The Plague [Hardcover]

Joanne Dahme (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2009

In a land overshadowed by death, fifteen year-old Nell’s uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan brings her to act as her double—what young girl wouldn’t 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 King’s plan for the princess to marry the Prince of Castile and seal an alliance between their kingdoms, Nell’s life could change forever. Princess Joan’s 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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–10—On the day Nell's parents are taken away by the gravediggers, her destiny changes because she bears an uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan, daughter of King Edward III. Worried that his military campaigns, as well as the burgeoning plague, could put his daughter in danger, the king decides that 15-year-old Nell should serve as his daughter's body double. As Nell and her brother George are traveling to Spain with the princess for her marriage, Joan's brother, known as the Black Prince, carries out a treasonous plan that leaves the princess dead in France and Nell forced to take her place in a phony marriage to the Prince of Castile. Realizing his treachery, Nell, George, and Henry, a soldier, try to escape the Black Prince. As they try to make their way through Bordeaux, they are joined by one cast of characters after another, and eventually find themselves in the clutches of the Black Prince once again. The three are taken back to England to be tried for treason, and they pray that King Edward will believe their story. The author's writing style is appealing, but the novel is largely plot driven and episodic with little character development. Additionally, the suggestion that the Black Prince has supernatural control over the plague-infested rats introduces a jarring element of fantasy in what is otherwise strictly historical fiction. The open-ended resolution leaves room for further adventures of Nell, George, and Henry, but readers will want stronger characters with whom they can develop a connection.—Cheri Dobbs, Detroit Country Day Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Running Press Kids; 1 edition (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762433442
• ISBN-13: 978-0762433445
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping historical novel for young adults., March 14, 2009

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Plague (Hardcover)

Nell and her younger brother George lost their parents to the plague in London, and were only rescued from the fate of being left orphaned and alone in the devastated city by chance. King Edward was traveling through the city to view the devastation of the plague for himself, and happened to notice Nell, who had a strong resemblance to his own daughter, Princess Joan. He decided to rescue the children and bring them to his castle so that Nell could be a companion and double for the princess.

Now, two years later, in 1348, fifteen-year-old Nell and nine-year-old George are accompanying the princess on her journey to marry Prince Pedro of Castile. Also along for the journey is the princess's sinister older brother, the Black Prince, who frightens Nell. At the start of the sea voyage, they hear rumors that the plague has returned, and upon their arrival at Bordeaux, they discover the rumors to be truth. When Princess Joan dies of the plague, the Black Prince decides that Nell, as the princess's look-a-like, must take her place so the political marriage can occur as planned. Nell knows that this deception cannot end well and is determined to run away with George and make her way back to England and the King to tell the truth of what happened. Her escape through the plague-stricken countryside is full of peril, and she is not sure which of her unlikely allies she can truly trust.

The Plague is an exciting and interesting historical novel that brings to life the plague of 1348, now known as the Black Death, which devastated Europe but which is little-written about for young adults. Although some of the events in the story seemed implausible at times, overall it was a gripping and enjoyable read that I would recommend for readers who enjoy young adult historical fiction. One thing I would have liked to have seen is a historical note about some of the real places, events, and people featured in the story, since many are not well-known to the average reader that would read this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delve Into The Historical Past And A Plague-Infested 14th Century Europe, June 3, 2009

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Plague (Hardcover)

Nell and her little brother, George, have been orphaned by the horrible plague that is sweeping across Europe in the mid-1300s. But one strange twist of fate saves them from scrounging for survival on the dirty streets: Nell looks exactly like Princess Joan. In fact, they could be identical twins. After the king discovers this phenomenon, he invites Nell to move into the castle and act as a security double for his daughter. Nell and George continue to mourn the death of their parents, but at least (for now) they're safe.

By the time Nell is 15, she has been living with the princess for a few years and they have become good friends; Nell admires Joan's grace and wisdom, and Joan appreciates having company. But like it or not, their lives are about to change again, for the princess is engaged and boarding a ship to join her fiancé. Nell, of course, is accompanying her to continue to act as her security double, and wherever Nell goes, George goes as well. They may never return to England, which both scares and excites them. Joan's older brother, the Black Prince, looks forward to expanding the castle's relations and joins them on the journey. However, the union between nations screeches to a halt when the princess tragically dies from the plague.

The Black Prince refuses to give up this powerful union, despite the death of his sister. He forces Nell to take over Princess Joan's life as they continue their journey. Nell attempts to protest with all of her might; her loyalty to the now-dead princess and the king is strong and deep. Only the prince's threat of killing her little brother forces Nell to go along with the masquerade. But not everyone is in agreement with the prince. A plan is hatched, enabling Nell, George and a young soldier named Henry to escape. With the help of some loyal friends, the trio flees into the night. But will they be able to elude the Black Prince's clutches and warn the king in time?

Following her horror- and suspense-filled debut, CREEPERS, Joanne Dahme takes a different route in her second book, choosing to delve into the historical past and a Plague-infested 14th century Europe. She brings this frightening time of danger, disease and death to life with vivid descriptions --- "It was cold and damp in this three-walled room, and I swore I could smell the fear of the hundreds of souls who had made this same journey before us. I wondered if our fear, too, would cling to the air long after we left this place." --- and presents readers with a colorful cast of characters that will long be remembered. Nell is especially vibrant, with her tender heart and brave spirit.

THE PLAGUE is truly captivating, and I look forward to seeing what she has in store for fans next.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT, GHOSTS OF THE UPPER PENINSULA and THE BLACK POND

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of [...], June 10, 2010

By 

Cynthia Hudson (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Plague (Kindle Edition)

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.