Synopsis

July 3rd 1665

Aunt Nell came home from the market looking very pale. She overheard two men discussing the weekly Bills of Mortality. It seems that in the past week 700 people have died from the plague. So the plague is well and truly come to London after all. After much discussion I am to be sent to Woolwich with Aunt Nell. I refused to go without Poppet and Papa has relented. I was sent to enquire of a carrier but was soon stopped in my tracks. One of the hoses in the next street had a red cross painted on the door. Above the cross someone had chalked "Lord Have Mercy Upon Us".

Comment

This is a great book for kids to learn about what life was like in London during the Great Plague of 1665.

Written in Diary form from the point of view of thirteen year old Alice Paynton, this story gives great descriptions of everyday life for a teenager in this period as well as the fear that gripped the city during those dark days.

At the end of the book, the author provides a chapter giving the facts of life in that era, follwed by a timeline as well as copies of historical documents. Worth reading and showing to your kids.

Synopsis

"So, he didn't put his arm around you, so that's nil points so far. What kind of good-night kiss was it?"

"Well, you know, he put his lips on mine and -"

"For how long?"

"Er...about er two seconds."

"Two seconds??"

"Yes yes, how many more times?"

"He put his lips on yours for two seconds?"

"Yes, JAS!!"

"Well, that's not a kiss, is it? My aunties do that."

Then I finally snapped. "Well, that is because you have lezzie aunties - my aunties don't put their lips on mine."

"I have not got lezzie aunties!!"

Comment

The first time I tried to read this book I found it really hard to get into, so I put it back on my shelf and read something else. I'm glad I gave it another try, though, because this bokk is absolutely hilarious.

I was laughing aloud the whole time I was reading it.