At the Sign of the Sugared Plum by Mary Hooper

Also included in the back is a section: Notes on London’s Plague, 1665.

They nicely set up each chapter’s part of the story.Īt the end there is a glossary, which I wish had been at the front of the book, as there were a few words I hadn’t known. There was real suspense the horror really builds and definitely held my attention.Īt the beginning of every chapter, each covering a week’s time, there is a quote, most about the plague, taken from Pepy’s Diary.

The narrator, using language appropriate for the era, was a good storyteller, for the most part. Reading about the human suffering was palpable and heartbreaking, and the fate of the animals, was also sad, and infuriating given the ramifications.

I gradually grew to care deeply for the characters. There were particularly good descriptions of what London was like at the time (1665) and what the plague must have been like. I was particularly intrigued with the plague remedies and theories of the time. She is an everyday heroine for girls.I do love plague stories, and historical fiction stories, and coming of age stories, and I’m interested in the history of medicine, and there was quite a bit of all of those in this novel. I am sure that most people could think of a book or an author from their girlhood who has left a similar impression. Mary Hooper filled my childhood with education and entertainment. They provide escapism, inform, spark debate, they can make you laugh and cry, and no other books have left such an impression. Her combination of historical research, and charming imagination always fill me with joy and determination. To this day, I read her books whenever I am stuck for inspiration. She encouraged me to pursue this goal as a girl with a large and unfamiliar world ahead of me. Mary Hooper may seem a rather understated heroine, but to me, she represents a woman who has built a career from her passion. This interest, has defined the academic, professional and personal journey. I credit her with sparking an awareness of my interest in history. She opened my eyes to the historical world in a way that I had never experienced before. My favourite books include The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose and At The Sign of the Sugared Plum. Hooper is an author of over seventy books for children and young adults. Here is where Mary Hooper entered my life and became one of my heroines. As a lover of history, historical fiction has always been my favourite genre. My girlhood was defined by reading and the countless worlds I could enter, by reading a book. Reading has always been one of my biggest passions. I have spent countless hours in the library, ever since I can remember.

At the Sign of the Sugared Plum by Mary Hooper