Pat Bourke

To read Bourke's sensitive rendering of Canadian life during World War I is to slip into a kinder, gentler period of literature. Yesterday's Dead, despite its harrowing depiction of the Spanish Flu, is the kind of novel I used to curl up with as a girl. This is the kind of literature that makes me believe that brave, resourceful girls are rewarded, and that the most unpleasant of characters invite only another perspective to be viewed with sympathy.

In Yesterday's Dead, 13-year-old Meredith show more Holling moves to Toronto from her hometown in rural Canada to serve as a maid in the home of an affluent doctor's family. When the Spanish Flu strikes the city and the household begins to fall ill, Meredith proves her courage and dedication to duty.

This book provides an unusually good window into the downright horrific class separations of the past. As a servant, Meredith is expected to, during the illness, provide all the nursing care as well as her usual household duties so that the family will "not be disturbed." Being a modern novel, however, that state of affairs doesn't last for long, and Meredith comes to form unlikely alliances to help manage the crisis. Yesterday's Dead forms a pleasing balance between historical truthfulness and modern sensibilities. show less

Yesterday's Dead promptly picks up readers and drops them into WWI-era Canada, right before the Spanish Flu hits Toronto. Meredith is a likable character - young, intelligent, outspoken, caught in a negative situation, but not too rebellious. She suits both the time period and the readers' expectations of her behavior. Pat Bourke makes real to younger readers the terror of being struck with an epidemic little understood by the public at the time. The somewhat unusual position in which show more Meredith is caught at the outbreak is perfectly plausible given the plot set-up beforehand, and it accentuates the chaos and worry surrounding the epidemic. I found some of the characters to be a bit stereotypical, like the rude, spoiled rich girl who undergoes a conversion and the mean guy who, too late, is revealed to have tenderer secrets - but I suppose that, in a children's book, these stereotypes aren't all that bad to include. Yesterday's Dead comes out overall as a quick, highly informative historical read, perfect for its intended audience and for others of us as well. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed Yesterday’s Dead by Pat Bourke. Lying about her age, thirteen year old Meredith arrives in Toronto to take up a kitchen maid’s position in the home of a wealthy doctor. Her own family has been struggling to make ends meet after the loss of her father in the war, so Meredith has left school and put aside her dreams of training to be a teacher in order to help out financially.

With the doctor called away to attend the first outbreaks of the Spanish Influenza, it strikes show more the household and one by one both servants and family members are falling ill. Eventually only Meredith and Maggie, the spoiled daughter of the doctor, are left to deal with the sick and dying. A terrible responsibility for two young girls.

This is a fine example of historical fiction that both has a great story to tell yet also has something for the reader to learn about regarding an incident in history. The author has obviously done her research and the details and atmosphere of the book feel authentic to the time period. I think Yesterday’s Dead would make an excellent accompaniment to classroom discussion about this worldwide ’flu epidemic. I would recommend this book for ten to thirteen year olds, or anyone who is looking for a simple yet involving story about people who care about others and strive to make a difference. show less

This is the type of book I would have loved to read as a child. The subject itself is fascinating: the Spanish Influenza pandemic in 1918. 13-year old Meredith has travelled to Toronto to become a maid in the household of the widowed Dr. Waterton and his three children, Jack, Maggie, and Harry. Meredith has given up her education to work to help support her struggling family, and in doing so gives up her dream of becoming a teacher.

The household is put in chaos when members of the household show more grow ill with influenza, and with the doctor away tending to the citizens of Toronto who have fallen ill, it is up to Meredith and the doctor's children to tend to the sick.

The book is age appropriate in detailing the sickness and overall turmoil that disease has wreaked on Toronto and the rest of the world. The author made Meredith a strong, intelligent character who was both dutiful and brave. Meredith struggled with what took priority: her position in the household or doing what was right by all standards. I enjoyed the book immensely. show less