazing and heart warming, and me, a person who has never really faced challenges that were so astounding, it was very inspiring to see someone keep going through all of the prejudice she is facing, and I hope anyone who decides to pick up the book can feel the same way I feel about it.
December 30, 2010
Every time I crack up a historical fiction novel I learn something new, which is why I love them so much. Occasionally the book is about a time period I’ve read about numerous times like Elizabethan England, but in the case of Deadly everything was fresh, new, and interesting. I knew next to nothing about “Typhoid Mary”, including that she was an actual person. She always seemed more like a symbol than an actual human being. Luckily, Deadly opened my eyes to this time in history and kept me engaged and intrigued enough to finish it in one day.
Deadly was written in diary form from the perspective of a teenager named Prudence. Prudence was a very likable main character. Her strength and determination shown throughout and I always wanted the best for her. Reading about things through the eyes of a teenager made the story that much more interesting, especially Prudence’s involvement in everything. She drops out of school to work alongside a group of scientists researching typhoid and how it spreads. From there things get very complicated for Prudence. After much research Prudence and her colleagues discover the connection to all those who succumbed to typhoid- Mary Mallon.
Mary Mallon, also known as “Typhoid Mary”, was another big character in the book. Mary was an Irish immigrant who was unknowingly passing on the typhoid virus to the people at the different houses she worked at. The medical information and facts on typhoid were especially eye opening. Readers not only learned about the people involved, but also how and why the disease was spread. It was still unknown to the people of the time that someone could be a carrier for a disease without actually showing symptoms. Julie Chibbaro definitely did her research and it showed with the numerous facts presented in the book.
I liked the little drawings included in the story and they proved just how dedicated Prudence was to finding out what made humans tick. Her interest in cells and understanding death was a huge aspect of the story.
Although typhoid and Prudence’s involvement in research of it was a key part of the story, there were also several sub plots going on. Prudence’s father was missing and she and her mother didn’t know whether to move on or keep hoping for his return. Also, Prudence experiences her first feelings of love.
All in all, Deadly was an interesting and well researched novel and the main character was likable and determined. I learned a lot reading this and definitely recommend it!
Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Deadly was written in diary form from the perspective of a teenager named Prudence. Prudence was a very likable main character. Her strength and determination shown throughout and I always wanted the best for her. Reading about things through the eyes of a teenager made the story that much more interesting, especially Prudence’s involvement in everything. She drops out of school to work alongside a group of scientists researching typhoid and how it spreads. From there things get very complicated for Prudence. After much research Prudence and her colleagues discover the connection to all those who succumbed to typhoid- Mary Mallon.
Mary Mallon, also known as “Typhoid Mary”, was another big character in the book. Mary was an Irish immigrant who was unknowingly passing on the typhoid virus to the people at the different houses she worked at. The medical information and facts on typhoid were especially eye opening. Readers not only learned about the people involved, but also how and why the disease was spread. It was still unknown to the people of the time that someone could be a carrier for a disease without actually showing symptoms. Julie Chibbaro definitely did her research and it showed with the numerous facts presented in the book.
I liked the little drawings included in the story and they proved just how dedicated Prudence was to finding out what made humans tick. Her interest in cells and understanding death was a huge aspect of the story.
Although typhoid and Prudence’s involvement in research of it was a key part of the story, there were also several sub plots going on. Prudence’s father was missing and she and her mother didn’t know whether to move on or keep hoping for his return. Also, Prudence experiences her first feelings of love.
All in all, Deadly was an interesting and well researched novel and the main character was likable and determined. I learned a lot reading this and definitely recommend it!
Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars
March 2, 2011
Prudence Galewski is nothing like the average sixteen-year-old girl living in New York City in 1906. Unlike most of her classmates Mrs. Browning's School for Girls, she's not interested in learning to be a housewife or to find a job that is proper for a young lady. Instead, Prudence is interested in learning about the human body and illness. So when she is offered a job at the Department of Health and Sanitation, Prudence eagerly accepts and leaves school to begin her new job.
At her new job, Prudence works as an assistant to Mr. Soper, who is tracking cases of typhoid in the city and nearby. Prudence finds her job fascinating as she can finally learn about some of the things she has always been curious about. Eventually their search leads them to Mary Mallon, the infamous "Typhoid Mary," a healthy woman who was somehow spreading the disease.
Deadly is written in the form of Prudence's diary, so it reminded me of the Dear America series which I love, but written for slightly older readers. Prudence was a very determined and likable character. In a time when women were beginning to gain more rights and job opportunities, Prudence was determined not to be an average young woman with an ordinary life, but to follow her interests, even though it meant working in a field where there were few women at the time. Readers who enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters are sure to enjoy Prudence's story.
Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.
At her new job, Prudence works as an assistant to Mr. Soper, who is tracking cases of typhoid in the city and nearby. Prudence finds her job fascinating as she can finally learn about some of the things she has always been curious about. Eventually their search leads them to Mary Mallon, the infamous "Typhoid Mary," a healthy woman who was somehow spreading the disease.
Deadly is written in the form of Prudence's diary, so it reminded me of the Dear America series which I love, but written for slightly older readers. Prudence was a very determined and likable character. In a time when women were beginning to gain more rights and job opportunities, Prudence was determined not to be an average young woman with an ordinary life, but to follow her interests, even though it meant working in a field where there were few women at the time. Readers who enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters are sure to enjoy Prudence's story.
Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.
October 30, 2012
Deadly-Julie Chibbaro
Everyday people die from diseases and spread more each day. Many times it’s people who are innocent who just had bad luck from some person who spreads diseases. Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro tells the story of thousands of people, who get killed by an invisible killer called diseases, which kills innocent people.
This story takes place in New York and is about how Prudence, a 16-yearold scientist takes a job as an assistant in a laboratory in 1906 and the evidence in which a harmful killer kills people. As they start to realize that the killer isn’t a person, but a disease in which Prudence finds out that its typhoid disease.
Prudence is a teenager in which is smart, kind, and brave. I think that she was very smart and annoying in where she keeps on repeating to people that the thing killing everyone is a disease which seems like she’s bragging in how she knows and discovered her self that it was typhoid. What motivates this character in the passion in which she wants to be a scientist. For example, Prudence at first says, “When I grow up my only passions for life is to become a scientist and save millions of people.”
This character teaches us that if you have a goal you should go out and complete it and if you do you could save thousands of people. Overall this book was ok, and I would recommend this much either.
Everyday people die from diseases and spread more each day. Many times it’s people who are innocent who just had bad luck from some person who spreads diseases. Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro tells the story of thousands of people, who get killed by an invisible killer called diseases, which kills innocent people.
This story takes place in New York and is about how Prudence, a 16-yearold scientist takes a job as an assistant in a laboratory in 1906 and the evidence in which a harmful killer kills people. As they start to realize that the killer isn’t a person, but a disease in which Prudence finds out that its typhoid disease.
Prudence is a teenager in which is smart, kind, and brave. I think that she was very smart and annoying in where she keeps on repeating to people that the thing killing everyone is a disease which seems like she’s bragging in how she knows and discovered her self that it was typhoid. What motivates this character in the passion in which she wants to be a scientist. For example, Prudence at first says, “When I grow up my only passions for life is to become a scientist and save millions of people.”
This character teaches us that if you have a goal you should go out and complete it and if you do you could save thousands of people. Overall this book was ok, and I would recommend this much either.
February 6, 2021
TOP TOP TOP. L'histoire de Marie Thyphoïde est passionnante, et ce roman vu au près du service de l'hygiène de New York nous conte l'histoire cachée derrière cette femme méconnue qui a alimenté quantité de légendes urbaines aux Etats-Unis. A découvrir !
December 4, 2022
Incontournable Avril 2021
Je place d'ores et déjà ce magnifique livre dans mes Incontournable de Librairie pour le mois de Mars 2021. Il est trop rare d'avoir ce genre de roman en littérature adolescente ou Jeune Adulte ( j'hésite encore sur son classement), mais une chose est sure, des comme lui, j'en voudrais tellement plus sur mes rayons de département Jeunesse!
Bon, j'ai BEAUCOUP de choses à dire, alors je vous donne le choix de la longueur.
Version raccourcie:
Il existe trop peu de ce genre de roman en ado/Jeune adulte pour passer à côté de ce magnifique roman historique. L'histoire d'une jeune femme à l'esprit scientifique qui aspire au monde des sciences et éventuellement de la médecine, va être au coeur d'une épidémie de typhoïde dans un New York insalubre de 1906. Une rare fenêtre sur une adolescente à l'esprit cartésien, sur fond d'Histoire soutenu par une solide recherche de la part de l'autrice.Un roman féministe, humain, différent, pertinent, intéressant et rigoureux.
Version exhaustive:
Vous aurez sans doute flairé à son élégante couverture aux allures vintage et sa quatrième ayant la forme d'une page de journal son appartenance à L Histoire, et vous auriez raison. Nous sommes en 1906, dans la métropole New Yorkaise, qui était déjà, à l'époque, un centre urbain très densément peuplé, un fait accentué par le flot constant d'immigrants, et plutôt insalubre. Nous verrons les évènements historiquement vrais du point de vue d'un personnage fictif en la personne de Prudence Galewski, 16 ans, jeune femme juive d'une famille immigrante de la seconde génération, qui tiens un journal.
Prudence se sent différente des autres filles. Pour elle, aucunes questions n'est stupide, tout est à découvrir, tout ce qui se trouve à la porté de ses yeux ou de l'esprit mérite d'être étudier. C'est une scientifique dans l'âme. Mais nous sommes en 1906 alors bien sur, comme la plupart des domaines intellectuels, le domaine des Sciences Naturelles appartient aux hommes. Alors qu'elle s'ennuie dans son école pour filles où elles apprennent à devenir "des femmes bien" ( Couture, maintiens et autres trucs superficiels), notre jeune femme souhaite étudier les sciences et pour intégrer ce monde masculin, cherche à être engagée comme dactylographe. C'est ainsi qu'elle rejoint le Département de la Santé et de l'hygiène, un département assez nouveau qui s'occupe notamment du dépistage des maladies infectieuses qui deviennent de vraies épidémies.Engagée comme assistante, Prudence est donc sur le terrain comme preneuse de notes. Elle met tout sur papier, élabore les tableaux de données et aura même la chance de voir sa toute première bactérie sous le microscope!
Bien sur, tout ne se fait pas sans heurts. Elle devra quitter l'école, faire face aux commentaires et gestes déplacés de certains individus, gérer des émotions parfois très fortes en opposition avec son esprit cartésien, concevoir des théories dont certaines ne sont pas seulement récentes, mais encore au stade théorique! Dans ce journal qu'elle tiens, Prudence nous relate une histoire qui a bel et bien eu lieu, avec quelques traficotages ici et là pour rendre le tout cohérent. L'épidémie de typhoïde à bel et bien eu lieu, les premiers "porteurs sains", des asymptomatiques, sont au coeur d'une polémique entre Droit de la personne et Droit de la Santé collective. Vous trouverai plus amples détails à la fin du roman, car l'autrice a fait de rigoureuses recherches pour ce roman ( très bon point pour elle!).
Le roman nous amène donc une dimension éthique. L'équipe de santé publique n'a pas encore de code déontologique et fait avec ce qu'elle a. Ces moyens ne sont pas toujours très élégants, ni même humains, mais avec une population ignorante ( surtout en matière de santé) et une ville qui peine à se sortir d'une insalubrité typique des grands centres urbains, combiné à une expertise médicale encore embryonnaire à certains niveaux, le combat pour la santé publique se fait sur plusieurs fronts. Et quand certains acteurs refusent de collaborer, ici le cas de Mary Mallon, asymptomatique positive à la typhoïde, c'est le tapage médiatique à savoir si on peut retirer un individu, susceptible de tuer des gens par le fait d'être "porteur sain", pour le bien-être collectif de la population. À cela s'ajoute la déontologie journalistique, gravement déficitaire à l'époque, aussi professionnels qu'une bande requins affamés.
On retrouvera dans ce roman beaucoup de réflexion de la part de Prudence sur le conflit entre les émotions et l'esprit neutre requis pour les sciences. Aujourd'hui, il est généralement admis que les bons docteurs ont la capacité d'empathie et de compassion, de même que les émotions ne sont pas incompatibles à l'esprit scientifique. Mais les sciences humaines sont beaucoup plus jeunes que les sciences naturelles et donc, à cette époque, la mentalité était plus froide: couper ses émotions, passer par dessus l'humain au profil de la froide logique attendu du scientifique empirique et raisonnable. On patauge ainsi dans le "No man"s land" entre les deux grandes Sciences, qui sont au final complémentaires. le titre lui-même est porteur de ce double sens: "stupeur", un étonnement profond ( émotif) et "stupeur", suspension physique et mentale ( biologique).
J'insiste sur le fait que cette dualité ( comme la plupart des sujets évoqués dans ce livre) sont trop rarement traités dans les romans destinés aux ados et jeunes adultes, alors que de plus en plus de jeunes femmes font carrière dans le milieu et ont justement le profil mental de Prudence! Elles sont très sous-représentés en littérature jeunesse et c'est très dommage. Il y a trop peu d'ados et jeunes femmes d'érudites, de scientifiques et de filles dont le principal but ou le seul absolu n'est pas de finir en couple, dans les romans de cette tranche d'âge.
Toutefois, le roman n'est pas que faits historiques et sciences en développement, oh que non! On couvre beaucoup de sujet, mais cela n,exclut pas un côté très humains et très touchant. Si les évènements de l'épidémie de typhoïde est l'axe central, à travers les écrits de Prudence, nous avons aussi des soucis de l'ordre plus social. Son amitié avec Anoucka, par exemple, qui est passée de citadine à campagnarde, prise avec un amour à sens unique dans un trio d'amis. La disparition de son père, également, parti faire la guerre et dont le mystère de sa disparition reste entier, est un autre bon sujet, car à travers cette perte, la relation qu'a Prudence avec les hommes semble s'en trouvé influencée.
En outre, on retrouve le thème du féminisme, évidement, puisque les années 1900 sont aux balbutiements des écoles pour femmes. Ainsi, il est désormais possible pour certaines excellentes candidates d'étudier dans le domaine, mais en faire parti ensuite est une autre paire de manches. En soi, le fait que Prudence ait eu son emplois auprès de l'ingénieur Soper est en soi un gros pas en avant et place le personnage dans la peau d'un homme moderne et féministe.
Et d'ailleurs, j'apprécie beaucoup les élans solidaires et constructifs des personnages féminins entre elles. Trop souvent je vois la compétition s'installer dans les histoires, surtout celles où les filles convoitent le même gars ou un statut social X, alors c'est rafraichissant de voir des rapports de cette nature entre les filles, pour une fois. Un aspect de sororité/Girl Club, en somme.
Il aura fallut attendre 10 ans pour en avoir une traduction, mais ce roman états-unien en vaut la peine. Bien loin de tout ce ramdam sentimental débilisant et sexiste qui pullule actuellement, justement en provenance des USA, il est donc très satisfaisant de voir ce genre de pépite émerger du lot et proposer autre chose. Nous avons enfin une héroïne qui pense à autre chose que de ce trouver un copain! Quoique cela ne l'empêche pas de vivre les tourments des premiers sentiments, elle a juste le bon sens de ne pas se laisser abrutir par ça. Elle est d'une nature curieuse, méthodique, empathique, consciencieuse, modeste et entreprenante. C'est, en un mot, une pionnière. Elle sera d'ailleurs amenée à en rencontrer d'autres, notamment la doctoresse Baker, qui a réellement existé.
Dernier point: l'une de mes collègue libraires l,a mentionné et je lui donne raison: il aurait été intéressant d'approfondir sur l'aspect "intégration du féminin" en science. C,est rester plutôt de surface.
Compte tenu de certains thèmes plus complexes et de la plume plus soutenue , je pense que ce roman est définitivement fait pour les ados, peut-être plus la tranche des 15-18 ans. Mais si les 13-14 se sentent d'attaque et qu'ils sont bons lecteurs, pourquoi pas? Il n'y a pas de violence outrancière, pas d'agressions sexuelles, pas de termes extrêmement complexes. Il y a même quelques dessins au graphisme d'époque , de ceux que l'on retrouve dans les encyclopédies, qui ponctue de temps en temps le récit. La plume est juste, touchante, précise, avec un rare engouement pour le passé simple. Une très belle traduction, une belle mise en page aérée et des chapitres très courts puisque sous forme de journal.
Un roman incontournable qui va rejoindre ma bibliothèque personnelle, assurément!
Je place d'ores et déjà ce magnifique livre dans mes Incontournable de Librairie pour le mois de Mars 2021. Il est trop rare d'avoir ce genre de roman en littérature adolescente ou Jeune Adulte ( j'hésite encore sur son classement), mais une chose est sure, des comme lui, j'en voudrais tellement plus sur mes rayons de département Jeunesse!
Bon, j'ai BEAUCOUP de choses à dire, alors je vous donne le choix de la longueur.
Version raccourcie:
Il existe trop peu de ce genre de roman en ado/Jeune adulte pour passer à côté de ce magnifique roman historique. L'histoire d'une jeune femme à l'esprit scientifique qui aspire au monde des sciences et éventuellement de la médecine, va être au coeur d'une épidémie de typhoïde dans un New York insalubre de 1906. Une rare fenêtre sur une adolescente à l'esprit cartésien, sur fond d'Histoire soutenu par une solide recherche de la part de l'autrice.Un roman féministe, humain, différent, pertinent, intéressant et rigoureux.
Version exhaustive:
Vous aurez sans doute flairé à son élégante couverture aux allures vintage et sa quatrième ayant la forme d'une page de journal son appartenance à L Histoire, et vous auriez raison. Nous sommes en 1906, dans la métropole New Yorkaise, qui était déjà, à l'époque, un centre urbain très densément peuplé, un fait accentué par le flot constant d'immigrants, et plutôt insalubre. Nous verrons les évènements historiquement vrais du point de vue d'un personnage fictif en la personne de Prudence Galewski, 16 ans, jeune femme juive d'une famille immigrante de la seconde génération, qui tiens un journal.
Prudence se sent différente des autres filles. Pour elle, aucunes questions n'est stupide, tout est à découvrir, tout ce qui se trouve à la porté de ses yeux ou de l'esprit mérite d'être étudier. C'est une scientifique dans l'âme. Mais nous sommes en 1906 alors bien sur, comme la plupart des domaines intellectuels, le domaine des Sciences Naturelles appartient aux hommes. Alors qu'elle s'ennuie dans son école pour filles où elles apprennent à devenir "des femmes bien" ( Couture, maintiens et autres trucs superficiels), notre jeune femme souhaite étudier les sciences et pour intégrer ce monde masculin, cherche à être engagée comme dactylographe. C'est ainsi qu'elle rejoint le Département de la Santé et de l'hygiène, un département assez nouveau qui s'occupe notamment du dépistage des maladies infectieuses qui deviennent de vraies épidémies.Engagée comme assistante, Prudence est donc sur le terrain comme preneuse de notes. Elle met tout sur papier, élabore les tableaux de données et aura même la chance de voir sa toute première bactérie sous le microscope!
Bien sur, tout ne se fait pas sans heurts. Elle devra quitter l'école, faire face aux commentaires et gestes déplacés de certains individus, gérer des émotions parfois très fortes en opposition avec son esprit cartésien, concevoir des théories dont certaines ne sont pas seulement récentes, mais encore au stade théorique! Dans ce journal qu'elle tiens, Prudence nous relate une histoire qui a bel et bien eu lieu, avec quelques traficotages ici et là pour rendre le tout cohérent. L'épidémie de typhoïde à bel et bien eu lieu, les premiers "porteurs sains", des asymptomatiques, sont au coeur d'une polémique entre Droit de la personne et Droit de la Santé collective. Vous trouverai plus amples détails à la fin du roman, car l'autrice a fait de rigoureuses recherches pour ce roman ( très bon point pour elle!).
Le roman nous amène donc une dimension éthique. L'équipe de santé publique n'a pas encore de code déontologique et fait avec ce qu'elle a. Ces moyens ne sont pas toujours très élégants, ni même humains, mais avec une population ignorante ( surtout en matière de santé) et une ville qui peine à se sortir d'une insalubrité typique des grands centres urbains, combiné à une expertise médicale encore embryonnaire à certains niveaux, le combat pour la santé publique se fait sur plusieurs fronts. Et quand certains acteurs refusent de collaborer, ici le cas de Mary Mallon, asymptomatique positive à la typhoïde, c'est le tapage médiatique à savoir si on peut retirer un individu, susceptible de tuer des gens par le fait d'être "porteur sain", pour le bien-être collectif de la population. À cela s'ajoute la déontologie journalistique, gravement déficitaire à l'époque, aussi professionnels qu'une bande requins affamés.
On retrouvera dans ce roman beaucoup de réflexion de la part de Prudence sur le conflit entre les émotions et l'esprit neutre requis pour les sciences. Aujourd'hui, il est généralement admis que les bons docteurs ont la capacité d'empathie et de compassion, de même que les émotions ne sont pas incompatibles à l'esprit scientifique. Mais les sciences humaines sont beaucoup plus jeunes que les sciences naturelles et donc, à cette époque, la mentalité était plus froide: couper ses émotions, passer par dessus l'humain au profil de la froide logique attendu du scientifique empirique et raisonnable. On patauge ainsi dans le "No man"s land" entre les deux grandes Sciences, qui sont au final complémentaires. le titre lui-même est porteur de ce double sens: "stupeur", un étonnement profond ( émotif) et "stupeur", suspension physique et mentale ( biologique).
J'insiste sur le fait que cette dualité ( comme la plupart des sujets évoqués dans ce livre) sont trop rarement traités dans les romans destinés aux ados et jeunes adultes, alors que de plus en plus de jeunes femmes font carrière dans le milieu et ont justement le profil mental de Prudence! Elles sont très sous-représentés en littérature jeunesse et c'est très dommage. Il y a trop peu d'ados et jeunes femmes d'érudites, de scientifiques et de filles dont le principal but ou le seul absolu n'est pas de finir en couple, dans les romans de cette tranche d'âge.
Toutefois, le roman n'est pas que faits historiques et sciences en développement, oh que non! On couvre beaucoup de sujet, mais cela n,exclut pas un côté très humains et très touchant. Si les évènements de l'épidémie de typhoïde est l'axe central, à travers les écrits de Prudence, nous avons aussi des soucis de l'ordre plus social. Son amitié avec Anoucka, par exemple, qui est passée de citadine à campagnarde, prise avec un amour à sens unique dans un trio d'amis. La disparition de son père, également, parti faire la guerre et dont le mystère de sa disparition reste entier, est un autre bon sujet, car à travers cette perte, la relation qu'a Prudence avec les hommes semble s'en trouvé influencée.
En outre, on retrouve le thème du féminisme, évidement, puisque les années 1900 sont aux balbutiements des écoles pour femmes. Ainsi, il est désormais possible pour certaines excellentes candidates d'étudier dans le domaine, mais en faire parti ensuite est une autre paire de manches. En soi, le fait que Prudence ait eu son emplois auprès de l'ingénieur Soper est en soi un gros pas en avant et place le personnage dans la peau d'un homme moderne et féministe.
Et d'ailleurs, j'apprécie beaucoup les élans solidaires et constructifs des personnages féminins entre elles. Trop souvent je vois la compétition s'installer dans les histoires, surtout celles où les filles convoitent le même gars ou un statut social X, alors c'est rafraichissant de voir des rapports de cette nature entre les filles, pour une fois. Un aspect de sororité/Girl Club, en somme.
Il aura fallut attendre 10 ans pour en avoir une traduction, mais ce roman états-unien en vaut la peine. Bien loin de tout ce ramdam sentimental débilisant et sexiste qui pullule actuellement, justement en provenance des USA, il est donc très satisfaisant de voir ce genre de pépite émerger du lot et proposer autre chose. Nous avons enfin une héroïne qui pense à autre chose que de ce trouver un copain! Quoique cela ne l'empêche pas de vivre les tourments des premiers sentiments, elle a juste le bon sens de ne pas se laisser abrutir par ça. Elle est d'une nature curieuse, méthodique, empathique, consciencieuse, modeste et entreprenante. C'est, en un mot, une pionnière. Elle sera d'ailleurs amenée à en rencontrer d'autres, notamment la doctoresse Baker, qui a réellement existé.
Dernier point: l'une de mes collègue libraires l,a mentionné et je lui donne raison: il aurait été intéressant d'approfondir sur l'aspect "intégration du féminin" en science. C,est rester plutôt de surface.
Compte tenu de certains thèmes plus complexes et de la plume plus soutenue , je pense que ce roman est définitivement fait pour les ados, peut-être plus la tranche des 15-18 ans. Mais si les 13-14 se sentent d'attaque et qu'ils sont bons lecteurs, pourquoi pas? Il n'y a pas de violence outrancière, pas d'agressions sexuelles, pas de termes extrêmement complexes. Il y a même quelques dessins au graphisme d'époque , de ceux que l'on retrouve dans les encyclopédies, qui ponctue de temps en temps le récit. La plume est juste, touchante, précise, avec un rare engouement pour le passé simple. Une très belle traduction, une belle mise en page aérée et des chapitres très courts puisque sous forme de journal.
Un roman incontournable qui va rejoindre ma bibliothèque personnelle, assurément!
December 23, 2019
I don't know what I was expecting, but from the beginning, Deadly wasn't it.
I might have heard of Typhoid Mary before, but I never knew who she was. From the little I knew, I expected this to be a horror novel or some type of science fiction. I hadn't realized the book was about a real disease, and that's part of the reason I thought it would be sci-fi/horror.
That said, I picked up this book (from my collection of hundreds at home) not really knowing or caring that much what genre I was about to read. I was surprised by this genre, because I've never read a medical historical fiction book before.
I really liked the protagonist, a girl in the early 1900s who is into science. Aside from her being a strong female character, she also deals with the ethical questions that go into medicine and research. These are questions that I know a lot of medical professionals grapple with, and Julie Chibbaro handles these themes very well. The main character knows why she and her boss have to do what they do to keep the infection at bay, but she still feels for Mary Mallon, and she admits that being in the sciences doesn't mean she isn't human. I really liked that approach.
I feel like historical fiction has been lacking from my repertoire this year, and I'm glad I decided to read this novel. It was definitely the right pace for right now.
I might have heard of Typhoid Mary before, but I never knew who she was. From the little I knew, I expected this to be a horror novel or some type of science fiction. I hadn't realized the book was about a real disease, and that's part of the reason I thought it would be sci-fi/horror.
That said, I picked up this book (from my collection of hundreds at home) not really knowing or caring that much what genre I was about to read. I was surprised by this genre, because I've never read a medical historical fiction book before.
I really liked the protagonist, a girl in the early 1900s who is into science. Aside from her being a strong female character, she also deals with the ethical questions that go into medicine and research. These are questions that I know a lot of medical professionals grapple with, and Julie Chibbaro handles these themes very well. The main character knows why she and her boss have to do what they do to keep the infection at bay, but she still feels for Mary Mallon, and she admits that being in the sciences doesn't mean she isn't human. I really liked that approach.
I feel like historical fiction has been lacking from my repertoire this year, and I'm glad I decided to read this novel. It was definitely the right pace for right now.
April 22, 2011
Deadly is the tale of a Prudence, young girl living in New York in the early 1900s. While she sits in Ms. Browning's school learning how to become a lady, she daydreams about doing something more with her life than getting married and having babies. She practices as a midwife with her mother and learns that there is much more to being a human than meets the eye. It is these experiences that plant a seed in her to learn more about the sciences.
Prudence lands a job as an assistant to one of the chiefs at the Department of Health and Sanitation and spends all of her time involved in the case of "Typhoid Mary." It is through this case that she realizes her strengths and weaknesses, and learns about what roles men and women are expected to play during this time period. She begins realizing what a career in medicine and science would mean for her and how she should navigate to that goal.
Another storyline involves the whereabouts of her father, who went to fight in the Spanish-American War but never returned. She and her mother spend their days waiting for him to come back home, and without spoiling the ending to this story, they do learn his whereabouts.
The novel shows the evolution of Prudence into a young woman as she follows her dreams. I truly loved it for many reasons. First, I love historical fiction and this is set in a very interesting time in the United States - the early 1900s when women struggled in many ways. Second, I am getting more and more interested in books that deal with science and medicine as it evolved throughout history. This novel reminded me very much of Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman, which I also adored.
Deadly also focuses on science pretty heavily. Throughout the book there are awesome illustrations that accompany what is being described, as if Prudence herself was drawing these in her tablets. The illustrations definitely add a lot to the novel.
Another aspect of this novel that I loved was the setting - New York in the early 1900s. If there is ever a setting that could have supported the scientific questions of the day this was it. In the beginning, there is a description of a dog stopping to use the bathroom on the street and Prudence sees what is left behind and she describes the worms that are remaining. New York during this time was unclean, and that really does support the premise of the novel.
Interestingly enough, in the author's note in the back it states that the author had heard of the urban legend "Typhoid Mary" many times and when she stumbled upon the real Typhoid Mary in her research, she realized that the real story of this poor Irish immigrant needed to be told. While she is not the main character in the book, Mary Mallon (aka Typhoid Mary) certainly does play a central role.
I highly recommend this one - a great, quick, and interesting read.
Here are some of my favorite passages from the novel:
"The pursuit of knowledge is happiness, my friend. We women must allow ourselves that." (Anushka p. 164)
"My family is one of pioneers. My grandfather left his home with his baby and his wife and came to America. What did it take for him to do that? He left his own parents, and his aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, a language he knew and a farm he loved. My father left a wife and young child to go to another country and fight a war. I don't see how my family members tore themselves from the lives and people they loved, in order to press themselves into a new world. Why does a person have to leave so much behind when they make one decision over another?" (Prudence p. 204)
"Then I saw why she cried - she had sacrificed for her children, she had lost one of us, I was all she had left. And I had done something to make her proud. I felt a great warmth in my chest, an honor. She honored me with her pride." (Prudence p. 220)
"I sometimes felt as if I am an outline of myself, and each thing I learn from him is like a colored piece of yarn that gets knitted inside that outline, filling me, making me more defined." (Prudence p. 226)
"We walked across town in silence, our human failings a sort of truce between us." (Prudence p. 272)
Prudence lands a job as an assistant to one of the chiefs at the Department of Health and Sanitation and spends all of her time involved in the case of "Typhoid Mary." It is through this case that she realizes her strengths and weaknesses, and learns about what roles men and women are expected to play during this time period. She begins realizing what a career in medicine and science would mean for her and how she should navigate to that goal.
Another storyline involves the whereabouts of her father, who went to fight in the Spanish-American War but never returned. She and her mother spend their days waiting for him to come back home, and without spoiling the ending to this story, they do learn his whereabouts.
The novel shows the evolution of Prudence into a young woman as she follows her dreams. I truly loved it for many reasons. First, I love historical fiction and this is set in a very interesting time in the United States - the early 1900s when women struggled in many ways. Second, I am getting more and more interested in books that deal with science and medicine as it evolved throughout history. This novel reminded me very much of Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman, which I also adored.
Deadly also focuses on science pretty heavily. Throughout the book there are awesome illustrations that accompany what is being described, as if Prudence herself was drawing these in her tablets. The illustrations definitely add a lot to the novel.
Another aspect of this novel that I loved was the setting - New York in the early 1900s. If there is ever a setting that could have supported the scientific questions of the day this was it. In the beginning, there is a description of a dog stopping to use the bathroom on the street and Prudence sees what is left behind and she describes the worms that are remaining. New York during this time was unclean, and that really does support the premise of the novel.
Interestingly enough, in the author's note in the back it states that the author had heard of the urban legend "Typhoid Mary" many times and when she stumbled upon the real Typhoid Mary in her research, she realized that the real story of this poor Irish immigrant needed to be told. While she is not the main character in the book, Mary Mallon (aka Typhoid Mary) certainly does play a central role.
I highly recommend this one - a great, quick, and interesting read.
Here are some of my favorite passages from the novel:
"The pursuit of knowledge is happiness, my friend. We women must allow ourselves that." (Anushka p. 164)
"My family is one of pioneers. My grandfather left his home with his baby and his wife and came to America. What did it take for him to do that? He left his own parents, and his aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, a language he knew and a farm he loved. My father left a wife and young child to go to another country and fight a war. I don't see how my family members tore themselves from the lives and people they loved, in order to press themselves into a new world. Why does a person have to leave so much behind when they make one decision over another?" (Prudence p. 204)
"Then I saw why she cried - she had sacrificed for her children, she had lost one of us, I was all she had left. And I had done something to make her proud. I felt a great warmth in my chest, an honor. She honored me with her pride." (Prudence p. 220)
"I sometimes felt as if I am an outline of myself, and each thing I learn from him is like a colored piece of yarn that gets knitted inside that outline, filling me, making me more defined." (Prudence p. 226)
"We walked across town in silence, our human failings a sort of truce between us." (Prudence p. 272)
January 3, 2012
Book Title: "Deadly"
Author: Julie Chibbaro
Published By: Antheneum Books For Young Readers
Age Recommended: 13 +
Reviewed By: Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating: 5
Review: I wouldn't call myself a history buff but I must say there have been many times over the course of my life that I have heard about 'Typhoid Mary' and the story about her. In the early to mid 1900's the spread of disease was the one thing that was prominent in the United States. With immigration at its prime and so many different people entering the country you could never be sure what would come along with them. Even the boats that carried them to our shores were often infested with rats that carried disease as well and many of those rats began to colonize here in America during this time. The story "Deadly" by Julie Chibbaro highlights the path of Mary Mallon an Irish immigrant that gained employment in many of the wealthiest households in America during this time.
Through the journal entries of Prudence Galewski, we learn much about the mystery surrounding this woman and how even in its infancy the department of sanitation had a hard time pinpointing the reasons behind so much illness and often times death in the case of Typhoid Fever. The journey throughout this book is one that will not only make you think about how technology has changed so much today, but how some people can be carriers and not even realize it due to the fact they never get sick from disease themselves. Science is an amazing thing and there will never be a time when it will not surprise us.
I love history, anything to do with any type of history always profoundly amazes me and draws me in and I have to say this book was not an exception. Julie Chibbaro writes with intelligence and the evidence of her extensive research on these times and the content of her book is prominent. I enjoyed this book not only for its profound historical background but for the story itself and how well she portrayed the characters, their emotions and feelings and her ability to draw the reader into that time period allowing them to see first-hand just what it was like living in a world that was still so very new. Prudence Galewski's amazement and wonder at the world of science and disease is catching. She is by far one of the most amazing character creations I have come across in any books so far and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her thoughts on society, disease, science and everything she came across. This young woman was one that believed in keeping her eyes wide open and learning all she could about the importance of sanitation and the need to control the spread of disease for the sake of the people.
I definitely think Julie Chibbaro is a fantastic writer and I long to read more of her work. Her book "Redemption" is going to be added to my must-read collection and I hope others will take the opportunity to read "Deadly" as well. It matters not if you are a lover of history, you will find a new excitement for the subject simply by reading this book!
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
Author: Julie Chibbaro
Published By: Antheneum Books For Young Readers
Age Recommended: 13 +
Reviewed By: Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating: 5
Review: I wouldn't call myself a history buff but I must say there have been many times over the course of my life that I have heard about 'Typhoid Mary' and the story about her. In the early to mid 1900's the spread of disease was the one thing that was prominent in the United States. With immigration at its prime and so many different people entering the country you could never be sure what would come along with them. Even the boats that carried them to our shores were often infested with rats that carried disease as well and many of those rats began to colonize here in America during this time. The story "Deadly" by Julie Chibbaro highlights the path of Mary Mallon an Irish immigrant that gained employment in many of the wealthiest households in America during this time.
Through the journal entries of Prudence Galewski, we learn much about the mystery surrounding this woman and how even in its infancy the department of sanitation had a hard time pinpointing the reasons behind so much illness and often times death in the case of Typhoid Fever. The journey throughout this book is one that will not only make you think about how technology has changed so much today, but how some people can be carriers and not even realize it due to the fact they never get sick from disease themselves. Science is an amazing thing and there will never be a time when it will not surprise us.
I love history, anything to do with any type of history always profoundly amazes me and draws me in and I have to say this book was not an exception. Julie Chibbaro writes with intelligence and the evidence of her extensive research on these times and the content of her book is prominent. I enjoyed this book not only for its profound historical background but for the story itself and how well she portrayed the characters, their emotions and feelings and her ability to draw the reader into that time period allowing them to see first-hand just what it was like living in a world that was still so very new. Prudence Galewski's amazement and wonder at the world of science and disease is catching. She is by far one of the most amazing character creations I have come across in any books so far and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her thoughts on society, disease, science and everything she came across. This young woman was one that believed in keeping her eyes wide open and learning all she could about the importance of sanitation and the need to control the spread of disease for the sake of the people.
I definitely think Julie Chibbaro is a fantastic writer and I long to read more of her work. Her book "Redemption" is going to be added to my must-read collection and I hope others will take the opportunity to read "Deadly" as well. It matters not if you are a lover of history, you will find a new excitement for the subject simply by reading this book!
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
January 21, 2012
I am fascinated by anything I can read about early work in public disease. I'd like to think I would have been courageous enough to fight through the resistance to women working in the field of medicine in the late 1800's through the 1920's. This book is based on the true story of Mary Mallon, who was a cook working on Long Island during the early 1900's. She was a healthy woman, but carried a deadly secret: the typhoid disease. After sickening dozens of people she cooked for, the city tracked her down and forcibly tested her. This was a new discovery in science: that a person could carry the germs for a disease, and spread them, yet remain perfectly healthy. It was also a hard sell to the public, who still did not understand that something invisible to the human eye could kill a person.
The story is told through the voice of Prudence Galewski, a young girl who gets a job at the Dept of Health and Sanitation in NYC typing up reports and working with Mr. Soper, the lead investigator for the mysterious typhoid outbreaks. She's fascinated by science, medicine, and germs, and feels that her future is somehow tied into working in medicine. Her family background, the death of her brother from gangrene, and yearning for more force her to examine her feelings about treating people humanely, while at the same time protecting the public health.
Prudence is a great character, and the author really does a wonderful job asking the questions that everyone in the fields of public health must ask themselves: how do you remain compassionate, yet committed to doing whatever you can to keep people disease free, and an epidemic from happening? This book is meant for a younger reader, so there is not much scientific information here, but enough to help you understand the new, controversial ways medicine was changing in 1906. It was an exciting, revolutionary time for medicine and public health.
A great quick read; I would recommend reading Anthony Bordain's non-fiction book about Typhoid Mary as a supplement to this teen novel: It is now out of print, but available as an e-book, or there are used copies out there. It's called Typhoid Mary: An Urban Historical.
The story is told through the voice of Prudence Galewski, a young girl who gets a job at the Dept of Health and Sanitation in NYC typing up reports and working with Mr. Soper, the lead investigator for the mysterious typhoid outbreaks. She's fascinated by science, medicine, and germs, and feels that her future is somehow tied into working in medicine. Her family background, the death of her brother from gangrene, and yearning for more force her to examine her feelings about treating people humanely, while at the same time protecting the public health.
Prudence is a great character, and the author really does a wonderful job asking the questions that everyone in the fields of public health must ask themselves: how do you remain compassionate, yet committed to doing whatever you can to keep people disease free, and an epidemic from happening? This book is meant for a younger reader, so there is not much scientific information here, but enough to help you understand the new, controversial ways medicine was changing in 1906. It was an exciting, revolutionary time for medicine and public health.
A great quick read; I would recommend reading Anthony Bordain's non-fiction book about Typhoid Mary as a supplement to this teen novel: It is now out of print, but available as an e-book, or there are used copies out there. It's called Typhoid Mary: An Urban Historical.
December 8, 2010
The Little Bookworm
In the early 1900s the idea of a healthy carrier of a disease was unknown. But then an outbreak of typhoid became and became link to a cook. And thus was the beginning of Typhoid Mary. Told through the eyes of a teenage girl working for the Department of Sanitation, Deadly is the story of both Typhoid Mary and Prudence, who has dream of overcoming disease and death.
Before reading this, I had rudimentary knowledge of Typhoid Mary. It's sort of just an expression now, isn't it? But this was a real life woman. A healthy carrier of the typhoid bacteria, she unknowingly infected at least 53 people with the disease. When confronted with the idea that she was a healthy carrier, she refused to believe it.
Deadly, told in diary form, is the story of Prudence, a second generation immigrant who has a thirst for scientific knowledge that frowned upon in young women. She obtains a job with the Department of Sanitation with George Soper who figures out from whom the typhoid is originating. Prudence is a very thoughtful, curious girl with a great mind for science and a need to learn about disease and death after the death of her brother. With her father missing in action, she lives alone with her mother in a tenement. I thought she was a great character and I liked reading her diary, or "tablet" entries and seeing life in New York at this time. It was very interesting. I found the whole story of Mary fascinating and I liked how the book felt real. All the emotions were very genuine even as most of the language was very precise and almost clinical like Prudence. Really this is a fascinating book and I'd recommend it to anyone. My only caveat is that it makes you want to wash your hands a whole whole lot.
In the early 1900s the idea of a healthy carrier of a disease was unknown. But then an outbreak of typhoid became and became link to a cook. And thus was the beginning of Typhoid Mary. Told through the eyes of a teenage girl working for the Department of Sanitation, Deadly is the story of both Typhoid Mary and Prudence, who has dream of overcoming disease and death.
Before reading this, I had rudimentary knowledge of Typhoid Mary. It's sort of just an expression now, isn't it? But this was a real life woman. A healthy carrier of the typhoid bacteria, she unknowingly infected at least 53 people with the disease. When confronted with the idea that she was a healthy carrier, she refused to believe it.
Deadly, told in diary form, is the story of Prudence, a second generation immigrant who has a thirst for scientific knowledge that frowned upon in young women. She obtains a job with the Department of Sanitation with George Soper who figures out from whom the typhoid is originating. Prudence is a very thoughtful, curious girl with a great mind for science and a need to learn about disease and death after the death of her brother. With her father missing in action, she lives alone with her mother in a tenement. I thought she was a great character and I liked reading her diary, or "tablet" entries and seeing life in New York at this time. It was very interesting. I found the whole story of Mary fascinating and I liked how the book felt real. All the emotions were very genuine even as most of the language was very precise and almost clinical like Prudence. Really this is a fascinating book and I'd recommend it to anyone. My only caveat is that it makes you want to wash your hands a whole whole lot.
May 26, 2016
Prudence Galewski has long been interested in how death and disease happen--what make the human body fail. Although most girls are interested in marriage and family, Prudence doesn't want to settle down; she wants to use her brain to delve into the world of science. When she's offered a job taking notes for Mr. Soper, who works for the Department of Health and Sanitation, she's excited to have found an opportunity that lets her do just that. An outbreak of typhoid fever leads Mr. Soper and Prudence to investigate how the disease has spread, and they find themselves facing a possibility considered only rarely before: that a healthy person could be the carrier for a disease that proves deadly in others. Although they suspect Mary Mallon of being a carrier of typhoid, she and many others find it impossible to believe that a healthy person could reasonably be believed to spread a disease to others, and Prudence finds herself torn between her scientific mind, which wants to find and stop the disease, and her heart, which aches for Mary and the treatment she receives when suspected of being a typhoid carrier.
This is a highly engaging piece of historical fiction. Chibbaro has done a fantastic job showing the scientific ideas and limitations of the early 1900s, and especially demonstrating why "Typhoid Mary" would find it hard to believe she could possibly be making others sick and would keep spreading the disease. She also does a great job showing Prudence's struggle to find her place in the world and figure out what she wants, even at a time when options for women were still extremely limited. Very well written.
This is a highly engaging piece of historical fiction. Chibbaro has done a fantastic job showing the scientific ideas and limitations of the early 1900s, and especially demonstrating why "Typhoid Mary" would find it hard to believe she could possibly be making others sick and would keep spreading the disease. She also does a great job showing Prudence's struggle to find her place in the world and figure out what she wants, even at a time when options for women were still extremely limited. Very well written.
March 23, 2011
This was a great historical novel about a disease and a person that I only thought I knew about. If I had to describe this novel with one word it would be interesting. And I don't mean that in a bad way.... I was fascinated by the way Prudence mind worked. I think to constantly question everything as she does would be absolutely exhausting... but at the same time I remember that curiosity that I once had myself. I remember my mom bought me a microscope and I spent hours looking at slides on that thing... and I wonder where that curiosity went.
I would categorize this novel more as a middle grade than a young adult, although I don't mean to imply that YA readers wouldn't enjoy this novel, because they would.... but this is definitely something that MG readers would enjoy. Prudence has a very "young" voice, ultimately I think it has to do a lot with the time period in which she is growing up in, but still MG readers would devour it!
I was especially fascinated with the author's note at the end of this book. She described her experience with Typhoid Mary and it was much the same that I had. I had never pictured Mary as a person... someone who couldn't understand how she could be perfectly healthy yet carrying this awful disease and infecting people with it.... I had always assumed that she was a villian, infecting people on purpose, I think perhaps that is why I enjoyed reading this novel so much. It was a learning experience! And Prudence was a wonderful narrator to follow.
I recommend this book for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever 1793!
I would categorize this novel more as a middle grade than a young adult, although I don't mean to imply that YA readers wouldn't enjoy this novel, because they would.... but this is definitely something that MG readers would enjoy. Prudence has a very "young" voice, ultimately I think it has to do a lot with the time period in which she is growing up in, but still MG readers would devour it!
I was especially fascinated with the author's note at the end of this book. She described her experience with Typhoid Mary and it was much the same that I had. I had never pictured Mary as a person... someone who couldn't understand how she could be perfectly healthy yet carrying this awful disease and infecting people with it.... I had always assumed that she was a villian, infecting people on purpose, I think perhaps that is why I enjoyed reading this novel so much. It was a learning experience! And Prudence was a wonderful narrator to follow.
I recommend this book for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever 1793!
January 22, 2014
I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, but I loved it! The reason? Because I fell in love with the main character, Prudence. She's my favorite kind of main character--plucky, curious, courageous, questioning, and hopeful. I also love her quest for knowledge. At a time when education for women was expensive, nearly impossible, and scholarly girls were on the path to old-maidhood, Prudence doesn't give up. She pushes the boundaries and lines so she can learn more and become smarter.
Prudence begs for, and finally gets permission to, leave a girls' finishing school in order to get a real job, working for a scientist. It's a perfect job for her and one that challenges her itch to learn. The backstory is about Mary Mallon, "Typhoid Mary", and is fascinating. I have read nonfiction about Mallon before but this book finally turned her into a real person for me.
I learned so much reading about Mallon this way rather than all the dry accounts. Chibarro really made the history come alive, weaving in facts seamlessly to be part of the story. The book clearly shows how the mindset of that era was different and that "Typhoid Mary" was not a cold-blooded killer, just an average citizen who didn't know how germs were spread. Deadly is a great snapshot of life in Victorian times, both the attitude and the background. This would be a great book for a book club. There are so many things to talk about--a busy book!
Prudence begs for, and finally gets permission to, leave a girls' finishing school in order to get a real job, working for a scientist. It's a perfect job for her and one that challenges her itch to learn. The backstory is about Mary Mallon, "Typhoid Mary", and is fascinating. I have read nonfiction about Mallon before but this book finally turned her into a real person for me.
I learned so much reading about Mallon this way rather than all the dry accounts. Chibarro really made the history come alive, weaving in facts seamlessly to be part of the story. The book clearly shows how the mindset of that era was different and that "Typhoid Mary" was not a cold-blooded killer, just an average citizen who didn't know how germs were spread. Deadly is a great snapshot of life in Victorian times, both the attitude and the background. This would be a great book for a book club. There are so many things to talk about--a busy book!
July 1, 2013
This was a great inside look about Typhoid Mary,putting a story and humanity to the woman who became commonly known as a deadly killer, a devil, a cruel nickname for those spreading illness in the viewpoint of Prudence, a budding female scientist at a time when woman still had few jobs that didn't involve the home. I could easily associate with Prudence for being an independent young lady that wanted more than learning how to properly curtsy or embroider which made the story easier to picture me being swept in a time when no one, even the healthy ones, could be trusted. There were many topics the author wanted to touch upon that became the center of life for people in the early 1900s and for the most part I think she succeeded with creating a well-rounded picture of this tumultuous time period for the majority of the book until the end when it seemed many loose ends had not been tied and left for the reader to assume. Creating this type of ending works in some cases but in this I was not satisfied with my own assumptions, for example if Prudence ever passes her exam and becomes a doctor? This was overall a very realistic and believable glimpse into the past to gain a better understanding of a largely incomprehensible illness as long as you are prepared for a long lecture on bacteria, germs, and anatomy as understood at a very archaic time for medicine.
February 9, 2017
Suspenseful book that you just can’t put down.
In the book Deadly by Julie Chibbaro, A young teenage girl, Prudence, just wants to learn more about disease and what causes it. It takes place in the 1900's so there isn’t much that people know. When she finally gets a chance to learn why disease took her brother’s life and why it took the life of so many others she takes it. A mysterious outbreak of typhoid fever leads to her learning more and getting a chance to do something that she has always wanted to do. This book was a fairly easy read and had a few pictures to go along. Prudence has wanted more than anything to become a doctor. In the 1990's a girl doctor is not very common. When prudence meets one during an investigation will it inspire her or burst her bubble? Deadly shows you to follow what you want and to take a chance when it comes your way. I think this book was really interesting and easy to read. If you like suspense and mystery you will like this book. I enjoyed this book because I like mystery. It keeps me reading. I would recommend this book to ages eleven to fourteen, maybe fifteen. This book would be for entertainment and maybe information. I read it for entertainment, but it gave me some good information as well. This book was great and I think that many others would also enjoy it. Hope you enjoy!
In the book Deadly by Julie Chibbaro, A young teenage girl, Prudence, just wants to learn more about disease and what causes it. It takes place in the 1900's so there isn’t much that people know. When she finally gets a chance to learn why disease took her brother’s life and why it took the life of so many others she takes it. A mysterious outbreak of typhoid fever leads to her learning more and getting a chance to do something that she has always wanted to do. This book was a fairly easy read and had a few pictures to go along. Prudence has wanted more than anything to become a doctor. In the 1990's a girl doctor is not very common. When prudence meets one during an investigation will it inspire her or burst her bubble? Deadly shows you to follow what you want and to take a chance when it comes your way. I think this book was really interesting and easy to read. If you like suspense and mystery you will like this book. I enjoyed this book because I like mystery. It keeps me reading. I would recommend this book to ages eleven to fourteen, maybe fifteen. This book would be for entertainment and maybe information. I read it for entertainment, but it gave me some good information as well. This book was great and I think that many others would also enjoy it. Hope you enjoy!
November 22, 2010
Ever since her brother died of an infected wound, Prudence has been determined to further the medical sciences and save lives, but that's not easy when you're a 16-year-old girl in 1906 New York City. When she takes a secretarial job at the Department of Health and Sanitation, Prudence begins working with Mr. Soper, trying to track cases of typhoid and figure out how to stop the epidemic. All tracks seem to lead to one woman - Mary Mallon - but "Typhoid Mary" refuses to believe that she carries the disease. After all, she's never been sick a day in her life.
This book was right up my alley and I really enjoyed it. I definitely think that Prudence Galewski and Mattie Gokey would be college roommates and BFFs. The icky medical stuff won't be for everyone (though it's not really graphic), but I loved it. The writing's strong and the setting and subject matter has been thoroughly researched. My one complaint is that the ending was sort of anti-climactic. I wanted more resolution between Prudence and certain male characters (no spoilers).
It's Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light meets Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever, 1793 and recommended for fans of either.
This book was right up my alley and I really enjoyed it. I definitely think that Prudence Galewski and Mattie Gokey would be college roommates and BFFs. The icky medical stuff won't be for everyone (though it's not really graphic), but I loved it. The writing's strong and the setting and subject matter has been thoroughly researched. My one complaint is that the ending was sort of anti-climactic. I wanted more resolution between Prudence and certain male characters (no spoilers).
It's Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light meets Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever, 1793 and recommended for fans of either.
February 21, 2018
Deadly was a fascinating book, as it intertwines the typhoid fever with a fictional twist. The way that it portrayed the historical event regarding "Typhoid Mary" while still having a typical fictional storyline was amazing. A historical fiction that tells a profound description of the typhoid outbreak in the 1900s depicted through a seventeen-year-old girl's eyes. Imagine quitting school just to get a job as a personal assistant for a boss of the Department of Health and Sanitation. Imagine being able to travel to many different location just to uncover the mysteries of a typhoid outbreak and how it related to Mary Mallon (later dubbed: Typhoid Mary). These are all scenarios that Prudence Galewski had to face.
I especially love the way the author portrayed the characters as if they were really in the 1900s. The way they spoke really gave the readers a vivid visual description of the time frame.
Regardless, if you love historical fiction stories that has an interesting storyline- yet still gives enough valuable and academic information- you'll enjoy Deadly greatly.
I especially love the way the author portrayed the characters as if they were really in the 1900s. The way they spoke really gave the readers a vivid visual description of the time frame.
Regardless, if you love historical fiction stories that has an interesting storyline- yet still gives enough valuable and academic information- you'll enjoy Deadly greatly.
June 11, 2011
Medical mysteries are intriguing, and this one, told through a series of letters and journal entries, has much to offer even though most of the mystery is solved during the first half of the book. Prudence Galewski, 16, leaves her vocational school in order to take a job working in the Department of Health and Sanitation on New York City. One of the first cases with which she is involved focuses on finding out the cause of an outbreak of typhus in the city. The author provides wonderful descriptions of the city and of all of the characters and even evokes sympathy for the woman at the center of the illness, Mary Malone. This book covers issues of gender and social class as well as touching on medical ethics and discriminatory attitudes toward immigrants. Although I wanted to race through the book to find out what happened, I also was forced to slow down at points to marvel at the author's craft and exact way of describing Prudence's emotions and thought processes.
April 27, 2011
Superb YA historical novel. It's narrated in the first person POV, like she is writing in a journal. The heroine is a young lady, Prudence, in NYC, 1906. Prudence has a fascination with death.. she wishes she could stop it. She has lost her brother and her father and watched countless women die in childbirth.
Her mother forces her to attend a school for future ladies type thing, but Prudence has bigger plans. She goes to work for the Department of Sanitation. First case: typhoid epidemic. What's causing all these families to become so ill and possibly die?
And thus, through Prudence's eyes, readers learn about Typhoid Mary...
Full review here: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
Her mother forces her to attend a school for future ladies type thing, but Prudence has bigger plans. She goes to work for the Department of Sanitation. First case: typhoid epidemic. What's causing all these families to become so ill and possibly die?
And thus, through Prudence's eyes, readers learn about Typhoid Mary...
Full review here: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2011/...
November 29, 2010
I really liked this book ... The book began with the author trying to fit a lot of information into the first few chapters .. This part I didn't like but I continued to read the book ... once you get past this (and it is not very far into the book) the book really is quite good. The author holds your interest and you just want to keep reading to find out what happens. I did not want the book to end and thought it left a lot of story lines hanging. However, the main part of the story was fascinating. I can see where this book will be a wonderful read for young girls who like science ... it truly will encourage them to pursue science/medicine. Totally enjoyed this quick read and would recommend it.
January 7, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book. Prudence is a great character, a young woman wrestling with society's expectations for her while trying to carve out a life that is meaningful to her. I found it particularly interesting how she debated the implications of quarantine and continued to struggle with what was right in a situation that seemed to have no right answer. I've read books about Mary Mallon in the past that have challenged me to really question my views towards her, and this book is a good addition to that ongoing debate I have with myself.
May 9, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes I feel odd picking up a YA book thinking that I should be reading books for regular adults, But I am truly finding some gems among the YA books. This was a good story about young girl trying to find her way in the world, with historical facts about Mary Mallon. This story had me wanting to find out the end.
January 7, 2015
How did I miss this compelling historical fiction about typhoid fever? I found it on the half-price bookshelf and picked it up on a whim, and am so glad I did. Not only is the science - y part of this book intriguing (trying to follow the trail of the fever and its origin), I also loved the message to girls that science is out there for us to study, as well.
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