What do you think?
Rate this book
My Story: Girls
My Story The Great Plague
The diary of 13 year old Alice Paynton, a young girl in the time of Charles II. Her diary covers the months from June 1665 to the Great Fire of 1666, while the bubonic plague ravages London.
Paperback
First published November 16, 2001
46 people are currently reading
855 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
March 4, 2012
Re-read in February 2012: This is too cute! Not the plague stuff -- that's all rather horrible, obviously -- but Alice Paynton is hilarious and adorable. By far my favourite diarist in the My Story series! Although she writes like a 17th Century girl, she sounds just like a modern teenager. Here's a quote from near the beginning of the book:
Of course, the plague forces Alice to grow up -- she has to look after her Aunt Nell when she falls ill -- but there's still a touch of humour to her entries. I loved her frustration with the watchman who sits outside her house while she's quarantined -- she calls him a "stupid creature" and is tempted to empty the chamber pot on his head. I admit it: I lol'd.
The only thing I don't like is the gratuitous romance at the end. Alice is such a brilliant character by herself -- why was it necessary to suddenly introduce a bloke in the last couple of pages?
Aunt Mary teased me again about my distrust of horses. To prove her wrong I rode the big bay but fell off on to some hay which made them all laugh. Even Aunt Nell laughed which disappointed me greatly. If I never ride a horse again 'twill be too soon.
Next day: I have a large bruise on my thigh from my fall yesterday. A little more hay would have saved me. 'Tis no laughing matter. I might well have fallen on my head and split my skull.
Of course, the plague forces Alice to grow up -- she has to look after her Aunt Nell when she falls ill -- but there's still a touch of humour to her entries. I loved her frustration with the watchman who sits outside her house while she's quarantined -- she calls him a "stupid creature" and is tempted to empty the chamber pot on his head. I admit it: I lol'd.
The only thing I don't like is the gratuitous romance at the end. Alice is such a brilliant character by herself -- why was it necessary to suddenly introduce a bloke in the last couple of pages?
October 4, 2016
Not the most amazing diary I've read before, although it kept my attention the whole time. I read it pretty fast to see if it was okay for my sister. There wasn't much plot...hah! I know, my diary has no plot whatsoever, but being a book I can mention it :D I wanted to know more about Edward, who was suddenly thrown into the story at the end. He seems to be such a nice character, but there is little said of him.
There is a lot of talk of prayer and asking God for help. I didn't like that Alice felt like she had to bargain with God to help someone not die. Alice's desire to marry and be a wife was quite sweet. I won't saying anything about her being betrothed before she's even fifteen!!! Humph.
Content:
-a couple mentions of kissing (not by the writer;not detailed), and one kiss that was a little disturbing (an alcoholic man grabbed a woman in the street).
-death and sickness quite a big part of the book.
-very, very slight bit of romance.
There is a lot of talk of prayer and asking God for help. I didn't like that Alice felt like she had to bargain with God to help someone not die. Alice's desire to marry and be a wife was quite sweet. I won't saying anything about her being betrothed before she's even fifteen!!! Humph.
Content:
-a couple mentions of kissing (not by the writer;not detailed), and one kiss that was a little disturbing (an alcoholic man grabbed a woman in the street).
-death and sickness quite a big part of the book.
-very, very slight bit of romance.
June 1, 2019
This is the first novel I've read by Pamela Oldfield, in fact she's written a whole series called "My Story".
It's a novel set out in the way of a diary, although Alice Paynton is a fictitious character a lot of people during that time kept diaries during that time and some have been found.
The story is based on both fact and fiction, and the author has woven both extremely well to come up with an excellent piece of work. :-)
I found it interesting as the plague and the great fire were seen through the eyes of a child and not an adult. The emotions of this child come out extremely well.
I found this a very compulsive read and would love to read some more of her work. This is a great book for both adults and children who are interested in history. It's an easy read and the story pulls you a long into a world of horror during that time were many people lost their loved ones
It's a novel set out in the way of a diary, although Alice Paynton is a fictitious character a lot of people during that time kept diaries during that time and some have been found.
The story is based on both fact and fiction, and the author has woven both extremely well to come up with an excellent piece of work. :-)
I found it interesting as the plague and the great fire were seen through the eyes of a child and not an adult. The emotions of this child come out extremely well.
I found this a very compulsive read and would love to read some more of her work. This is a great book for both adults and children who are interested in history. It's an easy read and the story pulls you a long into a world of horror during that time were many people lost their loved ones
January 18, 2016
Not for me. I could not immerse myself in the events taking place, and I could not connect with 14 year old Alice. I'm not sure why, maybe it was the mood I was in, or the state of mind I had while reading it, but for whatever reason this book fell really short of what my expectations were.
When rumors of the plague start emerging, Alice finds herself in constant fear of getting the disease. As the death tolls are mounting, Alice can barely leave the house, until her own Aunt Nell falls sick. Alice remains in the house with her aunt, caring for her as much as she could, hoping she doesn't catch the disease herself, while her father is locked out elsewhere, not allowed to leave due to the disease as well.
When her Aunt Nell dies, having not made it, Alice is completely alone in this world. Once pronounced safe to leave their houses, Alice packs and leaves in the hopes she could get to her Uncle's village outside of London, only she (along with many others) are turned back and not allowed to cross. Alice is kind of relieved to be going back to her own home, even though she had almost starved from lack of food earlier.
She finally finds herself reunited with her father, and we end the book with the huge London fire.
It may have been the events, or the way Alice wrote her story, but this book didn't do it for me. Not one bit.I found it very boring and uninteresting.
When rumors of the plague start emerging, Alice finds herself in constant fear of getting the disease. As the death tolls are mounting, Alice can barely leave the house, until her own Aunt Nell falls sick. Alice remains in the house with her aunt, caring for her as much as she could, hoping she doesn't catch the disease herself, while her father is locked out elsewhere, not allowed to leave due to the disease as well.
When her Aunt Nell dies, having not made it, Alice is completely alone in this world. Once pronounced safe to leave their houses, Alice packs and leaves in the hopes she could get to her Uncle's village outside of London, only she (along with many others) are turned back and not allowed to cross. Alice is kind of relieved to be going back to her own home, even though she had almost starved from lack of food earlier.
She finally finds herself reunited with her father, and we end the book with the huge London fire.
It may have been the events, or the way Alice wrote her story, but this book didn't do it for me. Not one bit.I found it very boring and uninteresting.
March 1, 2010
This book is one in the My Story series. The books in this series are fictional diaries of young girls living during different events in world history.
Thirteen-year-old Alice Paynton lives in the busy and crowded city of London in 1665. She lives with her father and his sister, her Aunt Nell, who has raised Alice since her mother died giving birth to her. Alice begins her diary writing of happy events, such as seeing plays at the theater. However, a dark shadow begins to fall over London as the bubonic plague spreads. Alice writes of her family's desperate struggle to survive as the disease takes over the city.
This was an excellent book about a young girl's experiences during a horrifying period in history. I have not read many novels set during the Great Plague, so I found it very interesting. I recommend it to all readers of the My Story series.
Thirteen-year-old Alice Paynton lives in the busy and crowded city of London in 1665. She lives with her father and his sister, her Aunt Nell, who has raised Alice since her mother died giving birth to her. Alice begins her diary writing of happy events, such as seeing plays at the theater. However, a dark shadow begins to fall over London as the bubonic plague spreads. Alice writes of her family's desperate struggle to survive as the disease takes over the city.
This was an excellent book about a young girl's experiences during a horrifying period in history. I have not read many novels set during the Great Plague, so I found it very interesting. I recommend it to all readers of the My Story series.
Read
August 25, 2016I read this book thinking it might be a new way to present information about the Black Plague to students in 7/8 class. I think it is a great book for that purpose. It was interesting and based on factual accounts of the time. The main character Alice, was certainly a brave and resourceful young girl. I enjoyed it.
April 28, 2013
This book told me a lot about The Plague! Definitely a must read! Loved this book! It rocked! It was very interesting I learnt a lot about the plague. It was very sad when Alice's Aunt died from the plague though.
April 23, 2020
I'll be honest, I did pick this up because we are in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic and I guess I wanted to read about a plague! I did quite enjoy this book but it isn't the best 'my story' book I've ever read :)
November 28, 2021
Rlly good, I formal but in a fun fun way
September 24, 2007
i learned loads of stuff bout the plague and i really enjoyed it
September 11, 2022
Cute story from a young girls perspective. Probably a better read for a younger audience.
December 19, 2023
A great book which included a very strong main character. It also described exactly how terrifying the Plague used to be, and as I turned every page reading about it, I felt tears in my eyes for all the people who’d died in real life 500 years ago that painfully. I also noticed the large development our world had experienced and how different the COVID pandemic is.
May 14, 2020
I don't even know why read this. It was just a dairy of a history girl's diary and yeah...This is really nit the book I would like to read again but whatever. I don't even know why I'm writing a review for a book I don't even like?
September 12, 2022
Even though Alice wouldn’t have known what caused the plague, her feelings of guilt did not make sense. By her logic, she would have been more likely to become ill. I was glad that the Great Fire was included in the plot, but there was a big jump between the two events.
December 27, 2019
Loved it. Really easy read. Really wanted to know what happened next x
January 30, 2015
Before I start my review I would like to say I loved one of the last lines, "He believes that we learn from our mistakes and grow strong from our suffering" - those are such wise words and it happened with Alice also. We saw her grow from a naive girl into an ideal woman as more responsibility was put upon her shoulders and she was forced to grow up. I loved that development.
I also love that despite this being fictional I learnt a lot about the plague and the great fire of London. It felt like you were there, and through Alice you felt like you lived it and were a part of the whole historical event. It was interesting to see what it would have been like to have been someone in this time, she acts like any other teenager but just from a different century. It's refreshing to see that it's not just teenagers from this century that act a tad foolish and lazy, so young adults reading the book can relate to not wanting to do things, complaining and the big thing over boys so it made the book and character more loveable.
The only thing I didn't like that despite it being realist, Alice tried to act like the hero towards the end with a few things which if we're honest a 14/15 year old girl would not speak up and would rather blend into the crowds. But I can see the point of what the author was trying to put across by that so well done there. 4/5 stars.
I also love that despite this being fictional I learnt a lot about the plague and the great fire of London. It felt like you were there, and through Alice you felt like you lived it and were a part of the whole historical event. It was interesting to see what it would have been like to have been someone in this time, she acts like any other teenager but just from a different century. It's refreshing to see that it's not just teenagers from this century that act a tad foolish and lazy, so young adults reading the book can relate to not wanting to do things, complaining and the big thing over boys so it made the book and character more loveable.
The only thing I didn't like that despite it being realist, Alice tried to act like the hero towards the end with a few things which if we're honest a 14/15 year old girl would not speak up and would rather blend into the crowds. But I can see the point of what the author was trying to put across by that so well done there. 4/5 stars.
April 8, 2017
I'm going to be honest - this isn't a book I would have gone out and bought as it isn't Young Adult but I am really glad I received it.
I teach high school history and find it hard at times to find good, accurate historical novels for a younger audience and I am now pleased to say I have found a whole series of them.
What I liked about this book is that it was very accessible for younger readers and I liked the diary style of it. I liked that it was written by a person of a similiar age of the intended audience. I liked that it really gave a feel of the time period and looked in depth at the social impact of the plague and great fire of london on Britain. Definately a series I will be looking to get more of for school and recommending my students read.
I teach high school history and find it hard at times to find good, accurate historical novels for a younger audience and I am now pleased to say I have found a whole series of them.
What I liked about this book is that it was very accessible for younger readers and I liked the diary style of it. I liked that it was written by a person of a similiar age of the intended audience. I liked that it really gave a feel of the time period and looked in depth at the social impact of the plague and great fire of london on Britain. Definately a series I will be looking to get more of for school and recommending my students read.
January 31, 2021
Knížky z edice Můj příběh jsou skvělé pro čtenáře zhruba ve věku 10 let. Poutavým způsobem jim přiblíží některé z nejsilnějších historických okamžiků/dob, zároveň ale nejsou příliš brutální a kruté (čímž však rozhodně nechci říct, že kruté, dramatické a velmi tragické nejsou, naopak). A upřímně - to je právě ta dobrá věc. Protože jistě, mnoha lidem se mohlo stát něco horšího než právě nám, ale to neznamená, že nemůžeme mít i přesto silný příběh. Zvlášť pro mladé lidi je toto důležité vědět. Každý příběh stojí zato, aby byl vyprávěn.
July 14, 2011
A good quick read, this book tells the story of the Great Plague and Fire of London through the diaries of forteen year old (?) Alice Paynton. I loved how the author sets up the notion of normality within London and surrounding areas, contrasting as it does with the catastrophe of forthcoming events.
A good read for all ages.
This is a BookCrossing book which will now be passed on for someone else to enjoy - do let me know if you would like it.
A good read for all ages.
This is a BookCrossing book which will now be passed on for someone else to enjoy - do let me know if you would like it.
April 15, 2020
The Plague
My thoughts: this is a great children’s books that manages to translate the fears, pain and pressures of being a child in that time. This really helps children understand in 2020 what this means as we face our own modern version of it.
We follow the diary entries with Alice Paynton as she lives through the great plague. Her daily life and how hard she finds her uncles farm. Her mother past when she was young and her Aunt Nell is her mother figure.
We learn about her family and her love for the city. She hates the country. There’s rumours about the plague coming to London and the fears she has. Her looking for a husband at thirteen.
We learn her fathers hard on her. Maggie has started dating and Alice is often ashamed of Maggie’s behaviour. Her father finds faults with Aunt Nell and Maggie constantly. Alice is told loss dogs and cats will be killed if the plague continues.
We meet Maggie’s boyfriend who tells tales of a man falling ill and making a mess of his boat. We learn about the cleaning methods. The church and others give the family false information about the disease that puts them more at risk.
Alice dreads being stuck with her Uncles loud family. Alice tries to keep a normal life and look forward fi things when Aunt Nell falls victim to the plague. Alice is scared.
So many are dying and she thinks about running. She stays instead and takes care of her Aunt Nell, even accepting help from a dirty nurse. Her aunt falls down the stairs and passes the next day.
Popped tries for run away, but is caught by the dog catcher and after payment is returned to her. Will brings Alice some much needed food and she finds out her dads in the Pesthouse (Hospice) after getting sick in the street.
Alice is starting to feel better and her watchman has been replaced. The man brings her food and talks with her. Alice gets a clean bill of health, her father’s home is broken into and she finds out that her father is due to be released on 4th September.
She leaves him a note that she is headed to her Uncles. She holds off on telling him about Aunt Nell. She pawns things so she can travel to the country.
She buys a horse that she loses after saving an old woman. She meets a gentleman Waightright who helps her get to Woolwich. She is denied he tries to help her but he fails. She loses Poppet after he choose through the rope.
Mr Waightright heads on to his next stop, Alice heads back to London. She meets Like a cart driver who gives her a lift home.
Back in London and she collects her weak dad. Their lives start to return to normal with Maggie’s return and her father at work. He talks to her about her work, but her birthday goes in-noticed.
Poppets returned to Alice, all is right till she passes out and the doctor says she is exhausted. She is take care of by Maggie and her father.
We learn of life after the plague. How she falls in love and her family starts to mend. She takes over all the responsibilities and the struggles with such. A truly great book from a young girl who becomes a great woman.
My thoughts: this is a great children’s books that manages to translate the fears, pain and pressures of being a child in that time. This really helps children understand in 2020 what this means as we face our own modern version of it.
We follow the diary entries with Alice Paynton as she lives through the great plague. Her daily life and how hard she finds her uncles farm. Her mother past when she was young and her Aunt Nell is her mother figure.
We learn about her family and her love for the city. She hates the country. There’s rumours about the plague coming to London and the fears she has. Her looking for a husband at thirteen.
We learn her fathers hard on her. Maggie has started dating and Alice is often ashamed of Maggie’s behaviour. Her father finds faults with Aunt Nell and Maggie constantly. Alice is told loss dogs and cats will be killed if the plague continues.
We meet Maggie’s boyfriend who tells tales of a man falling ill and making a mess of his boat. We learn about the cleaning methods. The church and others give the family false information about the disease that puts them more at risk.
Alice dreads being stuck with her Uncles loud family. Alice tries to keep a normal life and look forward fi things when Aunt Nell falls victim to the plague. Alice is scared.
So many are dying and she thinks about running. She stays instead and takes care of her Aunt Nell, even accepting help from a dirty nurse. Her aunt falls down the stairs and passes the next day.
Popped tries for run away, but is caught by the dog catcher and after payment is returned to her. Will brings Alice some much needed food and she finds out her dads in the Pesthouse (Hospice) after getting sick in the street.
Alice is starting to feel better and her watchman has been replaced. The man brings her food and talks with her. Alice gets a clean bill of health, her father’s home is broken into and she finds out that her father is due to be released on 4th September.
She leaves him a note that she is headed to her Uncles. She holds off on telling him about Aunt Nell. She pawns things so she can travel to the country.
She buys a horse that she loses after saving an old woman. She meets a gentleman Waightright who helps her get to Woolwich. She is denied he tries to help her but he fails. She loses Poppet after he choose through the rope.
Mr Waightright heads on to his next stop, Alice heads back to London. She meets Like a cart driver who gives her a lift home.
Back in London and she collects her weak dad. Their lives start to return to normal with Maggie’s return and her father at work. He talks to her about her work, but her birthday goes in-noticed.
Poppets returned to Alice, all is right till she passes out and the doctor says she is exhausted. She is take care of by Maggie and her father.
We learn of life after the plague. How she falls in love and her family starts to mend. She takes over all the responsibilities and the struggles with such. A truly great book from a young girl who becomes a great woman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2025
This was a solid read overall! The Great Plague is written as the diary of 13-year-old Alice Paynton, and it covers the bubonic plague in London (1665) all the way up to the Great Fire (1666). I liked that it was from a kid’s point of view—it made everything feel more personal and real.
Alice is actually kind of hilarious, especially early on. She complains about horses, calls a quarantine watchman a “stupid creature,” and has the kind of sarcastic, dramatic tone that reminds me of modern teens. It made the heavier parts of the story (and there are a lot—death, fear, isolation) a little easier to get through.
The history side of things was done well, I think. It gives you a good feel for what life was like without feeling like a boring lesson. That said, there were moments that felt slow or like not much was happening plot-wise, and some things didn’t totally land for me. For example, a random romance is thrown in right at the end—why?? Alice is such a strong character on her own, and the guy (Edward) just kind of appears out of nowhere.
Also, there's a lot of praying and talk of God, which makes sense for the time, but it felt a bit repetitive after a while. And I didn’t totally connect emotionally all the way through—some parts were moving, others felt kind of distant.
Still, I read it pretty fast and was interested the whole way. It’s definitely more of an intro-level historical fiction, good for younger readers or people who just want a lighter way into this period of history.
Would I read more from this series? Probably. It didn’t blow me away, but I liked it more than I expected.
Alice is actually kind of hilarious, especially early on. She complains about horses, calls a quarantine watchman a “stupid creature,” and has the kind of sarcastic, dramatic tone that reminds me of modern teens. It made the heavier parts of the story (and there are a lot—death, fear, isolation) a little easier to get through.
The history side of things was done well, I think. It gives you a good feel for what life was like without feeling like a boring lesson. That said, there were moments that felt slow or like not much was happening plot-wise, and some things didn’t totally land for me. For example, a random romance is thrown in right at the end—why?? Alice is such a strong character on her own, and the guy (Edward) just kind of appears out of nowhere.
Also, there's a lot of praying and talk of God, which makes sense for the time, but it felt a bit repetitive after a while. And I didn’t totally connect emotionally all the way through—some parts were moving, others felt kind of distant.
Still, I read it pretty fast and was interested the whole way. It’s definitely more of an intro-level historical fiction, good for younger readers or people who just want a lighter way into this period of history.
Would I read more from this series? Probably. It didn’t blow me away, but I liked it more than I expected.
August 31, 2021
Here are my thought, I am not planning on going for very long just a short paragralh...maybe. Anyway, this was my first book from the whole 'my story' series and i don't think I'll read any othet ones. Don't get me wrong it wasn't like the book was bad, it just wasn't what i expected...at all.
When I first picked this book up in the bookshop i was interested straight away, mostly because I really enjoy all the books that are about the great plague/ black death etc. So it was a no brainer for me to just automatically buy it, especially when i saw it was a diary. As I said, I read a few books about the plague before, all of which were a diary or written in a first person perspective and i enjoyed reading all. However, this wasn't like any of them. It took me over 5 months to read a book taht wasn't even 200 pages long, which is higly unregular for me seeing as im kind of a book nerd. Anyways, when i picked up the book i thought it was going to have action in it, running away, maybe hiding from the fire. Obviously i was wrong because most of the book was about staying at home.
And honestly, as a person who likes to read books set in that area of time, the change of perspective(from action to the more slow and locked up side of things) was quite useful. i would say it opened up my mind.
But it wasn’t something i enjoyed reading.
To be really honest the only part that i kinda enjoyed reading was when Alice was on her way to her uncle and she met Marcus.
But even then I wasn't stuck in the book like i normallu would.
Overall, i wouldn't say that the book is bad...However i cannot say that i enjoyed it.
When I first picked this book up in the bookshop i was interested straight away, mostly because I really enjoy all the books that are about the great plague/ black death etc. So it was a no brainer for me to just automatically buy it, especially when i saw it was a diary. As I said, I read a few books about the plague before, all of which were a diary or written in a first person perspective and i enjoyed reading all. However, this wasn't like any of them. It took me over 5 months to read a book taht wasn't even 200 pages long, which is higly unregular for me seeing as im kind of a book nerd. Anyways, when i picked up the book i thought it was going to have action in it, running away, maybe hiding from the fire. Obviously i was wrong because most of the book was about staying at home.
And honestly, as a person who likes to read books set in that area of time, the change of perspective(from action to the more slow and locked up side of things) was quite useful. i would say it opened up my mind.
But it wasn’t something i enjoyed reading.
To be really honest the only part that i kinda enjoyed reading was when Alice was on her way to her uncle and she met Marcus.
But even then I wasn't stuck in the book like i normallu would.
Overall, i wouldn't say that the book is bad...However i cannot say that i enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 18, 2023The Great Plague is this story set in 1665 about the bubonic plague which took over 25 million lives in the form of diary entries this book illustrates how life was while in the plague. Alice, the main character, is a 13-year-old girl who lives with her father, aunt, and dog. As the plague quickly spreads, more people are fleeing London. When her aunt gets the plague, Alice takes care of her aunt while food becomes harder to come by and her dad is away.
I liked how the author was able to make the characters really seem like they were living in that time as they expressed concerns as they would then such as if Alice would find a man to marry. I did not like how there were many visualizing details missing. I found it hard to imagine what houses and streets were like due to the lack of details in that point of view. It was a very accurate story because many tools, inventions, and medicines used in 1665 were mentioned. Plague masks and recipe and medicine books were just a few of the many examples. What people did with their time was also accurate along with their home life such as having servants and watchmen. Alice and her servant going to the market or learning necessary household skills are some ways time was spent. Clothes worn in that time were also mentioned along with their accessories. Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Great plague, really seeing how it would feel to experience an epidemic in 1665.
I liked how the author was able to make the characters really seem like they were living in that time as they expressed concerns as they would then such as if Alice would find a man to marry. I did not like how there were many visualizing details missing. I found it hard to imagine what houses and streets were like due to the lack of details in that point of view. It was a very accurate story because many tools, inventions, and medicines used in 1665 were mentioned. Plague masks and recipe and medicine books were just a few of the many examples. What people did with their time was also accurate along with their home life such as having servants and watchmen. Alice and her servant going to the market or learning necessary household skills are some ways time was spent. Clothes worn in that time were also mentioned along with their accessories. Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Great plague, really seeing how it would feel to experience an epidemic in 1665.
February 9, 2021
It was interesting to read about this period in history. I found that the book did well in putting a base layer down of what happens during this period. I do for the most part like the diary-take on this but was a bit disappointed when I found out that it was fiction. I do however like that they put some further reading suggestions in the back that did contain some authentic diary's witch I would like to check out in the future. I also really enjoyed the illustrations in the back of the book from that time.
All that this book does is give a basic idea of what happened during the great plague in London, and it did it pretty well.
The only reason why I didn't give this book a higher rating is because it didn't connect with me in any way. It did however make me interested in reading more historic fiction (and non-fiction)!
I want to clarify that this rating is completely based on taste. The book itself is basically a history lesson in an easier to digest format that will probably reach more people than if it would be a told through a non-fictional history book. I do think that the intention of this book is in the right place and the execution (while it wasn't for me) is very well done.
This book is part of a series of fictional diary's that are all based on different periods. I would definitely want to read about some of the other periods!
All that this book does is give a basic idea of what happened during the great plague in London, and it did it pretty well.
The only reason why I didn't give this book a higher rating is because it didn't connect with me in any way. It did however make me interested in reading more historic fiction (and non-fiction)!
I want to clarify that this rating is completely based on taste. The book itself is basically a history lesson in an easier to digest format that will probably reach more people than if it would be a told through a non-fictional history book. I do think that the intention of this book is in the right place and the execution (while it wasn't for me) is very well done.
This book is part of a series of fictional diary's that are all based on different periods. I would definitely want to read about some of the other periods!
March 28, 2020
Not amazing, but not terrible either. This is mostly a story of a girl locked in her house under quarantine because her aunt contracted the plague. She has a naughty lap dog for company and the man guarding her door...and occasionally her maid's (who went to be with her family before lockdown) brother who brings her the occasional provisions.
Actually a fair bit like what is going on right now. Minus the door man.
The diary features the 'before' the plague living and the 'after', including the great fire of London. But despite this, it's only okay, not overly exciting and doesn't give too much information via story on anything other than what an upper-middle class household would have experienced going through a quarantine. Short...written more like a 2ooos teenager living in 1600s London.
Didn't teach me anything new...so I guess I would say it's okay as an introductory novel to the Plague. Not good for much else other then killing some time if you know a bit about this period in history.
Actually a fair bit like what is going on right now. Minus the door man.
The diary features the 'before' the plague living and the 'after', including the great fire of London. But despite this, it's only okay, not overly exciting and doesn't give too much information via story on anything other than what an upper-middle class household would have experienced going through a quarantine. Short...written more like a 2ooos teenager living in 1600s London.
Didn't teach me anything new...so I guess I would say it's okay as an introductory novel to the Plague. Not good for much else other then killing some time if you know a bit about this period in history.
November 30, 2021
My first foray into the "My Story" series - an offshoot of Scholastic's Dear America series of fictional historical diaries.
I knew very little (ok, nothing) about the London plague of 1665, but have a general grasp of daily living in early/mid-1600s England. The historical details are on point, even down to a joke about using the pov character's dog to turn the meat spit (look up turnspit dog), and acknowledgment that a well-to-do mother usually was responsible for teaching her children to read.
The author managed to create a realistic scenario in which a 14-yo girl would be an only child and be physically on her own for much of the narrative. The main character is a believable mix of 14-year old self-centeredness and idealism. At at least three points, she stands up for what's right, to her own physical endangerment. She was both relatable, and true to the period - a balance that is hard to strike for pre-modern historical fiction.
Overall really enjoyable. Will be reading others in the series - including two others written by Oldfield.
I knew very little (ok, nothing) about the London plague of 1665, but have a general grasp of daily living in early/mid-1600s England. The historical details are on point, even down to a joke about using the pov character's dog to turn the meat spit (look up turnspit dog), and acknowledgment that a well-to-do mother usually was responsible for teaching her children to read.
The author managed to create a realistic scenario in which a 14-yo girl would be an only child and be physically on her own for much of the narrative. The main character is a believable mix of 14-year old self-centeredness and idealism. At at least three points, she stands up for what's right, to her own physical endangerment. She was both relatable, and true to the period - a balance that is hard to strike for pre-modern historical fiction.
Overall really enjoyable. Will be reading others in the series - including two others written by Oldfield.
February 25, 2018
Really good book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Alice’s diary. I was transported to her time and her suffering during the great plague. I really felt for her when she was trapped inside her home nursing her aunt Nell, struggling to cope, lack of food and lack of social interaction. Her days just kept getting worse and she struggled more and more as horrific events kept happening.
She was a very brave and heroic at times enforcing her strength and courage to stand up for her self and for others not matter the cost. She cared deeply for people and felt all the harrowing goings on very much.
I really liked reading this book and am glad I chose this one from the series to read first it was definitely worth the read.
She was a very brave and heroic at times enforcing her strength and courage to stand up for her self and for others not matter the cost. She cared deeply for people and felt all the harrowing goings on very much.
I really liked reading this book and am glad I chose this one from the series to read first it was definitely worth the read.
December 10, 2024
I'm not the target audience but there are other children's books about this time in history that are so much more interesting.
I found the story dull, the main character wasn't someone I liked and she kept getting beaten up by random people. the story skipped around weirdly and the journal concept wasn't well suited to the story.
I also had to wonder about the historical accuracy after she mentioned making crocheted collars very early on in the book. That sounded off to me and I did some research. I don't know if what I found was accurate, but from what I could find crochet (for sure under that name) was not something people did at this time in history. It made me question the rest of the story which I didn't really like.
I found the story dull, the main character wasn't someone I liked and she kept getting beaten up by random people. the story skipped around weirdly and the journal concept wasn't well suited to the story.
I also had to wonder about the historical accuracy after she mentioned making crocheted collars very early on in the book. That sounded off to me and I did some research. I don't know if what I found was accurate, but from what I could find crochet (for sure under that name) was not something people did at this time in history. It made me question the rest of the story which I didn't really like.
April 21, 2020
This story was actually really great. Probably not the best time to read this book (cough, cough, coronavirus), but I had a great insight of the Alice’s life.
Despite this book being fictional, I felt there was lots of facts and I liked how Alice has to deal with constant grief and how she manages that grief.
The one thing I didn’t like was how there was no understanding of how Maggie was related to Alice and why she lived with Alice and Alice’s father.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review, sorry this was a short one.
Despite this book being fictional, I felt there was lots of facts and I liked how Alice has to deal with constant grief and how she manages that grief.
The one thing I didn’t like was how there was no understanding of how Maggie was related to Alice and why she lived with Alice and Alice’s father.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review, sorry this was a short one.
November 9, 2020
THE PLAGUES HAS HIT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ITS A DIARY. ITS NOTHING GREAT ABOUT IT BOUGHT PURE SADDNESS YET GOD IS STILL IN CHARGE OF THESE STORMS HE IS THE ONLY ONE KNOWS WHEN THESE STORMS ARE GOING TO END WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER WE WILL HEAL TOGETHER. NOT THE DOCTORS THEY CANNOT FIX THIS ONLY GOD. THE DOCTORS HAS TO DO SAME THING WE ARE DOING, WITHOUT US THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY PAIENT,S NO ONE WANNA GET SICK. ITS TIME TO HUG YOUR LOVE ONES WE NEVER NO WHEN IT IS THE END. NEVER GO TO BED ANGRY. WHY BECAUSE THERE IS NO GUARANTEES LOVE THE ONE YOU WITH.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews