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Girls Survive
Maria and the Plague: A Black Death Survival Story
Years of bad weather and natural disasters have choked Italy’s food supply, and the people of Florence are dying of starvation. Breadlines are battlegrounds, and young Maria has to fight for her family’s every loaf. Adding to the misery, the Black Plague is rapidly spreading through the country, killing everyone in its path. Maria has already lost her mother and sister. Will she be strong enough to save the rest of her family before it’s too late?
113 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2021
11 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Deen
55 books182 followersNatasha Deen's family moved from Guyana, South America to Canada to escape the country's political & racial violence. She loved growing up in a country of snow & flannel, but often felt out of place. Thank goodness for books that showed her being different could also mean being awesome. Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her family where she spends A LOT of time arguing with her cats and dogs about who’s the boss of the house. Visit her at www.natashadeen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 11, 2022
Wow. For a juvenile series, this title certainly doesn't shy away from all the painful emotions of so many desperate situations. It ends hopeful, but there is a LOT of death of main characters, and some of the descriptions of death/dying are a touch graphic. This is certainly short enough to be read by a 3rd or 4th grader, but I might advise waiting for 6th grade for this title. There is a lot of emotional trauma.
January 8, 2021
‘The stories told of a sickness spreading throughout Italy’…a timely new novel!
Canadian author Natasha Deen was born in Guyana and immigrated to Canada where she has become a prize -inning author of books for children, teens, and adults. She has both an innate talent for storytelling and the gift for introducing her passion to others, in schools, libraries, and other organizations. Her motto, ‘Change the world one story at a time.’ She has published over twenty books to date! Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
As we are in the midst of the pandemic, struggling to understand it, struggling to survive, Natasha very wisely pens a new volume of the series - GIRLS SURVIVE – and this volume is MARIA AND THE PLAGUE, a story about the Black Plague of 1347 -1351 that took the lives of 75 – 200 people throughout Eurasia and North Africa. Allowing her readers to learn of individual responses to that plague is even more credible as we experience COVID 19.
Appropriately, the book opens in Florence, Italy in 1347 and the mood is set as follows: ‘The chill form the rainy morning settled on my shoulders as I left my house. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but I needed to get to the grain market. Papa and my seventeen-year-old brother, Paolo, worked as laborers for the wool guild, Arte della Lana. They were counting on me to get bread for the family. Getting food was hard. The last few years tested all of us in Florence. Earthquakes, along with the rain, had led to food shortages and forced our family to leave our farm. We moved to Florence two years ago. My family had hoped for a better life in the city. I fought back the tears and tried not to think of last year. That was the year when Mamma and my newborn sister, Flora, had died.’
With that entry into the life of Maria Rosso, the story takes on greater meaning, as the following summary reveals: ‘Years of bad weather and natural disasters have choked Italy's food supply, and the people of Florence are dying of starvation. Breadlines are battlegrounds, and young Maria has to fight for her family's every loaf. Adding to the misery, the Black Plague is rapidly spreading through the country, killing everyone in its path. Maria has already lost her mother and sister. Will she be strong enough to save the rest of her family before it's too late?’
The writing flows smoothly, enhanced by the fine illustrations by Francesca Ficorilli. This is an episode in a series that promises twenty volumes about surviving tough times, providing a glimmer of inspiration and hope for us all now. Natasha Deen has become a standard bearer for the art of meaningful (and entertaining) novels. Very highly recommended for abroad audience.
Canadian author Natasha Deen was born in Guyana and immigrated to Canada where she has become a prize -inning author of books for children, teens, and adults. She has both an innate talent for storytelling and the gift for introducing her passion to others, in schools, libraries, and other organizations. Her motto, ‘Change the world one story at a time.’ She has published over twenty books to date! Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta.
As we are in the midst of the pandemic, struggling to understand it, struggling to survive, Natasha very wisely pens a new volume of the series - GIRLS SURVIVE – and this volume is MARIA AND THE PLAGUE, a story about the Black Plague of 1347 -1351 that took the lives of 75 – 200 people throughout Eurasia and North Africa. Allowing her readers to learn of individual responses to that plague is even more credible as we experience COVID 19.
Appropriately, the book opens in Florence, Italy in 1347 and the mood is set as follows: ‘The chill form the rainy morning settled on my shoulders as I left my house. The sun hadn’t risen yet, but I needed to get to the grain market. Papa and my seventeen-year-old brother, Paolo, worked as laborers for the wool guild, Arte della Lana. They were counting on me to get bread for the family. Getting food was hard. The last few years tested all of us in Florence. Earthquakes, along with the rain, had led to food shortages and forced our family to leave our farm. We moved to Florence two years ago. My family had hoped for a better life in the city. I fought back the tears and tried not to think of last year. That was the year when Mamma and my newborn sister, Flora, had died.’
With that entry into the life of Maria Rosso, the story takes on greater meaning, as the following summary reveals: ‘Years of bad weather and natural disasters have choked Italy's food supply, and the people of Florence are dying of starvation. Breadlines are battlegrounds, and young Maria has to fight for her family's every loaf. Adding to the misery, the Black Plague is rapidly spreading through the country, killing everyone in its path. Maria has already lost her mother and sister. Will she be strong enough to save the rest of her family before it's too late?’
The writing flows smoothly, enhanced by the fine illustrations by Francesca Ficorilli. This is an episode in a series that promises twenty volumes about surviving tough times, providing a glimmer of inspiration and hope for us all now. Natasha Deen has become a standard bearer for the art of meaningful (and entertaining) novels. Very highly recommended for abroad audience.
June 16, 2021
For me, this is a weak book in the series -- perhaps because I have read a lot about this time and culture? While the bones of the story are ok, the cultural attitudes of the characters are not particularly believable.
For instance, at the end of the book, Maria, a girl who was raised in extreme poverty in Florence in the mid 1300s has been talking with her guardian about possibly hiring a tutor so that she can pursue her dream of teaching. In the back matter, the author thinks it is likely that she would have learned how to read, but probably not how to figure. This is profoundly disconnected from what we know about literacy in the time period, doubly so for a young woman, triply so for an impoverished young woman. She might have known some arithmetic, as women were more likely to go to the markets to buy food, and you need an understanding of math in order to do that. Also, women were highly unlikely to become teachers.
Add to that the storyline where Maria and her brother are constantly fighting with her father, trying to convince him that they need to move away and that they need to find work -- again, the culture of the time period was directly descended from Roman rule. In Roman times, the father was considered so much the head of the household, that he would not have been questioned even if he killed his children. Legally, they would be considered closer to his possessions than people. That seems foreign and bleak to us now, and I don't mean to imply that no Italian people in the Middle Ages felt love for their families, but there is a strong cultural tradition of not questioning the head of the family that has persisted to recent times, so I find it hard to believe that plot line in the context of the time period.
Also, religion is pretty much not mentioned, outside of the ringing of the bells for the dead. That's a problematic oversight, to put it mildly, given the strong role of religion across Europe in this time period.
Hits all the wrong notes for me.
For instance, at the end of the book, Maria, a girl who was raised in extreme poverty in Florence in the mid 1300s has been talking with her guardian about possibly hiring a tutor so that she can pursue her dream of teaching. In the back matter, the author thinks it is likely that she would have learned how to read, but probably not how to figure. This is profoundly disconnected from what we know about literacy in the time period, doubly so for a young woman, triply so for an impoverished young woman. She might have known some arithmetic, as women were more likely to go to the markets to buy food, and you need an understanding of math in order to do that. Also, women were highly unlikely to become teachers.
Add to that the storyline where Maria and her brother are constantly fighting with her father, trying to convince him that they need to move away and that they need to find work -- again, the culture of the time period was directly descended from Roman rule. In Roman times, the father was considered so much the head of the household, that he would not have been questioned even if he killed his children. Legally, they would be considered closer to his possessions than people. That seems foreign and bleak to us now, and I don't mean to imply that no Italian people in the Middle Ages felt love for their families, but there is a strong cultural tradition of not questioning the head of the family that has persisted to recent times, so I find it hard to believe that plot line in the context of the time period.
Also, religion is pretty much not mentioned, outside of the ringing of the bells for the dead. That's a problematic oversight, to put it mildly, given the strong role of religion across Europe in this time period.
Hits all the wrong notes for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2024
It’s 1348 and already the people of Florence have been through so much with heavy rains and earthquakes, leaving food and money shortages to the people causing many people to die of malnutrition. Then the Black Death came and caused so much more devastation and death to all.
Maria who we follow within this story a girl that wants to help her family but her father refuses to let her do more than look after the house. But as the sickness starts getting worse her and her Papa have to move on trying to get to Milan, away from sickness. The journey is scary and dangerous and soon Maria finds herself alone and in danger.
I felt so sad for Maria, she’d already lost her momma and sister, her best friend lost all but his nonna and though they were young they both just wanted to help their families survive. As the sickness fell upon the people of Florence everything was much harder for them, seeing and hearing so much death around them, hearing stories and seeing dead bodies everywhere. It’s so devastating and they were only twelve years old. Then getting separated from her older brother and having to journey out with nothing was so scary.
Maria was incredibly strong and incredibly brave, nothing about her story is easy, she suffered from the first page of the book, she had so much to fight for, to fight against and to defy all the odds around her. So many evil men ready to attack for money and food but she always fought strongly against them, she was such a strong character.
Maria who we follow within this story a girl that wants to help her family but her father refuses to let her do more than look after the house. But as the sickness starts getting worse her and her Papa have to move on trying to get to Milan, away from sickness. The journey is scary and dangerous and soon Maria finds herself alone and in danger.
I felt so sad for Maria, she’d already lost her momma and sister, her best friend lost all but his nonna and though they were young they both just wanted to help their families survive. As the sickness fell upon the people of Florence everything was much harder for them, seeing and hearing so much death around them, hearing stories and seeing dead bodies everywhere. It’s so devastating and they were only twelve years old. Then getting separated from her older brother and having to journey out with nothing was so scary.
Maria was incredibly strong and incredibly brave, nothing about her story is easy, she suffered from the first page of the book, she had so much to fight for, to fight against and to defy all the odds around her. So many evil men ready to attack for money and food but she always fought strongly against them, she was such a strong character.
February 22, 2021
Maria and the Plague : a Black Death survival story by Natasha Deen, is the first book I've read in Capstone's new series "Girls Survive".
Told from the perspective of Maria Rosso the reader is almost immediately plunged into the anxious world of Maria as she hurries to get food for her starving family. "They were counting on me to get bread for the family." (p.5) This narrative portrays the desperate and appalling conditions that swept across much of the world in 1347. Persistent famine, drought, pestilence already part of daily life is compounded by the arrival of what was only a rumour, the arrival of the Plague. Fear grips the beleaguered populace of her town, and Maria and her family are engulfed in the exodus searching for a safe place.
The author's descriptive and detailed writing are further enhanced by the striking illustrations of Francesca Ficorilli .
All through the story Maria's determination, empathy, grit, perseverance and courage shine through.
Natasha Deen has taken a gruesome time in our collective history and crafted a story that is accessible to an entirely new audience of readers.
Readers who will find themselves holding their breath as they follow along in this survival journey of Maria and the Plague.
Highly Recommended !
FIve Stars
Told from the perspective of Maria Rosso the reader is almost immediately plunged into the anxious world of Maria as she hurries to get food for her starving family. "They were counting on me to get bread for the family." (p.5) This narrative portrays the desperate and appalling conditions that swept across much of the world in 1347. Persistent famine, drought, pestilence already part of daily life is compounded by the arrival of what was only a rumour, the arrival of the Plague. Fear grips the beleaguered populace of her town, and Maria and her family are engulfed in the exodus searching for a safe place.
The author's descriptive and detailed writing are further enhanced by the striking illustrations of Francesca Ficorilli .
All through the story Maria's determination, empathy, grit, perseverance and courage shine through.
Natasha Deen has taken a gruesome time in our collective history and crafted a story that is accessible to an entirely new audience of readers.
Readers who will find themselves holding their breath as they follow along in this survival journey of Maria and the Plague.
Highly Recommended !
FIve Stars
February 10, 2022
This is a solid survival story and a decent introduction to the time period, but the author misrepresents cultural attitudes and some historic realities related to literacy and education. There are some surface-level mentions of faith, such as mentions of prayer or church bells ringing, but the religious worldview that permeated this era is mostly just window dressing here, and Maria and her brother's behavior towards their father in the early chapters would have been considered profoundly disrespectful in the early 1900s, let alone the 1300s. This is a perfectly fine, history-inspired read for elementary students, but it reflects the author's era in ways that distort authentic representation.
July 9, 2024
Maria and the Plague by Natasha Deen
This Girls Survive story is set in 1347 Florence, Italy. People are dying of starvation. Twelve-year-old Maria has already lost her mother and sister. Each morning she fights her way through the bread lines desperate to save the remaining members of her family.
Fearing he with lose his remaining family, Maria’s papa refuses to let them work for money or leave Florence. Too late, he discovers the Black Death has spread to Florence and takes Maria on a failed journey thru the countryside to try to find his son and get his daughter to safety.
This is the darkest Girls Survive book I have read so far, as the number of characters who die is overwhelming. However, Maria proves to be a kind and brave protagonist and a good role model for readers.
This Girls Survive story is set in 1347 Florence, Italy. People are dying of starvation. Twelve-year-old Maria has already lost her mother and sister. Each morning she fights her way through the bread lines desperate to save the remaining members of her family.
Fearing he with lose his remaining family, Maria’s papa refuses to let them work for money or leave Florence. Too late, he discovers the Black Death has spread to Florence and takes Maria on a failed journey thru the countryside to try to find his son and get his daughter to safety.
This is the darkest Girls Survive book I have read so far, as the number of characters who die is overwhelming. However, Maria proves to be a kind and brave protagonist and a good role model for readers.
February 23, 2022
* Wonderful, age-appropriate historical fiction chapter book.
* Perfect for 3rd-6th grade students who are studying the Black Death (which took place in the mid 1300s).
* Engages the imagination while presenting historical facts and tidbits.
* Perfect for 3rd-6th grade students who are studying the Black Death (which took place in the mid 1300s).
* Engages the imagination while presenting historical facts and tidbits.
April 27, 2022
how do i read this
November 2, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus or Netgalley
July 16, 2023
My reviews for these books are all so repetitive, but I can't help it. These are all sooo good, and I love this series!
November 12, 2023
Oh my God this book broke my heart 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
November 13, 2025
Excellent Middle Grade book
Makes the Black Death personal and age appropriate.
Well done!
Makes the Black Death personal and age appropriate.
Well done!
December 18, 2025
A gentle story of the Black plague and it's horrible effects.
August 7, 2022
Maria is living in Medieval Florence, Italy. She would love to help her father earn money for the family but he doesn't want her working. With the food shortage, things are getting desperate and then the plague comes. Can they survive?
This was a very realistic portrayal of the likelihood of all members of a family surviving famine, natural disasters, and the plague at this time in history. It was harsh and so many were grieving. The author manages to weave in hope and moments of kindness that help make the story less depressing than it could be.
Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. There's a lot of death in the past and present mentioned, though not much shown on page. There's threats from bad guys at one point, but violence is prevented.
This was a very realistic portrayal of the likelihood of all members of a family surviving famine, natural disasters, and the plague at this time in history. It was harsh and so many were grieving. The author manages to weave in hope and moments of kindness that help make the story less depressing than it could be.
Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. There's a lot of death in the past and present mentioned, though not much shown on page. There's threats from bad guys at one point, but violence is prevented.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews