Smallpox Strikes! (The American Adventure Series #7) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Norma Jean Lutz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

When a smallpox epidemic strikes Boston in 1721, eleven-year-old Rob becomes the sole caregiver of his stepfather and brother during the time of their illness.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Book seven in the series recounts the 1721 smallpox epidemic in Boston through the eyes of 11-year-old Rob Allerton. Hating his dull apprenticeship in his stepfather's shipping office, the boy enjoys the company of the local doctor, who convinces him of the efficacy of inoculations, even though they have been met with much fear and resistance by the local people. When his stepfather and stepbrother become ill, Rob cares for them and gains a new understanding of why his relationship with his younger stepbrother has been so difficult. The series has recurring characters, stories that teach life lessons, and a Christian emphasis. Black-and-white pen-and-ink drawings begin each chapter. A brief and not very helpful index and a list for further reading are appended. Didactic, pedestrian, and predictable, with a stylistic overuse of exclamation points and a physical appearance more like a work of nonfiction, this book offers a limited perspective, fictional characters, and fictionalized dialogue. If "storyography" is a new term coined to describe picture-book biographies that offer storied presentations of information, a new term could well be coined for this book, which is perhaps more fictionalized history than good historical fiction.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

History comes alive for eight-to-twelve year olds in this close-up, fun-to-read, multi-generational story of a fictional family spanning three centuries of actual historical events. God's hand is seen at work in people's lives and in the events that shaped our nation.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated (December 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577481445
• ISBN-13: 978-1577481447
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 3.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Norma Jean Lutz, is an author, speaker, writing instructor, and novel critique consultant. She has been in the writing/publishing industry all her adult life. Her first bylines appeared on hundreds of magazine articles and short stories. Today her list of published books stands at more than fifty. Norma Jean -- still a teacher at heart -- loves to reach out and encourage budding novelists through her program "Be A Novelist."

"I have to write like I have to breathe," says Norma Jean. "I cannot say I love just 'having written.' I thoroughly enjoy the entire process of creating a story. I literally get drunk on story/plot creation." Then she adds, "It's like a natural, creative high."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another good book from the American Adventure series., November 24, 2004

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Smallpox Strikes! (The American Adventure Series #7) (Paperback)

This is the seventh book in The American Adventure series. This series tells about the lives of children from many generations of a fictional family throughout American history, from the settling of Plymouth by the Pilgrims through the end of World War II.

It's the spring of 1721 in Boston, and eleven-year-old Rob Allerton has problems. He would like to study to be an apothecary with his good friend, Dr. Boylston. However, his wealthy stepfather, Josiah Foy, has forced Rob to become an apprentice at his shipping business. In addition, Rob is constantly fighting with his stepbrother, Thomas, who resents Rob and is constantly teasing their little sister, Rachel. But soon these problems begin to seem trivial, when a deadly outbreak of smallpox hits Boston. Dr. Bolyston wants to give people an experimental inoculation he believes protects against the disease, but Rob's stepfather forbids anyone in the family to get one. Can Rob persuade his stepfather to change his mind before it's too late?

This was another good book from the American Adventure series. Rob was a sympathetic character, the story was interesting, and I enjoyed the colonial setting. Readers who enjoyed the other books in the American Adventure series will definitely want to read this one as well. I also recommend it to readers who are new to the series and are interested in this time period in history.