I really enjoy Gennifer Choldenko's historical fiction titles and this was no different! Told at the turn of the century in San Francisco, Lizzie, an aspiring doctor who wants to be just like her father learn about the plague outbreak occurring throughout the city. This is the story of racism, women's rights, and friendship.

Fascinating book about the historic cholera epidemic in San Francisco’s Chinatown. I loved having a strong and brave female character interested in medicine and justice. A powerful story!

I love Gennifer Choldenko's stories. I'd started off with her series set in Alcatraz but Chasing Secrets is equally engaging/memorable. Chasing Secrets is set in early 1900s San Fransisco and our heroine Lizzy is the daughter of a popular and famous doctor. Lizzy isn't that fond of the snobbish girls in her private school and she enjoys accompanying her father on his house calls to all parts of San Fransisco.

When they discover a plague of sorts has begun to enter San Fransisco, Lizzy is horrified to learn that ordinary citizens have decided that the cause of the plague are the "rats and unclean Chinese". The Chinese are already kept isolated in Chinatown but there is a quarantine of sorts and a growing threat that violence will erupt.

Choldenko delivers an engaging, humorous and sympathetic story of a brave young girl, the strength of friendship and the danger of prejudice.

I love how books can get students interested in history. I wish books like this were around when I was young. This taught me about a time and historical event that I didn't know anything about. I love when a book piques my interest into something new.