This book of historical fiction tells the story of 13-year-old Lizzie Kennedy finding out about the plague. Her father is a doctor who doesn’t believe that the bubonic plague has hit their city.  Lizzie would also like to be a doctor when she gets older. She is very well off since her uncle owns a news printing company. She attends Miss Bartstow’s school for girls, but she doesn’t enjoy it. She would rather accompany her father on his medical trips. Part of the city is under quarantine, their house cook has disappeared, and mobs want to burn down Chinatown. So why does everyone deny that the plague has come? Lizzie soon finds out about the house cook’s son, Noah, and keeps him a secret from her family—especially Aunt Hortense. Together they find out about the secrets their city has been hiding.

Historical fiction is hard to write, but Gennifer Choldenko has brought tragedy, wit, and all the facts together, making the story seem even more real.