History, mystery, and medicine are three topics that always intrigue me—so when I read the description for The Great Trouble, I knew it would be a fascinating read! I enjoyed the well-researched portrayal of the cholera outbreak that allowed researchers to discover how cholera was spread, and greatly cut down on the number of epidemics in the future. I also enjoyed the character of Eel, and learning more about him as the book went on. Although The Great Trouble stars a thirteen-year-old protagonist, it definitely felt as though it was on the younger end of the middle grade spectrum to me, and as such I found myself wishing several times for a more complex and developed plot and supporting characters; however, the impeccable research and intriguing history behind the book kept me turning pages quickly!

The Great Trouble is a fast, easy, and fascinating read that I think would particularly appeal to fans of classic middle-grade fiction like the works of Elizabeth George Spear.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Random House

Content Analysis:

Profanity/language: None

Violence/Gore:  A story is told about a character crippling his hand through an accident. Through the first half of the book, several vague hints are made about the main character having suffered some kind of past abuse, but it’s never directly alluded to. A boy is kidnapped and later beaten with a strap, but no description is given of the scene.

Sex/Nudity:  A young teenage boy kisses a girl on the forehead.

Mature Subject Matter:

Orphans, epidemics of disease, death.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Allusions are made to adults preferring alcohol over water.