Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918
| Modern Age |
|---|
 Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918
|
American History > Modern Age > Plagues
From the Sibert Honor–winning creator behind The Unwanted and Drowned City comes one of the darkest episodes in American history: the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918. This nonfiction graphic novel explores the causes, effects, and lessons learned from a major epidemic in our past, and is the perfect tool for engaging readers of all ages, especially teens and tweens learning from home.
New Year’s Day, 1918. America has declared war on Germany and is gathering troops to fight. But there’s something coming that is deadlier than any war.
When people begin to fall ill, most Americans don’t suspect influenza. The flu is known to be dangerous to the very old, young, or frail. But the Spanish flu is exceptionally violent. Soon, thousands of people succumb. Then tens of thousands.... hundreds of thousands and more. Graves can’t be dug quickly enough.
What made the influenza of 1918 so exceptionally deadly—and what can modern science help us understand about this tragic episode in history? With a journalist’s discerning eye for facts and an artist’s instinct for true emotion, Sibert Honor recipient Don Brown sets out to answer these questions and more in Fever Year.
Emily's Review
I really enjoy non-fiction graphic novels. This was a good introduction to the flu epidemic of 1918. Two years into the Covid pandemic, I feel like this was a bit of a review of what we're dealing with today with mask mandate controversy, snake oil salesmen, and politicians prematurely claiming the pandemic is over. I'm not sure what that says about our modern society that we have changed so little in just over 100 years. This book is a little bit on the dry side, but because it is a graphic novel, it's very easy to read. I think Don Brown's books are great as an introduction to a new topic because they are such easy quick reads.
This is perfect for a middle-grade or young adult audience and would make a great pairing with historical fiction on the subject.
Other Similar Books
Other suggestions on the subject of the Spanish Influenza epidemic.
- Like the Willow Tree (by: Lowry, Lois, Plagues, Spanish Influenza epidemic, MG, UMG)
- Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918 (by: Brown, Don, Plagues, Spanish Influenza epidemic, UMG, YA)
- A Death-Struck Year (by: Lucier, Makiia, Plagues, Spanish Influenza epidemic, YA)
- In the Shadow of Blackbirds (by: Winters, Cat, Plagues, Spanish Influenza epidemic, YA)
- Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 (by: Marrin, Albert, Plagues, Spanish Influenza epidemic, YA)
- As Bright As Heaven (by: Meissner, Susan, Plagues, Spanish Influenza epidemic, A)