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The Plague

by Joanne Dahme

The Plague Cover

ISBN13: 9780762433445
ISBN10: 0762433442
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In a land overshadowed by death, fifteen year-old Nells uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan brings her to act as her double—what young girl wouldnt want to leave a life of poverty and pretend to be a princess? But when the plague catches up to the royal entourage, thwarting the Kings plan for the princess to marry the Prince of Castile and seal an alliance between their kingdoms, Nells life could change forever. Princess Joans brother The Black Prince schemes to make the wedding go on declaring Nell will no longer double for Joan, she will become the princess and dupe Prince Pedro into marriage! With the aid and protection of a quirky band of friends—a Spanish minstrel, a monk, a gravedigger, a band of merchants—Nell must evade not only the Black Prince, a practitioner of the dark arts, but the plague as well, as she fights to return to the King and country. Based on historical truth, Dahme beautifully captures the dark terror of a Plague-infested fourteenth century Europe, while bringing to life the daily existence of medieval life for young adult readers.

Review:

"This dark piece of historical fiction, set during the Black Death, is gritty and realistic in its portrayal of the pandemic, even as Dahme (Creepers) introduces supernatural elements to the story. Orphaned Nell, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan, daughter of England's King Edward III, is enlisted by the king to be his daughter's body-double. When the princess dies from the plague that is ravaging Europe, Nell is unwillingly made party to a plot-masterminded by Joan's brother, the Black Prince-to marry the Spanish Prince Pedro in place of the late princess. With the help of some accomplices, Nell and her younger brother, George, flee, finding the deceased and dying at every turn. Throughout, Dahme makes the plague's emotional toll evident ('we watched cart after cart empty their contents into the pits. I couldn't call them people, the things in the carts, or I would have to cry out in despair.... There was nothing to define these forms as men, women, or child'). A harrowing and grim historical fantasy. Ages 14-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

The second young adult novel from the author of Creepers

Synopsis:

In a land overshadowed by death, 15-year-old Nell has an uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan and is sought by the Black Prince to dupe Prince Pedro into marriage. This second YA book from the author of "Creepers" evokes the dark terror of plague-infested 14th-century Europe.
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About the Author

Joanne Dahme works for the Philadelphia Water Department as its Watersheds Programs Manager. She received her civil engineering degree from Villanova University in 1980, and went on to earn a Masters of Journalism and Masters in Creative Writing from Temple University. Creepers, her first venture into the realm of young adult fiction, met with widespread acclaim from the literary world. Joanne lives with her husband and son in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club com, June 10, 2010 (view all comments by Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club com)
In the 1300s England, fifteen-year-old Nell has served as an attendant to Princess Joan since Nell’s parents died of the plague two years before. She also protects her nine-year-old brother, George, who is simple but also wise in unexpected ways. Nell bears an uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan. When the princess dies of a new plague outbreak while on a journey to meet her future husband, her brother, the Black Prince, hatches a plot to pass Nell off as the princess and marry her to a Spanish prince.

Nell has no choice but to go along while she plots an escape. She finds unexpected allies in her quest to flee the Black Prince and make her way back to what she believes is safety in Bordeaux.

The Plague by Joanne Dahme captures the dark mood and superstitions of Europeans during this time when the plague carried off so much of the population. The sickness had no favorites, and it infected young, old, rich, poor, healthy and weak just the same. People believed it was caused by bad air, and no one paid much attention to the rats that swarmed among them. Nell’s is a tense story against this backdrop of whole nations under stress. Mother-daughter book clubs can talk about the historical time period as well as Nell’s reaction to the predicament she finds herself in. I recommend The Plague for groups with girls aged 12 to 16.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780762433445
Author:
Dahme, Joanne
Publisher:
Running Press Kids
Subject:
Historical - Europe
Subject:
Plague
Subject:
Great Britain - History - Edward III, 1327-
Subject:
Children s-Historical Fiction-Europe
Copyright:
2009
Edition Description:
Trade Cloth
Publication Date:
20090531
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
- Up
Language:
English
Pages:
272
Dimensions:
8.25 x 5.50 in
Age Level:
12-17
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The Plague Used Hardcover
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Product details 272 pages Running Press Kids - English 9780762433445 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "This dark piece of historical fiction, set during the Black Death, is gritty and realistic in its portrayal of the pandemic, even as Dahme (Creepers) introduces supernatural elements to the story. Orphaned Nell, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan, daughter of England's King Edward III, is enlisted by the king to be his daughter's body-double. When the princess dies from the plague that is ravaging Europe, Nell is unwillingly made party to a plot-masterminded by Joan's brother, the Black Prince-to marry the Spanish Prince Pedro in place of the late princess. With the help of some accomplices, Nell and her younger brother, George, flee, finding the deceased and dying at every turn. Throughout, Dahme makes the plague's emotional toll evident ('we watched cart after cart empty their contents into the pits. I couldn't call them people, the things in the carts, or I would have to cry out in despair.... There was nothing to define these forms as men, women, or child'). A harrowing and grim historical fantasy. Ages 14-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Synopsis" by ,
The second young adult novel from the author of Creepers
"Synopsis" by , In a land overshadowed by death, 15-year-old Nell has an uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan and is sought by the Black Prince to dupe Prince Pedro into marriage. This second YA book from the author of "Creepers" evokes the dark terror of plague-infested 14th-century Europe.
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