surpriseitem's review against another edition
3.0
I found Prudence's narrative to be very flat, and she was incredibly immature for a 17 year old. And since this book is told in first person journal entries from Prudence herself, the whole book had a very dull feel to it. This read like the American Girl Doll stories I used to read when I was 9, and I would definitely suggest it for elementary and middle school readers. While the book was generally boring, I still enjoyed learning about Typhoid Mary, who I knew nothing about before opening the book. It was a quick read, and the illustrations were a nice addition to Prudence's journal entries.
heatherinjapan's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
taliaissmart's review against another edition
1.0
I honestly just found this book uninteresting. It had potential, and I think I would have liked it a lot better if it hadn't been in diary format, but unfortunately it was, so I didn't particularly like it. My three main issues with this book were: narrative, plot development, and the name PRUDENCE.
1. Narrative
I really wish that the author of this book had had the sense to take out the diary dates. The writing is completely unrealistic of something a 16 year-old girl would write in a diary.
Also, Prudence (and I literally cringe while typing that name) just didn't have that interesting a narrative voice to me. Everything seemed devoid of emotion, even though Prudence went through loss of loved ones and romantic issues. I think that is often the case with diary writing. It kind of reminds me of something I learned about way back in third grade: show not tell. The sentence: "Reading this article, I feel stunned, sickened, queasy." is much less powerful than if the author actually showed the reader Prudence's reaction to reading the article. You see what I mean?
2. Plot Development
I think if the book had just stuck to the typhoid case, I would have been happier. But no, for the sake of making a character 3-dimensional, of course Prudence had to fall madly in love with her boss. I don't even have a problem with that. That would be fine with me. What I have a problem with is that after a small peck on the cheek, NOTHING ELSE F**KING HAPPENS. Seriously. WHY would the author possibly tell me that Prudence is deeply in love with this guy if NOTHING is going to happen between them?!?
The plot development in this book just sucked. I could go into WAY more detail, but then I would be staying up all night typing this and I don't really care about this book enough to do that.
3. PRUDENCE
As anyone who knows me well (and by that I mean Madeline)can tell you, I REALLY can't stand reading books where the main character has an awful name. And PRUDENCE is one of the awfullest names ever. For me, a name like PRUDENCE takes a book from okayish to bad. And that is probably why I disliked this book.
THE END.
1. Narrative
I really wish that the author of this book had had the sense to take out the diary dates. The writing is completely unrealistic of something a 16 year-old girl would write in a diary.
Also, Prudence (and I literally cringe while typing that name) just didn't have that interesting a narrative voice to me. Everything seemed devoid of emotion, even though Prudence went through loss of loved ones and romantic issues. I think that is often the case with diary writing. It kind of reminds me of something I learned about way back in third grade: show not tell. The sentence: "Reading this article, I feel stunned, sickened, queasy." is much less powerful than if the author actually showed the reader Prudence's reaction to reading the article. You see what I mean?
2. Plot Development
I think if the book had just stuck to the typhoid case, I would have been happier. But no, for the sake of making a character 3-dimensional, of course Prudence had to fall madly in love with her boss. I don't even have a problem with that. That would be fine with me. What I have a problem with is that after a small peck on the cheek, NOTHING ELSE F**KING HAPPENS. Seriously. WHY would the author possibly tell me that Prudence is deeply in love with this guy if NOTHING is going to happen between them?!?
The plot development in this book just sucked. I could go into WAY more detail, but then I would be staying up all night typing this and I don't really care about this book enough to do that.
3. PRUDENCE
As anyone who knows me well (and by that I mean Madeline)can tell you, I REALLY can't stand reading books where the main character has an awful name. And PRUDENCE is one of the awfullest names ever. For me, a name like PRUDENCE takes a book from okayish to bad. And that is probably why I disliked this book.
THE END.
dani_2006's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
vivireadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great book about the Typhoid fever outbreak in the early 1900's. It was written from the point of view of a teenage girl who was helping to discover the cause of the outbreak. I read this book in one evening! I highly recommend it!
sarahfett's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I wish the ending hadn’t been so rushed.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
Ever since her brother died of an infected wound, Prudence has been determined to further the medical sciences and save lives, but that's not easy when you're a 16-year-old girl in 1906 New York City. When she takes a secretarial job at the Department of Health and Sanitation, Prudence begins working with Mr. Soper, trying to track cases of typhoid and figure out how to stop the epidemic. All tracks seem to lead to one woman - Mary Mallon - but "Typhoid Mary" refuses to believe that she carries the disease. After all, she's never been sick a day in her life.
This book was right up my alley and I really enjoyed it. I definitely think that Prudence Galewski and Mattie Gokey would be college roommates and BFFs. The icky medical stuff won't be for everyone (though it's not really graphic), but I loved it. The writing's strong and the setting and subject matter has been thoroughly researched. My one complaint is that the ending was sort of anti-climactic. I wanted more resolution between Prudence and certain male characters (no spoilers).
It's Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light meets Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever, 1793 and recommended for fans of either.
This book was right up my alley and I really enjoyed it. I definitely think that Prudence Galewski and Mattie Gokey would be college roommates and BFFs. The icky medical stuff won't be for everyone (though it's not really graphic), but I loved it. The writing's strong and the setting and subject matter has been thoroughly researched. My one complaint is that the ending was sort of anti-climactic. I wanted more resolution between Prudence and certain male characters (no spoilers).
It's Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light meets Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever, 1793 and recommended for fans of either.
leftik's review against another edition
3.0
A historical YA, our main character, Prudence, gives us glimpses of her life through her journal entries, covering subjects as broad as losing a father to war and brother to untimely death, working in a profession that barely accepted women and tracking an elusive typhoid fever that appears to have no known cause.
I'm not sure I enjoyed the diary format - but I can't decide if that's because I just don't like that format to begin with or I just didn't think it worked well with this story. Prudence has a lot going on, so, it was great to see how her mind was working. However, I never really felt connected with her and I feel like it might have been better in a different style. Maybe? Not sure.
On the whole, though, I enjoyed Deadly, if only because the medical history was interesting (like old-school CSI!). It helped that Prudence was well-rounded - not every diary entry was about her work at the Department of Health - and Prudence's family story was an intriguing mystery, as well. I'm not sure this one would be a fit with everyone, but worth a look if you're interested at all in historical fiction.
I'm not sure I enjoyed the diary format - but I can't decide if that's because I just don't like that format to begin with or I just didn't think it worked well with this story. Prudence has a lot going on, so, it was great to see how her mind was working. However, I never really felt connected with her and I feel like it might have been better in a different style. Maybe? Not sure.
On the whole, though, I enjoyed Deadly, if only because the medical history was interesting (like old-school CSI!). It helped that Prudence was well-rounded - not every diary entry was about her work at the Department of Health - and Prudence's family story was an intriguing mystery, as well. I'm not sure this one would be a fit with everyone, but worth a look if you're interested at all in historical fiction.
buuboobaby's review against another edition
5.0
Ka-baam! I've read two incredible books in just over a week - I hope the streak of winners continues.
This understated book quickly seeped into my every waking thought - how would Mr Soper and Prudence discover the cause of the typhoid fever outbreak? Deadly is a fascinating read, and it made me think about bacteria, sickness, and medical sciences in a new way, and made me very grateful for the advances in medicine we enjoy today. I also love a book that is so engrossing and interesting that I am prompted to conduct a little research of my own, which this book did. I will never think of germs the same way again.
Full review soon at www.mangamaniaccafe.com
This understated book quickly seeped into my every waking thought - how would Mr Soper and Prudence discover the cause of the typhoid fever outbreak? Deadly is a fascinating read, and it made me think about bacteria, sickness, and medical sciences in a new way, and made me very grateful for the advances in medicine we enjoy today. I also love a book that is so engrossing and interesting that I am prompted to conduct a little research of my own, which this book did. I will never think of germs the same way again.
Full review soon at www.mangamaniaccafe.com