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

by Deborah Hopkinson

“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

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Mystery, Historical, Young Adult, Fiction, Death

249 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

I write nonfiction and historical fiction, picture books, and Golden Books. I speak at school, libraries, and conferences. I also love to garden and offer manuscript critiques. (Deborahhopkinson@yahoo.com)

NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.

I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.

Reviews

[Eliza Crewe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solidly good and about an interesting event in history that I knew nothing about. Very much a middle grade book.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deborah Hopkinson knows how to pass on interesting historical facts. While I've read her nonfiction books, this is the first fiction book of hers that I've read and I'm not surprised that I found the story lacking a bit in character development, but full of great facts. Hopkinson presents an interesting study of how an epidemic spreads throughout a community as a medical professional, with the assistant of an orphan, studies patterns and causes in an effort to determine the origin of a disease.

Eel is an orphan in 1854 London who has gotten a job at the Lion Brewey, a lucky break that pulls him away from full-time mudlarking, a type of scavenging for junk from the Thames river to sell to traders. Eel has a secret and must make more money than the average mudlarker. When his stable job is threatened and the townspeople around the Broad Street Water pump get sick with cholera, Eel finds himself helping Dr. John Snow a man who believes previous theories of the disease being air-borne as incorrect. Eel isn't sure he can help Dr. Snow prove his theory but he is willing to help him.

Eel begins the story with a heavy accent while talking to Jake. This gets lost later in the story and he sounds more educated as the story goes on, especially at the end with Dr. Snow who is trying to teach him to think like a scientist in regards to the patterns of cholera in the neighborhood. I thought that perhaps knowing the source of cholera would take too much tension out of the story, but it is more about solving where the original source of the contamination occurred and the process for mapping it out.

The subplot with Eel and his mysterious money was predictable and didn't interest me as much as the main story. It adds to the story as a whole and is necessary but I thought it was too predictable and I wasn't vested in those characters as much as the process for figuring out the disease. I have always found epidemiology fascinating and the manner in which scientists determine what causes an outbreak and its source is a bit of a mystery. This story helps give a glimpse of evidence-based decisions in medicine that lead to improved public health. Normally I am drawn to a story by the characters rather than the nonfiction elements, but that was not the case here.

[Farhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time, I loved historical fictions. Then without any particular reason, I lost interest. When I started this one, I did not have much expectations. But this one, surprisingly, has been refreshing. Victorian England + science + medical issues, that has been a good journey.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. It is a great cover, for starters. This is an exciting part of medical history related by a "mudlark". The narrator does a fine job, except when the author decides that she should pay attention to the rather feeble story of the character. The personalities were well enough developed, but the dramatic kidnapping and rescue were both pretty damn dubious. Especially the way the narrator, Eel, bounces back from a severe beating to give vital testimony at the committee meeting. When not taking the focus off the medical story and related incidents, the story was just fine. Besides, this was a dramatic example of how science could help the everyday life of ordinary people. Recommended for the history and medicine, not so much for the story of the main character.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good fictionalized children's account of the Cholera epidemic detailed in the great adult non-fiction The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World. A good introduction for children of living conditions of Victorian London, and the history of medicine Eel and Florrie are very engaging characters, I am not sure the side plot with Fisheye Bill was really necessary, but I guess it did add a bit of excitement. I was disappointed that the author never gives Eel a real name, even at the end.

[Jeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for 4th-7th graders. I enjoyed the way the author told the story of the cholera epidemic that swept through a portion of London. A perfect example of historical fiction, taking liberties with characters to put them in the heart of the action so the audience can be connected to the story. Two things-first, I hated the introduction. The first chapter or so will be confusing for younger readers and I fear will make them put the book down before giving it a chance. And second, am I wrong or is there a loose end with Fisheye? I feel as though I missed something. Won't say more to avoid spoilers.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7th grader loved this book! Even in the midst of this covid epidemic, the book was still so very interesting. At the time they thought that cholera was spread by maisma, through the air. It was so enlightening to look at the science behind epidemics.

[The Bookworm Girl Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend! I absolutely loved this book. Although intense and macabre at times, the historical development of scientific knowledge was fascinating. The author immediately immersed me into the world of Eel and the other characters with powerful imagery and dialogue. I’m going to keep this author on my radar!

[Kat O'B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just finished this book in one sitting! Historical fiction is not usually my favorite genre, nor do I really ever want to read anything about diseases...BUT...this story, based on a real cholera epidemic in 1854, is exciting and interesting. I love the main character, Eel, who seems authentic and through whose eyes the reader gets a real feeling for life on the streets of England for a poor boy. In fact, I cared about all of the characters, big and small, and felt the unfairness of the situation for all of them. I nearly wanted to shout to them to LISTEN to Dr. Snow and stop drinking that water!

The author has Dr. Snow guide Eel through the thought process of testing his hypothesis and solving the mystery of the outbreak, to include thinking through the 5W's-- just the kind of logical reasoning we try to teach students! So, bonus!

For a book based on a true story where hundreds of people die, this was one lively and satisfying read that will appeal directly to middle school students! I'll be booktalking this one Monday morning!

Also read this review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Cate Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned all kinds of new stuff in this one and was surprised at how interesting I found the history of Cholera. As far as I could tell, it was almost exacting in the historical details - even many of the lead characters. It seemed just a few ticks away from being narrative NF.

This came across as such true and traditional "historical fiction" partly because it was clear that the story was more important than the characters or dialog. Aside from the tacked on "Fisheye Bill" piece, everything in the dialog and pacing was to move the timeline and information forward. It was super smooth and I have to say that I still enjoyed reading it; I particularly appreciated all the loose scientific method reference in the doctor and Eel's conversations with each other. I can see that being useful for some school project needs from our patrons.

Oh and you can bet that I have a renewed sense of gratitude for the era and land of clean drinking water that I live in.

[Luann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what I enjoy in historical fiction - great characters in a well-written story that transports me to that place in history and teaches me about very interesting things I did not know before. I didn't know much about cholera before reading this, but now I know much more! It was very interesting being there as Dr. John Snow, with the help of our fictional protagonist, proves that cholera is contracted by drinking contaminated water. (Can it be a spoiler if it was discovered back in 1854? Well, if you are wondering what I covered up with the spoiler tag, you really need to read this book!)

I read the author's note at the end before reading most of the book because I wanted to know more about the characters who were real figures from history. I was also surprised to learn that there are still tens of thousands of deaths from cholera every year.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7 year old read this book out loud to me. He loves all things science so this was a good match for him. The book is a historical fiction tale about Eels as he helps Dr John Snow investigate a huge cholera outbreak on Broad Street. The book is very close to actual events and while some words were hard for a 7 year old it would be a great fit for a little older child. I received a copy through Goodreads First Reads.

[Celeste Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing historical fiction! This is an awesome companion to The Ghost Map, an informational book about cholera I read earlier this year. Eel is a great character who represents the difficulties many children faced in the 1800s. Highly recommend for children to learn about history and the development of medicine and epidemiology.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy a good historical fiction read. Usually, I don’t want all the gruesome details of an event like the blue death pandemic/cholera. That was the case here and a middle grade book is perfect for that. The story was well written and I definitely learned some things which is always a plus.

[Melisa Sevall · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a real historical figure, Dr. John Snow, who contributed to changing public understanding of how cholera is spread. Set in London, 1854. Engaging storyline, features a "mudlark" as the main character. In places, the writing seemed overly explanatory. But overall, enjoyed this book a lot. I think it would make a good 5th grade class read aloud.

[anastasia elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Evelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

A middle grade book, and a piece of history I knew very little about. Really interesting and a book that showed science and research can help us solve problems. Couldn't put it down.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little tale and can't wait to share it with the kids. I also can't wait to go down a few of the rabbit trails I found, including a small detail on Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, and the publication method of it, as well as the inspiration for this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have really liked this as a kid!

[Jeimy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but I wished it had a little more mudlarking in it.

[Anna Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the blue death, its thrilling and has a great story line! Although it did get slow at parts it would always speed up soon after. Eel is an orphan... he works for a great scientist, who is studying the blue death when it hits Eel's street. For almost a week the blue death hit more and more people, until the great scientist figured out why.

[Charlotte Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH this was so interesting. It's a little slow at first but once you get it started its really good.
I would recommend for ages 11+

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid middle grade historical fiction. The historically-based cholera storyline is very interesting. The distracting side business of the main character's vague-riff-on-Oliver-Twist personal life... not so much? It could have been good but would have needed a lot more energy and quite a few more pages dedicated to it. This is an entertaining, super quick read, but make no mistake - this is first and foremost a book about history that has been mildly fictionalized.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deborah Hopkinson has interwoven her story of Eel, a thirteen-year-old homeless boy, a “riverfinder”, on the true story of Dr. John Snow’s discovery in the mid 1800’s that cholera is a water-borne disease. It is a middle-grade book and the plot events happening to the young people in the story seems fanciful, yet I enjoyed it as it also told of this terrible time when most people thought the “blue death” came from air, the horrible miasma from unclean and close living, mostly in poorer areas of big cities. “Riverfinders” were both adults and children on the streets, smelly and filthy because they earned what pennies they could by going through the muck by the river to find the few things, like pieces of coal, they could sell. They slept where they found a place that seemed safe; earned it or fought for it. What a life! Eel’s life took different turns in the story. Luckily for him, he had gone to school for a while before both his parents died. He knew how to read and write! In this story, he ends up working as Dr. Snow’s assistant, and it turns out to be helpful to Dr. Snow and to Eel’s life. You’ll need to read the book to discover more about London at this time, and the brief few days when cholera struck and killed over 600 people. Middle grade students will enjoy the intrigue and the setting very much.

[Jeff Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a compelling historical fiction story, and it opened my eyes to a great many facts that I had never known before about important developments in epidemiology and medical science. it really contained some pretty weighty content and concepts that may be a bit tough for younger readers to tackle, but I found the story of Eel, his own personal troubles, and the much larger troubles that consumed much of London due to the cholera epidemic, to be fascinating. It's not the usual sort of book that I would delve into, but as it's another Mark Twain Award Nominee this year, I gave it a try, and frankly, I'm glad that I did. It does have a lot of sorrow in it, but there are some heartwarming moments, too, and a positive resolution, so it's worth sticking with. I highly recommend reading the additional material at the close of the book as well, which reveals a lot about some of the real people who were included in the book's storyline, and how the cholera epidemic officially occurred.

[Michal Strojek · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel" is a historical fiction novel. A man, with the name of Eel is a poor person, which is being hunted down by his dad, Fisheye Bill, because he wants to make money off of his little brother, to beg. And the only way to find him is through him. Another conflict is that Chorea, the blue death, is spreading and everyone believes it is spreading through the air, but that might not be the case.
I liked the part that he tried to escape from Fisheye and when he was finding all of the stories from people that died, to see him, a very powerless man, change something big.
I didn't like the beginning of the story because I couldn't understand what was happening. It was confusing and a lot of things going on at once.
Overall, I would give this story a 3.5 out of 5, but since I cant do that, I feel that it is close to 4 then 3. I would recommend this to anyone that likes the 1800's and how disease spread around. It is good mainly because the end was strong and I likes seeing thee character developed.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting historical fiction account of the discovery that cholera outbreaks are spread through water and not poisonous air. Hopkinson does a magnificent job of adding in fiction characters, storylines, and drama. Really with out her additions this book would fall very flat indeed. I certainly would recommend this for a read aloud during epidemic and infectious disease sections of science. This is also a great read to sneak to historical fiction readers who maybe need a push towards science. I will definitely be handing this to my Little a. Another great write by a new favourite author.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, fictional account of the cholera outbreak in London in 1854 that led to the proof of how the disease actually spreads. With a ragamuffin hero and a medical mystery, this story was compelling and informative. I appreciated the extensive notes from the author afterward that explained where she drew the lines between fact and fiction.

Reminded me a bit of Dodger, by Terry Pratchett, except instead of revolving her story around well known historical figures, she chose lesser known people and events.

[Maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I did not really like this book. I found the plot not that interesting because it was all about illnesses and diseases and I don't rally enjoy reading books about them. Also, this book took a while to get to the part where the problem actually gets noticed and when it gets solved as well. I also found that the way this book was written was also uninteresting because it does not show much excitement or other emotions in comparison with the other books that I have already read. I recommend this book to people who like plots that take long to get to the good part.