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

London 1854 is not a kind city for an orphan. Eel lives in a world where children live day to day in the filthy streets, sleeping under bridges, and begging, working, stealing for food. Eel has a steady job as an errand runner and a second job taking care of animals for Dr. John Snow a prominent London physician. Eel has it a bit better than other twelve-year-olds, but unfortunately he loses the errand job due to a thief and liar who has a grudge against him and the job with Dr. Snow does not pay him as much as he needs to make live.Back on the streets, with a bad man from his past looking for him would seem like the worst thing that could happen. But Eel has a secret. This secret is costing him money each week that he does not have due to the boy that caused him to lose his job. His desperate attempt to make money forces him to make decisions that would terrify grown men, let alone a young boy.With all of this going on, Eel goes to see a friend of his only to find the father of the family dying from “the blue death” which was cholera. The common theory is that this disease is spread by poisonous air, but Dr. Snow has a different theory. When he enlists Eel to help him investigate and support his theory.Working against the clock amid the death knocking at almost every door in the neighborhood, Eel faces friends and foes to help the Doctor. This just might be the best thing that has ever happened to him.This book was written for children 10 years and up. I am way past 10 and was thoroughly engrossed in this story. There was history, mystery, science, intrigue and relationships to wonder and worry about. The story is based on real people and the actual cholera epidemic in London.I loved the way Hopkinson wrapped the true events in a great story that adds depth to the story to keep the reader’s interest high. As a bonus, at the end of the novel, she has biographical information on each of the characters that were based upon real people, including pictures of them. She also tells the reader about the books available for more information on the Broad Street cholera epidemic and the efforts of Dr. John Snow to stop the Blue Death from spreading.I would recommend this book to adults and children that are interested in history and mysteries. It would be a great read-along for a classroom or with your child if it seems too long for him or her to read alone. The story will keep their interest.If you don’t have any children to share this great book with, read it yourself. You won’t be disappointed.Copyright © 2015 Laura HartmanDISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review

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I came across this book when planning a class on famous scientists in history. The author has definitely put in a lot of time researching the time period, Jon Snow and the life of London mudlarks. The story has the potential to be deeply sad when you consider the life of our young protagonist, Eel, but we also get to see grit and determination of a young boy who has no one to look after him and who makes his way in the world.When Eel is recruited by Jon Snow to trace the roots of the epidemic he gives the reader a first row seat to the scientific thought and method in 1854.This would be a disturbing read for most elementary aged children and I would recommend it only for older middle schoolers. Many secondary characters die in pain as the Cholera epidemic spreads in London. There are many vicious characters waiting to take advantage of the children and violence lurks around every corner. For a deeper understanding of life in London at the time I would highly recommend The Ghost map by Steven Johnson for a wonderful explanation of the masses of workers who kept London 'clean'. The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World The book would rate five starts if not for a slow start and the plodding nature of the text before we finally get to the heart of the story when Cholera breaks out. Hopkinson's intent may have been to humanize the victims by letting the reader get to know them but the story drags in these pages. However, if you persist and read on it takes off running once Jon Snow enters the picture.

Eel, a young orphan who spends all his free time working to protect a valuable secret from the likes of Fisheye Bill Tyler, finds himself distracted when his neighborhood gets hit by cholera. Despite his own troubles, Eel wants to help his neighbors so he appeals to Dr. John Snow, a man who seems to have the answers. But as the epidemic surges, can Eel help Dr. Snow stop the epidemic and keep his secret safe? Or will he have to make a choice?Eel makes for a very appealing main character, he has a remarkably positive attitude considering the difficult circumstances he finds himself facing. The secondary characters are also fun to read about and it was easy to care about them, even the ones who made just a brief appearance. Eel's friend, Florrie is especially likable.Plotwise, the story moves along at a nice clip beautifully integrating Eel's personal difficulties with those of the disease-ridden neighborhood. The mystery was intriguing, even though I already knew the answer, it was interesting to read about how the characters got there. I especially appreciated the author's explanations at the end about her adjustments to the time table and details about the historical characters. I always find myself fascinated by stories about people that make a difference in the world in relatively quiet ways. Dr. John Snow's discoveries continue to impact the world today and I enjoyed reading about it.A very readable, enjoyable story with enough action and detail to satisfy most readers. Highly recommended.

ヴィクトリア朝のロンドンで起きた、コレラの流行に題材をとった歴史小説です。子ども向けですが、大人にも十分読み応えあります。邦訳は『ブロード街の12日間』（千葉茂樹訳　あすなろ出版）で、こちらもオススメです（邦題からは内容が想像しにくいかもしれませんが）。当時、コレラは空気感染で広がるとされていたのですが、ジョン・スノウ博士（麻酔の開発でも有名）は水による感染を疑い、罹患者の丹念な調査により、コレラが蔓延している街の井戸が原因であるとつきとめました。そして、その井戸の水をくめないように、取っ手を取り外してしまうという方法で被害の拡大を食い止めたというのが歴史的な経緯です。この小説では、コレラに襲われた街に住む貧しい少年イールを中心に物語が展開されます。主人公イールやその他の登場人物は創作ですが、当時のスラムの暮らしやスノウ博士の科学的慧眼と見事に編み合わされて、大変読み応えのある物語となっています（「楽しい」と書かないのは、コレラに襲われたスラム街の人々に同情するからです）。私の印象にすぎないかもしれませんが、物語を構成しているいくつかのエピソードがほんの少しだけ、最後で締めくくられていないところがあると思います。なので、星４つにしてもいいかなと、ちょっと迷いましたが、仮にそうするにしても限りなく５つに近い４ですし、子ども向けの物語であるということを考えれば、星を減らすほどのことはないと思います。何よりも素晴らしい物語ですから。どういう部分で私が物足りなさを感じたかは書かないでおきます。ぜひ本書を手にとって確かめてみてください。原書にあたるに際してですが、スラムの人たちの言葉が出てくるので、多少英語が分かりにくい部分があります。ただ、声に出してみると、音である程度は分かりますし、慣れてしまえば想像がつきます。全体としてはそう難しいわけではありません。