Book Review: A Death-Struck Year

Author: Makiia Lucier
Pages: 288
Published: March 4, 2014
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Rating: 5/5

This book was amazing!

Set in 1918 as the Spanish Influenza was making its way across the United States, the main character, Cleo, is about to graduate high school and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. While trying to figure it out, she is presented with the opportunity to work with the Red Cross once the Spanish Influenza infiltrates Oregon where she lives with her brother.

While volunteering, Cleo is presented with so much death and suffering that she isn’t sure if she is making the right choice, but after being persuaded to look at how much good she has done by the handsome medical student, Edmund, that is also volunteering, Cleo decides to stick it out until the flu is over.

This novel was fantastic. It didn’t try to be anything but what it was which was a coming of age story about a girl alive during the Spanish Influenza. Beautifully written and an excellent first novel from this author.