This story is historical fiction/fantasy that takes place during the Bubonic Plague in Europe in 1348. Nell, 15, and her 9-year-old brother George lost their parents to the plague, but get a reprieve of sorts from an uncertain fate when the King passes by them and notices Nell looks exactly like his daughter Princess Joan. He offers a job to her and her brother to protect the Princess. When Joan was being sent to Castile in Spain to be married to prince Pedro, thus extending the King’s rule, Nell and George went along as well.

Unfortunately, however, the Black Prince, Joan’s brother, joins the trip. Although the Black Prince is an historical figure, the author turns him into a caricature, who not only is the most nefarious villain imaginable, but employs “dark arts” to direct an army of magical rats to do his bidding. That seemed a bit over the top.

Most of the rest of the story features Nell, George and the intrepid soldier Henry hiding from the Black Prince and his rats or running from him. Eventually, though, thanks to magic, the Black Prince catches up with them.

This book purports to be for young adults, but I would label it for tweens at the oldest. ( )

There wasn't a heck of a lot of plot involved. A fairly linear storyline, easy to follow, easy to predict, but an odd tip over into "sorcery" at one point (the Black Prince could apparently command an army of rats...ok, sure). I would like to read a book in which the younger brother doesn't completely annoy me, but in this one at least I didn't care all that much. None of the characters were very fleshed out, the action (what there was of it) didn't make a whole lot of sense, and I somehow missed people dying--important people. Ah well. Maybe better if you're 11 years old and reading this one? ( )

I thought this book was going to be all historical and for the most part, it is. However then there’s this fantastical element that’s been added in and I can’t quite understand why as there really was no need for it. Actually I think it made the book worse. I especially disliked how Edward was seen as a ‘sorcerer’ with his army of black rats descending terror upon Nell and her friends. What in the world was that about??!!! I really did not like that at all.

Although the plot was interesting, the pace was really slow and it felt as if I would never get around to finishing the book. The characters, were well done though, if only there wasn’t a magic theme to it, it would have been ten times better. If the story was just purely historical fiction I think it would have been a decent novel. Even with the magic though, it wasn’t properly explained and you are left rather perplexed at the entire novel. The description of the plague wasn’t really the main focus but it seemed as if it was just rushed through to get to Nell’s journey back home. In other words, the theme of the plague just seemed secondary to everything else.

The ending was all right. Decently written but by the end of novel I was glad I was done. Overall, I’d definitely pass on this one. It could have been so much better but instead it falls short. Fans of historical fiction may not like the way the Black Prince is portrayed (such as me). I might recommend this book to those that aren’t too heavy on the historical fiction and wouldn’t mind a bit of fantasy as well. ( )

Fourteenth-century Europe is ridden with the plague, monstrous black rats roaming everywhere. The English Plantagenet princess Joan is heading to Spain to marry Prince Pedro in an alliance that will give more power to the English king. However, the plague ravages the betrothal ship, leaving Princess Joan dead and her lookalike servant, Nell, and Nell’s little brother, George, alive.

Joan’s brother, the malevolent Black Prince, forces Nell to act the role of the princess and carry on with the marriage. It’s up to a ragtag group of people to help Nell and George escape from the Black Prince, but how can Nell know who to really trust? And with an army of rats and a crown to the Black Prince’s name, how can Nell survive the throes of his black-hearted ambitions?

THE PLAGUE was a decisively odd and unsatisfying read. I had expected a grand and exciting adventure full of so much danger you couldn’t possibly flip a page without encountering it. However, this book was slow, disjointed, and inconclusive. I never got a sense for any of the characters, most of whom seemed to pop in and out of the story arbitrarily, their backstories and motivations unexplained. The Black Prince was a too perfect villain, with consistently evil actions and a predictable ending.

My favorite character was little George, a naively optimistic and trusting boy who helps heal the afflicted and has not yet realized how dangerous the world is. Other than that, however, I felt no connection to this book at all. ( )

Nell and her younger brother George lost their parents to the plague in London, and were only rescued from the fate of being left orphaned and alone in the devastated city by chance. King Edward was traveling through the city to view the devastation of the plague for himself, and happened to notice Nell, who had a strong resemblance to his own daughter, Princess Joan. He decided to rescue the children and bring them to his castle so that Nell could be a companion and double for the princess.

Now, two years later, in 1348, fifteen-year-old Nell and nine-year-old George are accompanying the princess on her journey to marry Prince Pedro of Castile. Also along for the journey is the princess's sinister older brother, the Black Prince, who frightens Nell. At the start of the sea voyage, they hear rumors that the plague has returned, and upon their arrival at Bordeaux, they discover the rumors to be truth. When Princess Joan dies of the plague, the Black Prince decides that Nell, as the princess's look-a-like, must take her place so the political marriage can occur as planned. Nell knows that this deception cannot end well and is determined to run away with George and make her way back to England and the King to tell the truth of what happened. Her escape through the plague-stricken countryside is full of peril, and she is not sure which of her unlikely allies she can truly trust.

The Plague is an exciting and interesting historical novel that brings to life the plague of 1348, now known as the Black Death, which devastated Europe but which is little-written about for young adults. Although some of the events in the story seemed implausible at times, overall it was a gripping and enjoyable read that I would recommend for readers who enjoy young adult historical fiction. One thing I would have liked to have seen is a historical note about some of the places, events, and people featured in the story, since many are not well-known to the average reader that would read this book. ( )