Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918, written and illustrated by Don Brown. Houghton MIfflin Harcourt. Raincoast, 2019. $24.99 ages 12 and up

"Soon, six hundred sailors at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard were ill.
Within thirty-six hours, 1,500
soldiers at nearby Fort Dix in
New Jersey were laid low.
Civilians became ill.

THERE IS NOTHING TO BE 
ALARMED ABOUT. I EXPECT
THE DISEASE WILL BURN 
ITSELF OUT IN ABOUT TWO
WEEKS. (A.A. Cairns)"

There are three parts to this graphic novel about the flu epidemic of 1918: the first describes the first months in the year where the flu was an issue for many throughout the world; the second describes the fury of its spread from August to December, due in part to a lack of medical care and the fact that it was spreading in a time of war; and the third deals with the waning of the virus and its effects in the western world. The flu affected one-third of the world's population at the time, and killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide.

Mr. Brown moves the action from one place to another as the virus makes its presence and deadly results evident. It is a dramatic and frightful look at its power, and its ability to cause death in numbers never previoulsy known. He clearly shows how the epidemic changed the fabric of homes, hospitals, public spaces everywhere. He also includes opinions and decisions made by those in charge who had no real idea about handling the chaos caused. Scientists tried and failed to stop it; today, scientists continue to try to understand it. The graphic artwork clearly shows the horror of its spread. Simple, stark scenes, done with a sepia and grey muted palette, are very effective in showing the toll the virus took in many countries of the world.

What a tragedy it was. So many hale and hardy young people died, and still no one knows why or how that really happened. I find it eerie that this novel was published in November last year. As the world now deals with Covid-19, the first pandemic in more than one hundred years, this story resonates with much of what the world today is facing. It is a compelling and dramatic read for many, especially those interested in scientific discovery, and history.

End matter includes an epilogue, source notes and a detailed print, online, and audio bibliography.