What obstacles does Mattie face in "Fever 1793?" How does she become mature? if you could PLEASE be specific. :)

The
biggest obstacle that Mattie faces inis the yellow fever epidemic that strikes, causing members
of her family to die or become ill.  Mattie gets yellow fever but survives.

In the beginning of the story, Mattie has a conflictual relationship with her mother.  She
enjoys the attentions of a boy named Nathaniel and works in the coffeehouse that her family
owns.  When the yellow fever starts striking people dead, her friend Polly is one...