A Death-Struck Year

A Death-Struck Year follows seventeen-year-old Cleo Berry during the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic in Portland, Oregon. While her guardians are away, Cleo leaves her boarding school to return to their empty family mansion just as the deadly flu begins spreading through the city. As hospitals become overwhelmed, Cleo volunteers with the Red Cross to help care for the sick despite the risks. She joins other volunteers going house-to-house to check on residents and provide aid, witnessing both tragedy and resilience as the epidemic intensifies. The novel draws from historical records and first-hand accounts to recreate the atmosphere of Portland during one of America's worst public health crises. Through Cleo's experiences, the story explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and finding purpose in times of catastrophe.

Readers appreciate the detailed historical research about the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and its impact on Portland, Oregon. Many note the authentic medical details and descriptions of period-appropriate nursing practices. The main character Cleo receives praise for her growth from sheltered student to determined volunteer. Criticism focuses on the romance subplot, which some readers find unnecessary and underdeveloped. Several reviews mention the slow pacing in the first third of the book. Some readers expected more emotional intensity given the pandemic subject matter. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.82/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (80+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "The historical details transported me to 1918 Portland" - Goodreads reviewer "Romance felt forced and took away from the main story" - Amazon reviewer "Wanted more depth to the supporting characters" - Goodreads reviewer "Accurate portrayal of medical practices and Spanish flu symptoms" - School Library Journal review

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🦠 The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919, which serves as the backdrop for this novel, killed an estimated 50-100 million people worldwide—more than World War I. 🏥 Author Makiia Lucier extensively researched historical records from Portland's Red Cross and local newspapers to accurately depict the city's response to the pandemic. 👩‍⚕️ The main character's volunteer work is based on real "Sisters of Service," who were civilian women who helped care for flu victims when medical personnel were overwhelmed. 📍 The novel's setting in Portland, Oregon, reflects actual history—the city was one of the first major West Coast cities to be hit by the Spanish Flu in October 1918. 🎓 Though the protagonist is fictional, many historical figures appear in the novel, including Mayor George Baker and Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy, Portland's former health officer who helped coordinate the city's pandemic response.