“An absorbing historical novel.” — Booklist
“Steal. Trade. Survive.”
That's what Father tells Rose and Lem moments before he dies of the Great Plague.
Orphaned and homeless in London 1665, all Rose and Lem have left are their wits, each other, and three bottles of Thieves Oil — a medicinal blend Father created that can protect people from the sickness.
But then Lem goes missing, and Rose is left to fend for herself. As words of Thieves Oil spread to London’s most desperate scavengers, Rose must band together with her fellow street orphans, steal the essentials to survive, and protect herself and her newfound friends against both the Plague and a world filled with dangers.
“Transporting readers into the seventeenth century without romanticizing the characters or the setting, this tightly written, third-person narrative will surely leave readers wondering whether they could have survived. An absorbing historical novel.”
“I was fully immersed in this Plague story and loved following the character of Rose. Caroline Fernandez wrote a strong and very real character that leaves readers wondering if they could do the same a Rose in a similar situation and perhaps reflecting on their own experiences during the COVID 19 pandemic.”
“It’s a harrowing time of hunger, suspicion, survival, and death, but the engaging story is written in an age-appropriate way. I highly recommend it for 9 to 12 year olds.”
“With Plague Thieves, Caroline Fernandez has given us a spell-binding read that captivates but also enlightens about a time in which bleakness was almost inescapable.”
“[Plague Thieves] drops the reader into 1665 London during the Great Plague. This is a thrilling and historical read; fast paced with realistic characters. Engaging read!”
“This book doesn’t steer away from the cruel hardships of the Plague. Hunger, lack of shelter, and death might make this a challenging read for some, but it’s also what make it a compelling book.”
“Readers ages 9-13 will enjoy this story and its theme of cobbling together your own family in the face of disaster, and will come away with a stronger sense of how it was to live in those times.”