Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

I read this book for the ATY Reading Challenge Week 7: two books related to the same topic, genre, or theme.

Cleo lived at home with her brother and sister-in-law in Portland, OR in 1919. She attended a school which was also a boarding school. When her brother and his wife decided to take an extended trip to celebrate 13 years of marriage, they determined that Cleo should stay at the boarding school. Not a popular decision for Cleo. Not too long after they left, "Spanish Influenza" hit Portland. Her school closed. Many things shut down by the mayor in an effort to stop the spread of the disease. Cleo left the school without permission, went home, decided to help care for the flu victims. Her volunteer efforts involved a car, instructional flyers, masks, and a great deal of empathy. I got so involved with this story that I kept mentally urging the people in the story to wash their hands. Cleo's efforts help to save lives. They also brought love, friendship, and heartache into her life. She was a strong young woman in the face of extreme adversity. Good, good book!