The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel
By Deborah Hopkinson
2 ratings5 reviews3 followers
Interest Level
Reading Level
Reading A-Z
ATOS
Word Count
Grades 4 - 8
Grades 3 - 8
X
4.6
49028
“A delightful combination of race-against-the-clock medical mystery and outwit-the-bad-guys adventure.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred
Eel has troubles of his own: As an orphan and a “mudlark,” he spends his days in the filthy River Thames, searching for bits of things to sell. He’s being hunted by Fisheye Bill Tyler, and a nastier man never walked the streets of London. And he’s got a secret that costs him four precious shillings a week to keep safe. But even for Eel, things aren’t so bad until that fateful August day in 1854—the day the deadly cholera (“blue death”) comes to Broad Street.
Everyone believes that cholera is spread through poisonous air. But one man, Dr. John Snow, has a different theory. As the epidemic surges, it’s up to Eel and his best friend, Florrie, to gather evidence to prove Dr. Snow’s theory—before the entire neighborhood is wiped out.
“Hopkinson illuminates a pivotal chapter in the history of public health. . . . Accessible . . . and entertaining.” —School Library Journal, Starred
“For [readers] who love suspense, drama, and mystery.” —TIME for Kids
Publisher: Yearling
ISBN-13: 9780375843082
ISBN-10: 0375843086
Published on 2/10/2015
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 272
Book Reviews (5)
MAN
This book shows a boy named Eel and his best friend florrie to solve the case while Dr.Snow is explaining his theory on how to find a way to get a solution.While having that problem of his stepfather trying to find him.Will he find a way to survive?Well he did while checking water to see where this started .Eel lives with Dr.Snow.While collecting shilllings to pay back Ms.Miggle for taking care of Eels brother he still needs to find a solution to the Cholera problem.Also while worrying about his brother.My favorite part of the book is when Eel was being a good helper and helping Dr.Snow with the case and what surprised me was that Eel is a kid hes not even a Doctor.That was my favorite part of this book.I love this book I would recommend this book to any person who is interested in historical books and who is interested in a old problem that that have characters explaining what they have to do to survive.
FutureBookKing
Eel a 13-year-old boy is having trouble having a normal life. He spends most of his time trying to catch fish so he can sell them for some money. Fish Eye Bill (Eel's stepfather) is going out looking for him, Also, he has a little brother to care for while he has this "own world of his own." Eel works at this place called the Lion. He works there because he wants to earn some shillings (money) and he has to pay for his brother board and ragged school since Mrs.Miggle's looks after his little brother. Eel's life was going just fine until Hugzie the Lion's owner nephew accused Eel of "stealing money." After that, Eel was kicked out and now he has to figure out something so he could do something for a living again and he needs to get a job. During this time it feels like war for Eel because he is out on the streets trying to find a place since he was accused of "stealing money," and he has to earn some money so he could have something to eat and drink. If you like mysteries and historical-fiction I recommend you that this book is perfect for you! Also, if you don't like scary things don't read this at night because it talks about death! But all in all, this book is awesome and I definitely recommend you to read this book!
FutureBookSeeka
Eel a 13-year old boy spends most of his time on a river catching and selling fishes because he lives and an orphan with his brother and he gets hunted by Fisheye Bill Tyler (eel's stepfather). Eel has been having a rough time throughout his adventure to to prove Dr.Snow's theory about a deadly cholera. But, eel can't stay even in Snow's shed to seek shelter during nighttime. The only thing eel cares about is getting some help from Dr.JohnSnow and getting Dr.JohnSnow's theory through the neighborhood in order to save everybody from dying. Also, eel needed to make money so he decided to go out and find a job while he lets Mrs.Miggles take care of his little brother. My favorite part of the book is when eel has to make money in order to buy clothes, food and more items for him and his brother, so he left to find a job and trusts Mrs.Miggles to take care of eel's little brother. I personally recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery books, and historical fiction books. Although, there are some parts in the book where you wouldn't want to read this book in the dark. But overall, this book is truly amazing and i urge you to read it!
![MAN](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 12 12"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
