BOOK REVIEW Literary Speaking Fever By Mary Beth Keane Reviewed by Dana Yanez-Soria, Yankton Community Library Most people decreased due to have probably advances in medical heard of typhoid technology and fever, but because vaccinations. While it is not as reading Fever, you find prevalent in our yourself understanding world today, that the doctors that many people may apprehend Mary are not know a lot truly trying to learn about it. Typhoid more about the fever is a common, sometimes fatal, disease that is disease and to protect transmitted by the ingestion of food or water that has the general public. been contaminated by the feces of an infected person. However, your heart Poor sanitation and personal hygiene greatly affect the can’t help but go out spread of typhoid fever. Some of the symptoms of the to Mary during her disease may include high fever, delirium, intestinal struggles. She has an hemorrhaging, rose-colored spots on the chest and unfortunate knack of being in the wrong place at the abdomen and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). wrong time. In the past, typhoid fever has had some devastating At times, the writing in this book was a bit slow, but effects, taking many lives throughout history. overall I found this to be a very interesting book. I Fever by Mary Beth Keane is an historical fiction novel learned many details about typhoid and about Mary giving light to Mary Mallon’s side of the story. The book Mallon that I had never known before. I truly enjoyed introduces us to a young, clever, strong-willed Irish Mary’s passion, grit, and determination. Throughout the immigrant with a desire to improve her lot in life and a book you will discover just how clever and strong-willed great passion for cooking. she really was. In 1907, the ill-fated Mary Mallon, also known as Mary Beth Keane was named one of the 5 Under 35 by Typhoid Mary, was arrested in NewYork when she was the National Book Foundation in 2011 for her debut suspected of being a healthy carrier of the disease. She novel The Walking People. She now lives in New York was treated like a common criminal when a doctor with her husband and two sons. noticed a trail of the illness wherever Mary had been employed as a cook. After being torn from her life and thrown into isolation in a sanitarium on North Brother Island, separated from everyone and everything she knew, she was determined not to go down without a fight. She stubbornly maintained that she was innocent and disease-free. After three years in isolation, the doctors and lawyers involved gave Mary an ultimatum, either give up her career as a cook forever or have her gall bladder removed. Having the gall bladder removed was and still is a widely accepted treatment for chronic typhoid infections. Eventually agreeing that she would never again cook for other people, she was released from 1101 Broadway Ste. 105, the hospital on North Brother Island. Entering Morgen Square back into the world, she struggled to pick up www.scott-family-dentistry.com her life where she left off. Experience Gentle, Personalized Dental Care For Your Entire Family! Today, cases of typhoid fever have greatly Keeping Smiles Healthy & Young 16 v HERVOICE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013