Fever 1793

Protagonist and main character of the book. She is a fourteen year old girl who is nicknamed "Mattie." She has a crush on Nathaniel Benson, a painter's assistant, and once watched the first hot air balloon (Blanchard's balloon) in America rise with him. She matures throughout the course of the book which forces her to control her own life instead of her mother. Matilda got yellow fever, but survived, being taken care of at a hospital in Bush Hill. She then finds and takes care of a small orphan girl, Nell, whose mother died of yellow fever. Both of them survived at Eliza's home. Matilda's family owns a coffeehouse. When Polly dies, Mattie takes her chores.

Lucille is Matilda's mother. Matilda's mother is the current owner of the coffeehouse she is very strict with Matilda. She catches Yellow Fever and throughout the book she tries to be reunited with her daughter. It is difficult for her to locate Matilda but after the epidemic is over she returns to her beloved Matilda. After Polly died, Lucille was very hard on Mattie.

William is Matilda's grandfather. He was once a captain in the Revolutionary War under General Washington's command. After his son dies, Grandfather began helping Lucille, Eliza, and Matilda run the coffeehouse. He dies after they get back to the coffee house during a break-in.

A parrot named after the British King George III. Grandfather won him in a card game and he is often disliked by Matilda. Matilda realizes she has lost King George after she gets back to her grandfather under the tree. He is a parrot that gets on Matilda's nerves. He never leaves grandfather's sight.

The coffeehouse cook. Eliza is a free African American and is part of the Free African Society. Mattie also claims Eliza to be her best friend. Eliza is about 30. She helps Mattie live through the fever and they both survive. Then she is offered a partnership with Mattie and the coffeehouse which she accepts.

Eliza's brother. He works as a cooper and has twin sons: William and Robert. His wife, Betty had recently died from the fever and when Mattie first met him he was still recovering. When ill, he is taken care of by Mother Smith and Eliza.

A member of the Free African Society. Sent to help take care of Joseph due to his tragic loss, she tries all that she can to help him recover. Mother Smith is very wise and tells Mattie if she's doing wrong. At first Mattie doesn't appreciate her then grows to love her. Bananas are her favorite food =].

Joseph's young twin sons. They become friends with Nell, who is about their age, when Mattie stays at Eliza's as the yellow fever dies down. The children become ill with yellow fever but recover.

Edward's family are the wealthy dirt of Philadelphia. Lucille (Matilda's Mother) knows about Matilda's crush on Nathaniel and doesn't believe he is worthy of being Matilda's husband, although William is a well behaved, mannered and a well dressed (wealthy) gentlemen Matilda does not like him. Matilda and Lucille are invited over to the Ogilvies for tea by Mrs. Ogilvie, as a response to Lucille's letter. Lucille had very high hopes of Matilda and William being wed, of course this did not happen. It was not what Matilda had in mind because her heart was set on Nathaniel. When they arrived at the Ogilvies only the women of the house seemed to attend, Mrs. Ogilvie, and Edward's two sisters.

Matilda's crush and friend. He is a teenage boy who works for Mr. Peale the painter; as an apprentice who survived the epidemic. Nathaniel snatches apples from Mattie's basket when he sees her at the market because he has a crush on her too. In the beginning of the book Mattie's mother does not like him because she thinks he does not behave like a gentleman. He works for Mr. Peale and stays with the Peales through the epidemic. He shows his love toward Matilda by throwing flowers to her and painting a picture. Matilda often daydreamed of him, wondering what he was thinking, thinking of him, and praying he was safe and not taken by the fever.

Polly Logan was a girl who grew up with Mattie but died of yellow fever. She helped out with the chores at the coffeehouse. She worked with the blacksmith. Before she died, she had a crush on the apprentice blacksmith.

A nurse at the mansion at Bush Hill who takes care of Matilda. Grandfather charms her, sweet talking to her, and constantly telling her "real" stories of his braveness. After a while she reveals her given name is Bridget. With Mrs. Flagg's help Mattie is soon well.

A small blonde girl whose mother died of yellow fever. Matilda finds a broken doll on the sidewalk and looks up, a house is in front of her and the door is open. She finds Nell in the house curled up beside her dead mother. Matilda takes Nell thinking it would be better for her to take care of her. Mother Smith says she should take Nell to the orphanage but finding that the orphanage cannot take anymore children she decides to be the parent for her.

Silas is a cat who belongs to Mattie's family. Silas lives in the coffee shop with Mattie and her mother. Her mother despises the cat but Silas brings comfort to Mattie at times. He normally catches the mice in the house but makes a ruckus while doing so. He later steals Mattie's food.

• An ALA 2001 Best Books for Young Adults^[1]
• A Junior Library Guild Selection
• New York Public Library 100 Best Books of Fall 2000
• New York Public Library Best 2001 Books for the Teenage
• An IRA Teacher's Choice
• An ABA Pick of the Lists

• Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793
• Laurie Halse Anderson

• Fever, 1793 website
• Laurie Halse Anderson website