Plague Year

by Stephanie S. Tolan

A harrowing account of a town that surrenders its humanity. "A frightening and compelling story about prejudice, ignorance and hysteria."--Columbia Missourian

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Drama

185 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Stephanie S. Tolan's earliest memories involve books. Those that were read to her and those she read to herself, often late at night with a flashlight under the covers. She always thought there was a special magic in the little black marks on paper that could turn into whole worlds and real people. Born in Ohio and raised in Wisconsin, she wrote her first story in the fourth grade. It was thrilling to discover she could make the magic herself, and she decided then and there to be a writer.

Other ambitions came and went, but writing stayed on, and she majored in creative writing at Purdue University, then went on to a Master's Degree in English. Marriage and the sudden addition to her life of three young stepsons, and then a son, forced writing into the nooks and crannies, but she wrote poetry and plays for adults as she taught college English. In the mid-seventies, Stephanie began working in the Poets-in-the-Schools program in Pennsylvania. Her first group of students were fourth and fifth graders, and she found among them a new generation of intense readers, still using the flashlight-under-the-covers trick.

"They brought back to me that special reading joy that most adults, even the readers among us, have lost, and I wanted to try my hand at writing for those kids, so like myself at their age and yet so different."

The difference, she felt, was less in the children themselves than in the fast-changing world they lived in. Her writing for children and young adults, beginning with Grandpa -- And Me in 1978, has reflected that contemporary world.
Stephanie Tolan is also well known as an advocate for extremely bright children. She co-authored the award-winning nonfiction book, Guiding the Gifted Child, and has written many articles about the challenges gifted "asynchronous" children and adults face as they find a way to fit into their world. She lectures throughout the country to audiences of parents, educators and counselors attempting to find ways to meet the children's needs. Her experiences with these "amazing, off-the-charts" young people inspired the themes of Welcome to the Ark, a powerful novel about four brilliant young misfits in a world teetering on destruction.
Stephanie Tolan currently lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband.

Reviews

[Charlie Ewalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the small town of Ridgewood, everyone knows each other, so, when the new kid Bran comes to town and is different than everyone else, it causes trouble. While reading this book, it constantly kept me on the edge by always leaving off chapters at cliff hangars and just building suspense in a lot of situations. For example, "Above the sound of voices, the piercing wail of a siren began, growing gradually higher and louder. (Tolan, 147)" I personally think that was the reason I kept reading because I love suspense and thrillers. Something that I really didn't like about the book was that it felt almost rushed a little, all of the problems were taken care of in a matter of a couple of pages rather than stretching it out. Therefore, I would have really liked to see Bran overcome the town's hatred towards him because he did nothing wrong, he was just blamed for his father's actions. However, I was happy when two of the main town bullies were "taken care of" at the end. (Tolan,180) It almost made the ending a little easier to read about. This book is awesome for anyone who loves to read thrillers or who has faced the challenges of being different. I personally really liked this book for the message that it had and how it showed that keeping your friends close and caring for others is very important.

[Carrie G · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first read this to see if it would work as an easier-to-read, more modern alternative to "The Crucible." But, for me, this book was pretty bleh. I didn't find the writing to be very good, and the characters felt flat and stereotypical. The only "high point" to the story was the ending, which honestly surprised me. I *did* end up using this as an alternate text when my classes read "The Crucible; I had a student who had already read the play twice, but that is the ONLY reason that I used it - I didn't see a need for a student to read and analyze the same text for a third time. But his feelings after reading the book were the same... eh.

[J Weil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this two years ago and I loved it I only remember slight details of what happened but the ending was amazing ( yet sad)

And to see this book as so unseen ( only around 147 reviews) is odd because it was so good for me but whatever

[Phil J · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you recognize a killer? That's the question most of this book is spent on. The first third or so, up to the quarry scene, is a standard, well-executed YA novel. A mysterious new student shows up at school, the narrator is in-between identities, there is peer pressure, etc. It's interesting and very suspenseful.

After you find out the new kid's secret, a lot of the tension goes out of the story. A bigger problem that occurs at the same point in the narrative is that the protagonist goes passive. He becomes gradually more active until the first quarry scene, then he kind of does nothing. The last two thirds of the book are, "The crowd did this. I saw Bran have an emotion. The crowd did that. I saw Bran have another emotion. Then I went for a run and thought about it."

The key to a really successful novel of this type, such as Speak, The Outsiders, Gym Candy, or Goodbye Stranger is that the protagonist gradually gets drawn into taking actions that they're not sure about. The with us/against us division is so clear for most of Tolan's story that there's no compelling moral choice to make, and the characters are mostly just waiting around for something to react to.

The last couple pages are very strong and insightful, but they don't build on enough groundwork to be as powerful as they should be. The protagonist isn't defined strongly enough for any changes or revelations to be meaningful. It's hard to recognize change in a character when you didn't really know them in the first place.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plague Year by Stephanie S Tolan was first published in 1999, and is aimed at the Young Adult audience.

Set in an American HIgh School, this story is straight to the point, at times shocking, often uncomfortable and has a strong message to tell. Bran Slocum joins Ridgewood High in the middle of the school year, it's difficult to fit in when friendships have already been established, and even more difficult when you look a little 'different'. Bran immediately becomes the target of the school bullies - the 'jocks', the popular guys who are good at sport and who the girls adore. Except for Molly - she tries to take Molly under her wing, to protect him from the jokes and the jibes and the hurtful comments about his appearance. Then there is David. David has tried to be part of the gang for years, tends to stay out of things and is good friends with Molly.

When the people of Ridgewood find out that Bran not only looks a little different, but has a shocking secret, his world erupts. The townspeople - both adults and kids show their true colours and Bran finds his life in danger.

This story really brings home how prejudiced and ignorant seemingly 'good citizens' can be. People are carried along in the mass hysteria and treat Bran and his family terribly.

Stephanie S Tolan writes with flair and the story flows swiftly to it's terrifying ending. Adults and children alike should read this story, it may make people stop and think about the consequences of behaviour based on ignorance and hate.

[Taylor Troncin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything was mostly working for David. He joined the running team at his school, had a girlfriend, and a female best friend. Everything changed when a new odd looking boy joined the school (Bram). There is something different about this boy other than just his appearance.

This would be a great literary circle book. I think students would become intrigued with the story. I would have assignments (perhaps journal entries) on what they think would happen next.

I loved this book. I was really upset with the ending, but overall the book was pretty interesting. It dealt with bullying to the extremes and I think that it showed how hateful some “good natured” people can be.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked the main characters, David, Molly, and Bran (plus their support systems), the rest of the people in the book made me too mad to actually finish it. I got about halfway through and had to just skip to the end to see what happened. Cruel injustice books like this are sometimes just too much for me to want to deal with.

[Maria Hooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Granted, most ya issue novels deal with the idea of fitting in, but Plague Year takes that to a whole new level, one that will break your heart. I challenge anyone to read this book and not keep thinking about it long after he or she has turned the page. It's that good. If you like Thirteen Reasons Why, you will love this book.

[Samuel Ferguson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, kinda rough. Good kid gets put in bad situation, gets bullied, and ends up dying at the hands of the villain. Feels less like a story, and more like a message towards the chaotic mentality and mob like nature of human emotion. All in all, I didn't really enjoy it, but hey, maybe you will.

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it enough to keep it...

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's really good and plus I just found out who the killer is? And I was so shocked because you would never think that that person was capable of doing such a thing.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat predictable, but a fine young adult novel. Great for reluctant readers.

[Cielle Tonae · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really well written with quite a surprising ending.

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just okay. It didn't seem very realistic but maybe I'm overly optimistic about the goodness (or not) of people.

[Mrs. Trimble · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as a companion to S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders. The language was older (70's) and the storyline was predictable.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sad story. It reminds me of The Outsiders.