The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel

The suspenseful tale of two courageous kids and one inquisitive scientist who teamed up to stop an epidemic. 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. Hes being hunted by Fisheye Bill Tyler, and a nastier man never walked the streets of London. And hes got a secret that costs him four precious shillings a week to keep safe. But even for Eel, things arent so bad until that fateful August day in 1854the day the deadly cholera epidemic (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, its up to Eel and his best friend, Florrie, to gather evidence to prove Dr. Snows theorybefore 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