Read this excerpt from Fever 1793. I hadn't heard about that. They were burying fever victims every day?

"How many have died, Mr. Carris?" | asked.

The first-person narration is meant to help readers understand that

O Mattie trusts Mr. Carris.

Mattie is unaware of the extent of the problem.

O Mr. Carris is responsible for burying the dead.

O Mr. Carris reads the newspaper.