The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson receives praise for its engaging narrative and well-researched historical context, making it an informative and entertaining read for young audiences. The depiction of the 19th-century cholera epidemic is vividly presented, though some readers feel the pacing slows in parts. Overall, it is a commendable blend of history and mystery.

Fans of historical fiction and medical mysteries, particularly middle-grade readers, will relish The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson. Those who enjoyed Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson or Ransomwood by Sherryl Jordan will find this tale of London's 1854 cholera epidemic compelling and educational.

In Deborah Hopkinson's The Great Trouble, a 13-year-old orphan named Eel navigates the 1854 cholera epidemic in London. Eel, a mudlark, becomes involved in helping Dr. John Snow track the source of the outbreak to the Broad Street water pump while dealing with his own struggles of poverty, caring for his younger brother, and evading his abusive stepfather. Descriptions of illness, death, poverty, starvation, and child abuse are present throughout the story.

Mysterious / Suspenseful / Challenging / Emotional

Deborah Hopkinson

Middle grade

Novel

Fiction

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Mudlark”

Part 1 The Great Trouble Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “The Blue Death”

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Part 3: “The Investigation”

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Part 4: “The Broad Street Pump”

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Part 5: “The Last Death and the First Case”

Part 5-Epilogue

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