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Sign of the Sugared Plum #1
At the Sign of the Sugared Plum
It is 1665 and Hannah is full of excitement at the prospect of her first trip to London. She is going to help her sister, Sarah, in her candy shop, 'The Sugared Plum'. But Hannah does not get the welcoming reception she expected from her sister, because the Plague is taking hold of London. However, Hannah is determined to stay and together the two young women face the worst-with the possibility of their own demise, growing ever closer. But through it all they persevere with the support of their neighbors and each other. And at last, they find hope in a daring attempt to escape the city.
169 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2003
61 people are currently reading
2217 people want to read
About the author
Mary Hooper
211 books289 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
British children's and young adult author Mary Hooper was born in 1944, in Barnes, then in Surrey, nowadays in South West London. She left school at fifteen, and went to work as a window dresser, and then as a secretary. She eventually returned to school, as an adult student, earning a degree in English from Reading University. Hooper began her writing career with short stories, publishing in women's and teen magazines. Her first book, Jodie, was published in 1978. She is married, has two children, and one grandchild, and lives in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire.
British children's and young adult author Mary Hooper was born in 1944, in Barnes, then in Surrey, nowadays in South West London. She left school at fifteen, and went to work as a window dresser, and then as a secretary. She eventually returned to school, as an adult student, earning a degree in English from Reading University. Hooper began her writing career with short stories, publishing in women's and teen magazines. Her first book, Jodie, was published in 1978. She is married, has two children, and one grandchild, and lives in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
January 16, 2012
I do love plague stories, and historical fiction stories, and coming of age stories, and I’m interested in the history of medicine, and there was quite a bit of all of those in this novel. I was particularly intrigued with the plague remedies and theories of the time.
There were particularly good descriptions of what London was like at the time (1665) and what the plague must have been like. I gradually grew to care deeply for the characters. Reading about the human suffering was palpable and heartbreaking, and the fate of the animals, was also sad, and infuriating given the ramifications.
The narrator, using language appropriate for the era, was a good storyteller, for the most part. There was real suspense; the horror really builds and definitely held my attention.
At the beginning of every chapter, each covering a week’s time, there is a quote, most about the plague, taken from Pepy’s Diary. They nicely set up each chapter’s part of the story.
At the end there is a glossary, which I wish had been at the front of the book, as there were a few words I hadn’t known. Also included in the back is a section: Notes on London’s Plague, 1665. There are also Recipes from the Seventeenth Century (all but one of them vegan and the one containing eggs easily made vegan) for: Sugared plums, Sugared orange peel, Candied angelica, Marchpane fruits, Frosted rose petals.
This is a very fast read. In some ways I wish it had had more depth, such as what I experienced when reading Connie Willis's adult novel Doomsday Book, but in this children’s/young adult novel some things are included that I haven’t read elsewhere so I very much appreciated this book’s story too. I’d say those nine or ten and up could appreciate this book, though it does have just a bit of adult subject matter on the side, not as part of the main story, but some might consider this more appropriate for young adults than for children.
It’s also a wonderful sister story, as the two main characters are sisters struggling to survive the bubonic plague outbreak. There are other memorable characters as well but the sisters are central.
I read this for the Children's Books group. It’s the February selection for its Fiction Book Club, one of four book clubs (I can think of) in this group. This book had been on my to-read shelf and I’m very grateful it was a group selection because I got motivated to finally read it.
4 ½ stars
Note: I see this is listed as a first book in a series so I'm hoping that means there will be sequels!
There were particularly good descriptions of what London was like at the time (1665) and what the plague must have been like. I gradually grew to care deeply for the characters. Reading about the human suffering was palpable and heartbreaking, and the fate of the animals, was also sad, and infuriating given the ramifications.
The narrator, using language appropriate for the era, was a good storyteller, for the most part. There was real suspense; the horror really builds and definitely held my attention.
At the beginning of every chapter, each covering a week’s time, there is a quote, most about the plague, taken from Pepy’s Diary. They nicely set up each chapter’s part of the story.
At the end there is a glossary, which I wish had been at the front of the book, as there were a few words I hadn’t known. Also included in the back is a section: Notes on London’s Plague, 1665. There are also Recipes from the Seventeenth Century (all but one of them vegan and the one containing eggs easily made vegan) for: Sugared plums, Sugared orange peel, Candied angelica, Marchpane fruits, Frosted rose petals.
This is a very fast read. In some ways I wish it had had more depth, such as what I experienced when reading Connie Willis's adult novel Doomsday Book, but in this children’s/young adult novel some things are included that I haven’t read elsewhere so I very much appreciated this book’s story too. I’d say those nine or ten and up could appreciate this book, though it does have just a bit of adult subject matter on the side, not as part of the main story, but some might consider this more appropriate for young adults than for children.
It’s also a wonderful sister story, as the two main characters are sisters struggling to survive the bubonic plague outbreak. There are other memorable characters as well but the sisters are central.
I read this for the Children's Books group. It’s the February selection for its Fiction Book Club, one of four book clubs (I can think of) in this group. This book had been on my to-read shelf and I’m very grateful it was a group selection because I got motivated to finally read it.
4 ½ stars
Note: I see this is listed as a first book in a series so I'm hoping that means there will be sequels!
April 7, 2012
This book was recommended to me late last year by Lisa. My first thoughts were someone wrote a YA book about the Great Plague and made it interesting! It just seemed a difficult match to me, to make such a bleak subject work for this genre. It could easily turn into an anachronistic tale of a 21st century lass who flits into 17th century London to view events. So my interest immediately piqued, I had to see how this would be treated and made palatable for younger readers, be able to hold my attention, and see if this was a book that would work for the reading club I have with my niece.
Pretty quickly Mary Hooper grabbed my attention. How she managed to walk that fine line and keep this from being maudlin and heavy or modern girl at the Great Plague, is the magic that draws you in. Immediately Hooper infused her narrative with such vitality, enthusiasm, humor and joy, even the blush and bloom of first love. You know the plague is there, like some scary monster hiding just out of sight, but life still goes on in London and for our heroine, Hannah. The mundane flow of city life is maintained for as long possible, the basic duties of going to market, the simple joy of a pet kitten and the comforting sound of the town crier's nightly calls -
Slowly and subtly these things start to change, hearing of a death, a house or two being shut up (a mind numbing horror for the occupants), building to the life changing occurrences of watching the death carts rumbling by in the night and the graveyards running out of room for the bodies. Hooper gives all this a palpable feel as the plague's hold on London grows.
I quickly came under Hannah's spell, experiencing her excitement at coming to the big city, still carrying her country girl views, but so not wanting to be seen as that country girl. She's coming to help her sister, Sarah, run her sweetmeats shop but she has oh so many more things she wants to do now that she is finally in London. Sarah is much more reserved as the older sister and not as fleshed out as Hannah is. This almost seems to be intentional on the author's part, since it is in Sarah's nature to step aside and let Hannah shine. Sarah excels as a business owner, showing one of the few opportunities afforded a single woman to better herself. She's smart, savvy and serious about her shop, it's not just a stepping stone to finding a man. The scenes of the sisters working together to prepare their sweet delicacies almost make you feel as if you need to brush the sugar and spices off your own fingers. As a fun bonus, vintage 17th century recipes of some of these same delectable sweets are included, just be glad you don't have to go through the same exact process as Hannah and Sarah. As the plague's threat closes in, it is nice to see them pull together as sisters, you can only hope and wonder will they be able to escape its grasp.
The plague is not glossed over nor is it exaggerated for affect, it is handled in a matter of fact, forthright manner. The horrifying affects of the disease on its victims and the city leave you with some scenes that are heart breaking, such as the scene of a young neighborhood boy running naked from his sealed up home, leave you shaking your head. Despite knowing this happened almost 350 years ago, I was still struck by the utter chaos and ignorance in fighting the disease and especially the naïve beliefs and cures. All you had to do was say that something was beneficial in preventing the plague and you could sell it as a plague preventative or cure, this sadly is something still with us today.
As an animal lover, the fate of the domesticated animals was difficult to read and learning that the measures used probably only helped to spread the disease instead of curb it, made it more so. Somehow Hooper made it feel like the plague was a living character, an alien presence out to annihilate the human race. She does an amazing job conveying the fear, panic and sorrow especially juxtaposed with the sisters living life, running their shop and making their sweetmeats.
An author's note helps put an exclamation point on some of the facts and issues mentioned and really needs to be read to gain a better appreciation for the novel. A glossary is also provided along with the 17th century recipes of several of the sweetmeats made by Hannah and Sarah.
I'm not sure about the ending or the plausibility, it did feel a little too convenient and neatly tied up to me, but during that kind of catastrophe it is certainly possible. Overall my original surprise and concerns were happily extinguished and I'm very glad I got the recommendation. Mary Hooper was able to write an entertaining and thought provoking read about the Great Plague for YA readers, that holds the attention of adults as well. I wouldn't recommend it to my 11 year old niece yet, she will have to wait a few more years, some of the scenes would probably be too disturbing. It would be a nice introduction to the plague for teenagers who have an interest in history or the time of Charles II and for adults who like an historical fiction from the point of view of the people and not royalty.
Pretty quickly Mary Hooper grabbed my attention. How she managed to walk that fine line and keep this from being maudlin and heavy or modern girl at the Great Plague, is the magic that draws you in. Immediately Hooper infused her narrative with such vitality, enthusiasm, humor and joy, even the blush and bloom of first love. You know the plague is there, like some scary monster hiding just out of sight, but life still goes on in London and for our heroine, Hannah. The mundane flow of city life is maintained for as long possible, the basic duties of going to market, the simple joy of a pet kitten and the comforting sound of the town crier's nightly calls -
"Twelve o’clock Look well to your lock, Your fire and your light And so good-night!"
Slowly and subtly these things start to change, hearing of a death, a house or two being shut up (a mind numbing horror for the occupants), building to the life changing occurrences of watching the death carts rumbling by in the night and the graveyards running out of room for the bodies. Hooper gives all this a palpable feel as the plague's hold on London grows.
"That night I had a terrible nightmare. I was alive, but lying in a plague pit under a press of bodies which weighed down on me so that I could neither move nor hardly breathe."
I quickly came under Hannah's spell, experiencing her excitement at coming to the big city, still carrying her country girl views, but so not wanting to be seen as that country girl. She's coming to help her sister, Sarah, run her sweetmeats shop but she has oh so many more things she wants to do now that she is finally in London. Sarah is much more reserved as the older sister and not as fleshed out as Hannah is. This almost seems to be intentional on the author's part, since it is in Sarah's nature to step aside and let Hannah shine. Sarah excels as a business owner, showing one of the few opportunities afforded a single woman to better herself. She's smart, savvy and serious about her shop, it's not just a stepping stone to finding a man. The scenes of the sisters working together to prepare their sweet delicacies almost make you feel as if you need to brush the sugar and spices off your own fingers. As a fun bonus, vintage 17th century recipes of some of these same delectable sweets are included, just be glad you don't have to go through the same exact process as Hannah and Sarah. As the plague's threat closes in, it is nice to see them pull together as sisters, you can only hope and wonder will they be able to escape its grasp.
The plague is not glossed over nor is it exaggerated for affect, it is handled in a matter of fact, forthright manner. The horrifying affects of the disease on its victims and the city leave you with some scenes that are heart breaking, such as the scene of a young neighborhood boy running naked from his sealed up home, leave you shaking your head. Despite knowing this happened almost 350 years ago, I was still struck by the utter chaos and ignorance in fighting the disease and especially the naïve beliefs and cures. All you had to do was say that something was beneficial in preventing the plague and you could sell it as a plague preventative or cure, this sadly is something still with us today.
"Comfits for corpses. The thought came to me unbidden and I quickly brushed it aside."
As an animal lover, the fate of the domesticated animals was difficult to read and learning that the measures used probably only helped to spread the disease instead of curb it, made it more so. Somehow Hooper made it feel like the plague was a living character, an alien presence out to annihilate the human race. She does an amazing job conveying the fear, panic and sorrow especially juxtaposed with the sisters living life, running their shop and making their sweetmeats.
An author's note helps put an exclamation point on some of the facts and issues mentioned and really needs to be read to gain a better appreciation for the novel. A glossary is also provided along with the 17th century recipes of several of the sweetmeats made by Hannah and Sarah.
I'm not sure about the ending or the plausibility, it did feel a little too convenient and neatly tied up to me, but during that kind of catastrophe it is certainly possible. Overall my original surprise and concerns were happily extinguished and I'm very glad I got the recommendation. Mary Hooper was able to write an entertaining and thought provoking read about the Great Plague for YA readers, that holds the attention of adults as well. I wouldn't recommend it to my 11 year old niece yet, she will have to wait a few more years, some of the scenes would probably be too disturbing. It would be a nice introduction to the plague for teenagers who have an interest in history or the time of Charles II and for adults who like an historical fiction from the point of view of the people and not royalty.
"A bumble-bee in a cow turd thinks himself a king."
October 26, 2019
Eager to get to London, where her older sister Sarah runs a small sweetmeats shop called "The Sugared Plum," and where she hopes to see all the wonders of the great metropolis - the grand buildings, and warren-like labyrinth of streets; the lords and ladies in their fashionable attire - young country-girl Hannah is oblivious to all the warnings signs along the way, from the cryptic remarks of Farmer Price, to the graveyard funeral "games" of the children she passes. She is dismayed to learn, upon arriving, that Sarah - having written to ask her not to come - is less than overjoyed to see her. For the year is 1665, and the Great Plague has come to London, hanging over the city like a grim cloud, and bringing with it the specters of mass suffering and death...
A vividly realized work of historical fiction for younger readers, At the Sign of the Sugared Plum drew me immediately into its world, and never let go! Mary Hooper does an excellent job capturing the "feeling" of London in 1665, and what it must have seemed like, to a young country girl seeing it for the first time. I appreciated the fact that Hannah isn't presented as some kind of paragon - she's interested in fashion, and frets about her red hair and freckles (reminding me of Anne of Green Gables a bit) - but rather, as an ordinary young girl, interested in ordinary things (like getting her first kiss!), and that this is neither the point of the story, nor a problematic aspect of it. This adds to the sense of realism, the feeling that this is a real young girl, caught up in a terrible time.
And what a terrible time it was! The horror of the Plague - its inexorable spread through the city, from one parish to the next; and the unimaginable suffering it caused, with the ill being walled up inside their houses, before being dumped in mass graves - is captured here, in a narrative that is both poignant and disquieting. Highly recommended to all young readers who enjoy works of historical fiction! I've already requested the sequel, Petals in the Ashes , from my library.
A vividly realized work of historical fiction for younger readers, At the Sign of the Sugared Plum drew me immediately into its world, and never let go! Mary Hooper does an excellent job capturing the "feeling" of London in 1665, and what it must have seemed like, to a young country girl seeing it for the first time. I appreciated the fact that Hannah isn't presented as some kind of paragon - she's interested in fashion, and frets about her red hair and freckles (reminding me of Anne of Green Gables a bit) - but rather, as an ordinary young girl, interested in ordinary things (like getting her first kiss!), and that this is neither the point of the story, nor a problematic aspect of it. This adds to the sense of realism, the feeling that this is a real young girl, caught up in a terrible time.
And what a terrible time it was! The horror of the Plague - its inexorable spread through the city, from one parish to the next; and the unimaginable suffering it caused, with the ill being walled up inside their houses, before being dumped in mass graves - is captured here, in a narrative that is both poignant and disquieting. Highly recommended to all young readers who enjoy works of historical fiction! I've already requested the sequel, Petals in the Ashes , from my library.
November 10, 2008
Excellent historical novel about two sisters who struggle to survive the Great Plague of London in 1665. The author took her research from first-hand accounts, vividly bringing out the details of life and death at that time. The two sisters were candy makers, creating their confections from flowers and herbs, the details of which I found fascinating. Recipes for making some of these candies is included in the back of the book. This story is the first I've read by Mary Hooper, and it leaves me anxious to read more by her. Highly recommended!
January 15, 2012
In June of 1665, teenaged Hannah is delighted to finally be going to London to live with her older sister Sarah who owns and runs a sweets shop The Sugared Plum. She wants to live in the city and throw away the country lifestyle that bored her in exchange for the excitement of keeping up with the latest fashions, attending her first play, and finding an interesting man to spend time with.
Sarah is horrified when she arrives. She had sent a note to her that Hannah never received warning her of the bubonic plague's arrival in London. Hannah is happy when Sarah lets her stay. She loves learning to make the delicate candied roses, violets, and other sweetmeats and also getting to look at the fashions of the rich ladies in town. Sarah gets her some nice new clothes, she finds her good friend Abby who is serving as a maid in a fine household, and she even finds her interesting man in the form of the apothecary's apprentice Tom.
Unfortunately, the plague spreads like a wildfire and soon people are dying in droves. This book offers rich authentic historical details on what it would be like to smell, see, and feel the horrors as they unfold. In the end, they must act in desperation to flee to the country and save a baby despite orders that no one may leave the plague-ridden city. Will they make it? Read and find out.
I really enjoyed this book and the way the author includes so many small details to make the story a fascinating window into a summer long ago through the eyes of one young girl who experienced it. I found it especially interesting to see the misconceptions that people had about what caused bubonic plague and the various means they took to avoid catching it or to treat it as well as what happened to entire households once one member caught it. The author makes it very easy to picture yourself there. I very much liked the characters of Hannah, Sarah, Tom, Abby, and the apothecary. The book is labeled as "juvenile fiction" but I care nothing for labels, only for good stories and this is a good story worth reading.
Sarah is horrified when she arrives. She had sent a note to her that Hannah never received warning her of the bubonic plague's arrival in London. Hannah is happy when Sarah lets her stay. She loves learning to make the delicate candied roses, violets, and other sweetmeats and also getting to look at the fashions of the rich ladies in town. Sarah gets her some nice new clothes, she finds her good friend Abby who is serving as a maid in a fine household, and she even finds her interesting man in the form of the apothecary's apprentice Tom.
Unfortunately, the plague spreads like a wildfire and soon people are dying in droves. This book offers rich authentic historical details on what it would be like to smell, see, and feel the horrors as they unfold. In the end, they must act in desperation to flee to the country and save a baby despite orders that no one may leave the plague-ridden city. Will they make it? Read and find out.
I really enjoyed this book and the way the author includes so many small details to make the story a fascinating window into a summer long ago through the eyes of one young girl who experienced it. I found it especially interesting to see the misconceptions that people had about what caused bubonic plague and the various means they took to avoid catching it or to treat it as well as what happened to entire households once one member caught it. The author makes it very easy to picture yourself there. I very much liked the characters of Hannah, Sarah, Tom, Abby, and the apothecary. The book is labeled as "juvenile fiction" but I care nothing for labels, only for good stories and this is a good story worth reading.
January 19, 2016
This was a beautifully written book aimed at teens or young adults but just as informative for the adult reader. The subject of the great plague of London is sensitively covered without leaving out the horrors suffered by the people and the awful fear of those living in the city at the time. Seeing it all from the perspective of Hannah, a young girl from the country who has just arrived in London impatient to see all the wonders of the great city. It is such a shock for Hannah and her sister Sarah with whom she has come to live and work in Sarah's confectionary shop, the reader becomes drawn into the daily fear of wondering who will be taken next, the numbers of deaths rise every day by thousands at a time and there is little that anyone can do to protect themselves against the pestilence.
A great read for all ages.
A great read for all ages.
March 6, 2014
This is good reading for young adults to get a feel for the times.
Nell Gwynne House is the bow fronted building on the left behind the carriage - it was a jewellers but upon checking tonight it is some Law firm that now own the property.
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Nell Gwynne House is the bow fronted building on the left behind the carriage - it was a jewellers but upon checking tonight it is some Law firm that now own the property.
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March 16, 2012
A definite 3.5. I enjoyed reading it lots, but don't see myself ever rereading, which is my criteria for a 4.
April 15, 2021
I was reminded that At the Sign of the Sugared Plum was on my TBR list when I reread At The House of the Magician. I’m actually pretty thankful I forgot about this last year because I’m not sure if I would be able to read about the black death while COVID-19 was at its worst (I’m not saying that it’s over, but we have vaccines now and that’s a huge thing).
At the Sign of the Sugared Plum starts off with Hannah arriving in London, the city where all the nobility (and their rubbish) are. Hannah is excited to help her sister at her shop selling sweetmeats, but she’s come at the wrong time – the plague is starting. The rest of the book is basically about Hannah’s life as the plague gets progressively worse.
In terms of plot, there’s not much going on for most of the book and what we see if the slow changes to Hannah’s life. But when things start happening, it all rushes forward, which come to think of it is similar to how the Black Death was depicted in the book. You’re fine one day, and then in pain and dying the next. Hooper does a great job showing the increasing panic in the city and escalating the tension without using conventional methods (a goal, a villain, etc).
I also really liked the characters in the book. Hannah was a sympathetic girl, and I liked her friendship with Abby and her close relationship with her sister. There isn’t really a villain in this book, but most of the characters felt real and I really enjoyed getting to know them, even in those terrible circumstances.
Many parts of the book resonated with what we experienced last year. There were people laughing off the seriousness of it all when the plague started, there were masks of a sort, all sorts of rumours (fake news) were spread, and people even kept their distance from one another. While we have made improvements in our understanding of science, it seems like the human reaction to pandemics hasn’t really changed.
At the end of the book, Hooper shares a few recipes for sweetmeats mentioned throughout the story. They sound delicious, although I have not tried any of them. At the Sign of the Sugared Plum is a short but engaging story about life in London during one of its most infamous periods, and I would definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction.
At the Sign of the Sugared Plum starts off with Hannah arriving in London, the city where all the nobility (and their rubbish) are. Hannah is excited to help her sister at her shop selling sweetmeats, but she’s come at the wrong time – the plague is starting. The rest of the book is basically about Hannah’s life as the plague gets progressively worse.
In terms of plot, there’s not much going on for most of the book and what we see if the slow changes to Hannah’s life. But when things start happening, it all rushes forward, which come to think of it is similar to how the Black Death was depicted in the book. You’re fine one day, and then in pain and dying the next. Hooper does a great job showing the increasing panic in the city and escalating the tension without using conventional methods (a goal, a villain, etc).
I also really liked the characters in the book. Hannah was a sympathetic girl, and I liked her friendship with Abby and her close relationship with her sister. There isn’t really a villain in this book, but most of the characters felt real and I really enjoyed getting to know them, even in those terrible circumstances.
Many parts of the book resonated with what we experienced last year. There were people laughing off the seriousness of it all when the plague started, there were masks of a sort, all sorts of rumours (fake news) were spread, and people even kept their distance from one another. While we have made improvements in our understanding of science, it seems like the human reaction to pandemics hasn’t really changed.
At the end of the book, Hooper shares a few recipes for sweetmeats mentioned throughout the story. They sound delicious, although I have not tried any of them. At the Sign of the Sugared Plum is a short but engaging story about life in London during one of its most infamous periods, and I would definitely recommend this to fans of historical fiction.
October 23, 2017
AAAAAH I LOVED this book!!!! So much!!!! I couldn't stop reading it on the 8 hour plane! This story is historical fiction and it tells the story of the London plague beautifully. The basic plot is: Sarah, Hannah's sister, owns a sweet meat shop in London. For the summer, Hannah wants to go live with Sarah and help with her shop. Everything is going as planned.....UNTIL the plague hits London. Very very hard. Sarah and Hannah have to see everyone they know is pain, not knowing how to cure the plague- which was almost impossible at the time. They cannot leave London without a health certificate, which is extremely hard to get. So, they will just have to figure out how to navigate London without being visited by the Plague. WARNING: BE PREPARED TO NOT SLEEP UNTIL YOU HAVE FINISHED THIS BOOK!!! :)
December 4, 2013
I learned more about the fashion in 1665 than I ever wanted to know and almost gave up when the 5oth (at least it felt that much) dress was described. The story itself was pretty meagre and predictable - so what was it that kept me reading? Just the historical facts and because I like to read about London, no matter the century. But if I want to read about how an epidemic spreads and how it affects human nature I will always prefer The Plague by Albert Camus (not that you can compare both books in any way apart from the same illness that terrorizes people). I really wonder if any teenager (because it's a YA book) reads *At the sign of the Sugard Plum* after they encounter the detailed description of the third dress on page 5... figuratively spoken.
No recommendation from me.
No recommendation from me.
September 14, 2009
Wonderful historical novel for kids. Two sisters earn their living making confections in London as the Bubonic Plague of 1665 descends on the city. Great historical detail. You really can't beat the Bubonic Plague when it comes to fascinating disasters, and this story was especially good. The ending left an opening for a sequel, I thought. (I hope!)
July 29, 2018
4.5
I really enjoyed this novel. I thought it was a perfect fit for its target audience (I would recommend it mostly for younger YA / older middle grade audience) and for the genre. It was obvious the author did her homework in researching the era, the history of London, the customs, the fashion, the lifestyle. I really like how the main heroine was credible and how she was not modernized to fit a current teen better - she was as naive, as sweet as a teen in her era would have been, especially coming from the countryside. I liked how she had flaws and was not a picture perfect rebellious sjw type of character a lot of contemporary authors want to make their historical heroines to be.
I found the storyline to be really gripping and interesting as well, and I loved seeing how Hannah got more mature and wiser during this jouney, during this first experience of hers being away from her parents and fending for herself for the first time, how she got from a ditzy little teen only caring for fashions and a cooler lifestyle to a mature young woman who is caring about other people more and taking more responsibility.
I am not sure about whether young adult-age readers 15 years ago were generally reading / expecting shorter stories, but I thought that the book could have been a bit longer and a bit more detailed. I was not missing anything per se from it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more with a little bit more description of the everyday life, maybe, or a little bit more plot.
I really enjoyed this novel. I thought it was a perfect fit for its target audience (I would recommend it mostly for younger YA / older middle grade audience) and for the genre. It was obvious the author did her homework in researching the era, the history of London, the customs, the fashion, the lifestyle. I really like how the main heroine was credible and how she was not modernized to fit a current teen better - she was as naive, as sweet as a teen in her era would have been, especially coming from the countryside. I liked how she had flaws and was not a picture perfect rebellious sjw type of character a lot of contemporary authors want to make their historical heroines to be.
I found the storyline to be really gripping and interesting as well, and I loved seeing how Hannah got more mature and wiser during this jouney, during this first experience of hers being away from her parents and fending for herself for the first time, how she got from a ditzy little teen only caring for fashions and a cooler lifestyle to a mature young woman who is caring about other people more and taking more responsibility.
I am not sure about whether young adult-age readers 15 years ago were generally reading / expecting shorter stories, but I thought that the book could have been a bit longer and a bit more detailed. I was not missing anything per se from it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more with a little bit more description of the everyday life, maybe, or a little bit more plot.
July 29, 2020
Set in 1665 the novel touches on the great plague of London. The book reflects the journey of Hannah a country girl who’s excited to go to see her sister Sarah in London to help her with the shop that focuses on sugared candies made of violets, rose petals and Rosemary etc. Little does Hannah know that the city of excitement would spiral into a city of fear and danger.
I picked up this book recently because I was drawn to the cover (talk about not judging a book by its cover) and the vintage look of the book plus it fits with the current pandemic situation. I could definitely relate with the characters initial perception of the plague and as it worsened realizing the full impact of the plague. This was a very fast read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The author definitely narrated this in a way that is reminiscent of that era while at the same time paying attention to the details of the shop and what the sisters brew there. I would highly recommend this book.
Bonus pages in the book are the recipes for making sugared plums from the 17th century.
May 24, 2018
This book is beyond memorable. I recall reading this book as I was just curious if there were any books with characters as the same name as me. Put the name "Hannah" into the search engine at my middle school library and "At the Sign of the Sugared Plum" came up as one of the results. This book is enticing, magical, and one of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read. I mean, here I am, 24 years old and I have always loved this book. Truly a captivating classic!
January 2, 2018
A fair read, but whilst I understand it is aimed at the young adult market, it felt somewhat immature, especially when the protagonists hear of deaths in the neighbourhood. The loveliest parts were the descriptions of the sweetmeats and their making. A fair, and fairly interesting read
May 23, 2020
A truly gripping book that I’ve read many times throughout the years. I’d recommend this to anyone, and I’m excited to read the sequel for the first time!
May 19, 2018
I loved this book as a young teenager, and I still enjoyed it as an adult. Of course many of the themes are simplified for a younger audience, but Mary Hooper still does a good job of portraying the slowly growing dread and the willful blindness of the Londoners as the plague approaches. I still liked the protagonist, as well as the characters surrounding her.
March 29, 2018
I enjoyed this book more than I expected and also learnt quite a lot from it. Set in London during the Great Plague, the novel follows the lives of two sisters who run a sweet shop in the city. In addition to being a good story there is also lots of historical background which I wasn't aware of. The sense of impending doom as the number of plague victims increases is palpable and there are some dark scenes and descriptions - quite impressive for what is I believe a YA novel.
August 18, 2011
This book did an absolutely fantastic job of capturing the sights, sounds, & smells of plague-ridden London in 1665, as well as the feelings of overwhelming fear, helplessness, & despair it caused in the citizens. In this way it reminded me a great deal of Laurie Halse Anderson's "Fever, 1793", as well as the great protagonist. Hannah is so excited to be leaving her sleepy village for the bustle of London, where she has always dreamed of going. Arriving at the shop where her sister lives & works making & selling candies, however, she doesn't get the welcome she was expecting. Rumors that the plague has made a reappearance have everyone wanting to leave the city, but those unlucky enough not to be able to afford it have to stay & watch their city, & everyone in it, descend into madness as the disease takes hold & then intensifies. Hooper does a great job of describing the entire experience, which may make this not suitable for younger or squeamish children, but for those interested, it's a fantastic look at an interesting, if deeply troubled, time. Reading it in conjunction with "Fever, 1793" could be a good project.
March 1, 2010
Teenaged Hannah has lived all her life in the English countryside, so she is thrilled when, in the summer of 1665, her older sister Sarah invites her to come live with her in London and help her at her candy shop. However, arriving in London she finds Sarah had sent a second letter instructing her not to come. Plague has taken hold in London, and Sarah fears for Hannah's life. Hannah insists on staying, believing she will be safe. But to her horror, in the coming weeks more and more people die, and the sickness becomes an epidemic. Hannah finds herself living every day in fear that she will catch the Plague and die from it, for there is little hope of surviving it, and no way of leaving the city to escape.
I recommend this book to readers who like historical fiction and are interested in this time period. It brings to life the daily life of people in the 17th century and the horrors of living in London during the Great Plague. The historical details were fascinating and I learned a lot from reading the book.
I recommend this book to readers who like historical fiction and are interested in this time period. It brings to life the daily life of people in the 17th century and the horrors of living in London during the Great Plague. The historical details were fascinating and I learned a lot from reading the book.
February 16, 2012
Hannah is a young girl from the country, ready to live it up in the big city. The city is London & the year is 1665. Hannah doesn't know it yet, but her time in the big city is going to be filled with misery, because the plague has just begun claiming victims.
I can't say I know too much about the plague, and I'm sure that the authors descriptions although sometimes graphic, were no where near as horrible as the sights people of that era actually took it. I found the book one part education & one part entertainment.
I think this is a young readers book, but I found I enjoyed it just the same. Would recommend to anyone willing to give historical fiction a chance... just don't expect anything other than a tale of a young girl & her sister trapped in a city crumbling around them.
I can't say I know too much about the plague, and I'm sure that the authors descriptions although sometimes graphic, were no where near as horrible as the sights people of that era actually took it. I found the book one part education & one part entertainment.
I think this is a young readers book, but I found I enjoyed it just the same. Would recommend to anyone willing to give historical fiction a chance... just don't expect anything other than a tale of a young girl & her sister trapped in a city crumbling around them.
October 13, 2016
I was so excited to read this as I love plague stories and find them extremely interesting. However this had little to no plot and stirred up nothing but frustration with any of the characters. I couldn't wait to put it down, but I never have (and never will) leave a book unfinished once I start and so was not about to change my ways now. This book is so small however I could usually easily finished it in a day. Wouldn't recommend at all.
December 26, 2023
The first time I read this book was in my year 6 SATS paper, I loved it so much that the little nerdy 11 year old memorised the title so I could get it afterwards. Then commenced my love and obsession with Mary Hooper books, and historical fiction generally, so it's always lovely to return to where it all started. This is also still a good book. As it's written for young teenager it's perhaps not as masterful or eloquent as some other books that I read but it is still a very very good read.
May 27, 2019
Mary Hooper gehört für mich eindeutig zu der Kategorie Lieblingsautoren. Ich habe mich als Teenager in ihren Schreibstil verliebt und hatte bisher mit jedem ihrer Bücher unglaubliche Momente. Mein erstes Buch von ihr war "Die Schwester der Zuckermacherin". Ich habe es dieses Jahr nun zum 4.Mal gelesen. Ich greife in bestimmten Momenten immer wieder auf die Bücher von Mary Hooper zurück. Ich glaube das sagt schon viel aus.
October 20, 2009
Set against the time of the great plague in London in 1665, this is a wonderfully atmospheric story of how the disease spread and left ordinary lives devastated and destroyed.I especially liked the characters of Hannah and her sister, Sarah.The story leaves you wanting more, so looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 4, 2016
This was an interesting story which takes the reader back to London in 1665 where the plague is rampant. We watch Hannah change from a carefree, frivolous girl excited to be in the big city to that of a young woman troubled by nightmares of the real horror around her. At times the plot is a little thin, but it is still definitely worth the read.
September 1, 2016
Mary Hooper describes the horrors of 17th century plague-ridden London. Through the eyes of a naive young country girl newly arrived in the city, we experience the growing sense of fear and dread as increasing numbers of people succumb to the terrifying disease.
At the back of the book are a few recipes for sweetmeats that were available in at that time.
At the back of the book are a few recipes for sweetmeats that were available in at that time.
February 13, 2012
Historical fiction set during the Plague in England in 1665. Lots of great description really made 17th century London come to life. I thought Hannah's character was well-developed and found this an interesting story.
February 13, 2012
This was a well-written children's book about the plague of 1665 in London. Characters were strong as was the story line. There is a sequel about the fire of London in 1666 that I also want to read.
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