At the Sign of the Sugared Plum

Hannah travels from the countryside to London in 1665 to help her sister Sarah run a sweet shop. Her excitement about city life is tempered by rumors of plague appearing in the poorer districts. The sisters work to keep their confectionery business running while watching the spread of disease through London's streets. Their daily routines of making sugared plums and other treats continue even as the city changes around them. Through Hannah's perspective, the novel portrays both the grim realities of the Great Plague and the perseverance of ordinary Londoners. The stark contrast between candied delicacies and mounting death tolls creates a backdrop for Hannah's coming-of-age story. The book examines themes of sisterhood and survival, while offering a window into how individuals maintain hope and humanity during times of widespread crisis. Medieval London's class divisions and medical beliefs emerge as key elements in this historical narrative.

Readers note this book offers an approachable introduction to London's 1665 plague outbreak through the eyes of a teenage girl. Many highlight the detailed historical research and vivid descriptions of daily life, with one reader commenting "you can smell the herbs and taste the sweets." Readers appreciated: - Accessible writing style for middle-grade/YA audiences - Accurate historical details woven naturally into the story - Strong sense of time and place - Educational value about the plague period Common criticisms: - Abrupt ending left some plots unresolved - Main character can seem naive and make frustrating choices - Some found the plague descriptions too mild/sanitized Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (120+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (200+ ratings) Most readers recommend it for ages 11-14 as an engaging introduction to historical fiction, though note it may be too light for adult readers seeking deep historical analysis.

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🎭 Mary Hooper visited the London Guildhall Library's plague archives while researching the book, studying actual letters and documents from 1665 to ensure historical accuracy. 🏺 Sugar plums, featured prominently in the story, weren't actually plums - they were hard candies made of boiled sugar and various spices, often containing caraway seeds or anise. ☠️ The Great Plague of 1665, which forms the backdrop of the novel, killed approximately 100,000 people in London - nearly a quarter of the city's population. 🌿 Many of the herbal remedies mentioned in the book, such as posies of herbs and lavender, were genuinely used during the plague, though they offered little real protection. 📚 The book is the first in a duo, followed by "Petals in the Ashes," which continues Hannah's story during the Great Fire of London in 1666.