The Great Trouble Audiobook By Deborah Hopkinson cover art

The Great Trouble

A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel

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The Great Trouble

By: Deborah Hopkinson
Narrated by: Matthew Frow, Kimberly Farr
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The suspenseful tale of two courageous kids and one inquisitive scientist who teamed up to stop an epidemic.

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 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, 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.

©2013 Deborah Hopkinson (P)2013 Listening Library Action & Adventure Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Health Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Mystery Mystery & Suspense Survival

Critic reviews

“A delightful combination of race-against-the-clock medical mystery and outwit-the-bad-guys adventure.” (Publishers Weekly, starred)

“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)
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You could imagine being there and understanding the culture. It was a great story to learn about the discovery of a contagious disease that still affects many around the world!

Fascinating and educational!

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The voice of Eel is cool,the chapters are interesting,amazing,it's like wow how Eel goes through all of this

The amazing book about a terrible time

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This is a must read book that I recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction. This book is one for someone who likes victory through it all.

Great book

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I don't think I could have stayed with this book if I was reading it myself. The narrative held my interest.

informative

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Cockney accent for the entire book really grates in your nerves. And Wikipedia article on Dr. a John Snow was more interesting.

Very difficult to listen to

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