A "Race-Against-the-Clock Medical Mystery"* for Kids Ages 9 and up

Do you like mystery, adventure, science, or history? Those are exactly the kinds of books I like to read. So when I first heard about Dr. John Snow, who discovered the cause of cholera in 1854, I knew I had to tell this story.

Eel and his friend, Florrie (and, of course, Dilly the dog) are caught up in a horrible epidemic in their neighborhood. Eel knows of only one man who might have answers. But can Eel help Dr. Snow solve the mystery of cholera while still staying out of the grasp of his evil stepfather, Fisheye Bill Tyler?

Based on real events, THE GREAT TROUBLE is about an important  discovery in medical history. But the story is still relevant today: cholera struck the people of Haiti after the earthquake in 2010. I hope you'll be curious to find out more by reading my book! 

Deborah Hopkinson

 "Set amid the 1854 London cholera outbreak, Hopkinson's attention-grabbing story of Eel, an orphan who survives by combing the filthy banks of the Thames for anything he might sell, is a delightful combination of race-against-the-clock medical mystery and outwit-the-bad-guys adventure."

- Publishers Weekly (starred review)*

"Eel struggles to survive as he is falsely accused of stealing by his boss at the brewery, tries to stay clear of his evil stepfather, and watches his neighbors fall ill and die."

- School Library Journal (starred review)

"It's impossible not to like the fictional Eel, who tells the tale in journal form from a first-person point of view, with a convincingly childcentric focus on lovable pets, lemon ice, trust and justice."

- Kirkus Reviews

To learn about Deborah Hopkinson and her other books, including TITANIC: VOICES FROM THE DISASTER, visit her website.   

AUTHOR CALL-IN INFORMATION: Deborah Hopkinson is happy to call-in to or Skype with your club or answer questions on email. Email her to get in touch.