PARIS — Paris Public Library’s Novel Idea Book Club will discuss “The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy named Eel” by Deborah Hopkinson at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. The book is historical fiction. The club, based on Maine Humanities’ Not For Children-only book group, meets the third Tuesday of each month.

According to Goodreads, “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.”

A refreshment related to the book will be available.

A copy of the book may be borrowed by calling the library at 207-743-6994.

Those unable to attend the meeting can be a “silent participant.” These individuals read the monthly selection and email their thoughts about the book to childrensroom@paris.lib.me.us prior to the discussion date. Responses will be shared during the book club’s discussion.

Ideas to include might be what they learned, what they were enticed to do further research on, what was believable and what was not, whom they might recommend the book to and why, and if they made a personal connection with one of the book’s characters, setting or a specific event.

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