Customer Reviews

The Plague

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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.

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

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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Do you like to read books with princesses and dark magic? If yes, than The Plague by Joanne Dahme is the book for you.

There is a deadly disease spreading through the country, killing everyone in its path. Nell and her brother's parents are infected with the plague, leaving Nell in charge of her little brother, George. One day when the king is riding through the sick village he sees how much Nell resembles the princes, he asks Nell to come to the castle and serve the kind and loving princess Joan. She says yes, hoping to have a place to live and food to eat. Now Nell must make her journey to the king's castle with George and Henry, a trusted guard to the king. When the plague infects the princess, the black prince, Princes Joan's brother, orders something horrible of Nell, to take the princess's place. The prince had come aboard on the way to the castle, and knows Nell is finding out that the black prince is not the nice man that everyone thought that he was. The black prince is a horrible man who only wants power.

One night when the prince and his knights were asleep a kind jester from the king's castle helps them escape. The prince sends thousands of rats to bring Nell back to complete his request. It is a long journey back to the king's castle, but eventually they succeed. When they reach the castle, Nell, George and Henry think they were safe from the black prince, but they were wrong. The jester, who they had trusted greatly, had told the prince where to find them. Now with the king only believing the lies of the prince, what are Nell, George, and Henry going to do?

I absolutely loved this book. It was suspenseful and had a twist to the end of the story. I really liked how the author put so much detail into the characters and plot. I could actually feel like I was in the book. I also liked how the author, Joanne Dahme, added a love story into the book, but without over doing it. My favorite part of the book was when Nell, George, and Henry are traveling with the three merchant brothers. Overall this is an exciting and suspenseful book that I would suggest to anyone.

Julia B., EMS Blogger

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Nell and her brother George are left alone in the world when their parents die from the pestilence that is ravaging London and all of Europe. But then by chance Nell discovers that she looks exactly like the princess Joan, and she and George are whisked to the royal palace to assist the princess and for Nell to act as a decoy to anyone who might wish to harm her. Two years later, Joan and Nell have become friends, and Nell and George are accompanying Joan to her new home in Spain where her betrothed, the prince of Spain, is awaiting her.

But on their journey, the pestilence strikes, and Joan is taken. Desperate to make the alliance between the two countries still, Joan's brother, the Black Prince, forces Nell to assume the role of the princess. Fearful of both The Black Prince and the plague, Nell and George flee, unwilling to be a part of The Black Prince's plot. But they will have to evade much more than just the plague in order to survive...

The Plague is an interesting and rather different take on the lives of two young people affected by the plague in the year 1348. One element of Dahme's writing that stands out the most is the gritty, harsh description of the land that is the reality of a country consumed by the pestilence and overrun by grime and pests, which lends an air of authenticity to the entire book. Dahme's plot line also offers a more adventurous look at the times, which does its job at drawing readers in, and the superstitious slant propels The Plague along, leaving readers hanging in suspense. However, the occasional anachronisms and slightly unbelievable plot secure The Plague's status as a more adventurous novel meant to entertain more than give a serious look at the struggles of the people in that time, and teens looking for a more introspective look at the time of the plague may want to look up Geraldine Brooks' Year of Wonders as well. Despite this, The Plague is a unique and engrossing read with admirable characters and possess a good, even pace that will even entice the reluctant reader. This is one to stick on the wish list.