Fever 1793 Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
3.5 out of 5, (11 ratings on Open Library)
Fever 1793 has 29 chapters · 256 pages
It's late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting.
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Inside the journal: 29 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
At the beginning of the story, what do Mattie's chores and feelings about the coffeehouse show about her daily life?See all 29 questions ↓
About the book
It's late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn't get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate.
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Fever 1793 questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 29 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
At the beginning of the story, what do Mattie's chores and feelings about the coffeehouse show about her daily life?
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Chapter 2
How does Polly's death change the mood of the story, and what questions does it raise for Mattie?
Example answer: Polly's death makes the story feel much more serious and scary. Before this, Mattie is mostly thinking about chores, food, and her own plans. After Polly dies, I can tell that the fever is not just a rumor anymore. Mattie wonders how someone young and healthy could die so suddenly, and that makes the reader worry too.
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Chapter 3
Grandfather encourages Mattie to think big about the coffeehouse. What does this tell you about both characters?
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Chapter 4
What signs show that fear of fever is growing in Philadelphia, and how do people react?
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Chapter 5
During tea with the Ogilvie family, how does Mattie feel, and why might this visit matter to her mother?
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Chapter 6
When illness comes closer to Mattie's family, how do Mattie and her mother respond differently?
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Chapter 7
What do you predict will happen after Mattie and Grandfather leave the city? Use details from the chapter.
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Chapter 8
How does the trip out of Philadelphia become harder than Mattie expected?
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Chapter 9
What does Mattie's sickness and time outdoors reveal about her strength and her need for help?
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Chapter 10
At Bush Hill, how are Mattie's ideas about the fever hospital different from what she actually finds?
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Chapter 11
How do the people caring for the sick show courage in this chapter?
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Chapter 12
When Mattie and Grandfather return to the coffeehouse, what has changed, and how does Mattie react?
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Chapter 13
What does the empty or changed city help you understand about the fever epidemic?
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Chapter 14
How does Mattie show independence when she tries to get food or supplies?
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Chapter 15
What role does Eliza play in Mattie's life, and why is their friendship important?
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Chapter 16
What does Mattie learn about the Free African Society and the people helping fever victims?
Example answer: I think Mattie learns that many people are being brave and helpful even when it is dangerous. The Free African Society helps sick families instead of running away from them. This shows Mattie that courage can mean taking care of others. It also helps her see that the city has good people working together during a terrible time.
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Chapter 17
How does the break-in at the coffeehouse create danger and change Mattie's life?
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Chapter 18
How does Mattie deal with grief after Grandfather's death?
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Chapter 19
Why does Mattie decide to help Nell, and what does this choice show about her character?
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Chapter 20
Compare Joseph's home with the coffeehouse. How do these places feel different to Mattie?
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Chapter 21
When more children become sick, what difficult choices do Mattie and Eliza have to make?
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Chapter 22
What does the word perseverance mean, and how does Mattie show perseverance in this chapter?
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Chapter 23
How does caring for Nell and the twins help Mattie grow up?
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Chapter 24
What changes when the first frost arrives, and why is it important to the people of Philadelphia?
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Chapter 25
How does Nathaniel's return affect Mattie, and what does their friendship add to the story?
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Chapter 26
What does Mattie learn about hope as the city begins to recover?
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Chapter 27
When Mattie's mother comes back, how have both Mattie and Mother changed?
Example answer: When Mother comes back, she is much weaker than she was at the beginning of the book. Mattie has changed too because she is no longer just a girl who needs to be told what to do. She has survived sickness, cared for children, and made hard choices. I think Mother can see that Mattie has become more responsible and strong.
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Chapter 28
What plans does Mattie make for the coffeehouse, and how do they show her new confidence?
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Chapter 29
What is one theme of the whole book, such as courage, family, or survival? Explain using Mattie's journey.
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How to use this Fever 1793 reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 29 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Fever 1793. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.