Laurie Halse Anderson’s historical fiction book, Fever 1793, takes place in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the story of Matilda Cook (Mattie) and her family, and the hardships they go through in the time period when Yellow Fever had struck. In the book, it teaches that during tough times, it is important to step up and take charge. This can be seen through the impact on the characters and author’s craft. During tough times, it is important to step up and take charge. This can be seen in the book: Fever 1793. Stepping up can also have its benefits. It helps you to become more responsible and caring toward others. For example, in the book, Mattie and Grandfather were thrown off of the wagon, and Mattie took care of Grandfather. …show more content…
He uses description and feelings/emotions to describe Mattie. The first author’s craft the author uses is description. Anderson writes, “I untied my apron and filled it with timothy grass to form a soft pillow for Grandfather’s head” (84). This tells me how Mattie is becoming more mature by stepping up and taking charge when Grandfather is sick. This illustrates how Mattie is changing and becoming different, just because she stepped up during tough times. The second author’s craft the author uses is feelings/emotions. Anderson writes, “A spiteful voice hissed inside my head. Shut up Mattie, you’re a silly child. You have no business ordering these men around” (153). This tells me that Mattie’s feelings were what controlled her, and helped her to step up and take charge. This illustrates how Mattie feels confident, annoyed, and frustrated, and these feelings lead her to stepping up during tough times and taking charge. Anderson’s amazing story, Fever 1793, shows the theme that stepping up during tough times is important. It is seen how this is possible through the the way the theme impacts the characters and the different author’s craft moves the author