In 'Fever 1793,' Laurie Halse Anderson transports readers to the cusp of the 18th century, where young Matilda Cook's life is turned upside down by a devastating yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. Fourteen-year-old Mattie must navigate a city in chaos, as disease ravages the population, claiming lives and upending social order. With her father already lost and her mother struck by the illness, Mattie is forced to flee but quickly realizes the fever has spread far beyond the city walls. As she confronts the harsh realities of survival and loss, Mattie's journey is one of growing resilience in the face of an unforgiving environment. This historical novel captures the dread and determination of a community—and a young woman—pushed to the brink.