- People of the Plague
- Oceans of Fire
- City of the Dead
- Massacre of the Miners.
Ocean of Fire
It’s February 1865 and the end of the American Civil War is in sight. Union troops under the leadership of General Sherman have made their way from Atlanta to Savannah, allegedly burning Confederate towns along their path, and word is they’re headed to Columbia, South Carolina, to do the same.
Readers follow the stories of several characters—both real and imagined—as they learn about the chaotic community of Columbia as it tries to survive a blazing firestorm. Combining fictionalized narrative with actual documented accounts, readers see this controversial event through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Emma LeConte who struggles to keep her family safe after her father and uncle leave to transport war supplies. Then there’s Charles Davis, a mysterious Confederate soldier who warns the LeConte’s of impending doom. But is Charles really the Confederate spy he claims to be? Can he be trusted?
People of the Plague
“This was a flu that put people into bed as if they’d been hit with a two-by-four. That turned into pneumonia,that turned people blue and black and killed them. It was a flu out of some sort of horror story.” —Alfred Crosby, historian (“Influenza 1918.” American Experience. PBS, 1988)
In 1918 a virulent strain of influenza effected the entire world. In Philadelphia alone it was estimated that 19,000 people died. In this historical novel, young readers follow the experiences of a few fictional characters living in South Philadelphia, the hardest hit section of the city due to it’s already unsanitary conditions in the tenement housing. Experience the terror, sorrow, and bravery of the city’s residents.
My thoughts
Ocean of Fire. I have to admit...I just wanted to slap a couple of those women. I just wanted to yell at them STOP WHINING AND DO SOMETHING. But then I am called to mind of how God created us all differently and one of the whiners had already seen harsh things and hadn't recovered yet. I admired Emma, working hard to save her family, the black slaves for making choices about staying or leaving their people, it was a difficult time. I had ANGER at those drunken soldiers not giving a rip about the people of the city. This book brought out several emotions and is the book I liked the least. It just seemed... I don't know... pathetically sad.
Again, these books are billed for young people age 11 and up. I do not see my 10 year old as being old enough to handle reading them. In his own words "mom, I don't like reading about sad things that happened when there is nothing I can do about it". I love his heart, and I respect his desire to not see this part of history yet. I honestly don't know many young people his age who would like to read them. THOUGH I do know some early teens that just might. Billing this more as a series for young to older teens might be a better age range for this series.
Received: hardcover books
Title: People of the Plague and Ocean of Fire
Author: T.Neill Anderson
Series: Horrors of History
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Pages: 144-157 in each
Age: for 11 years old and up