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PARIS — The Paris Public Library’s Novel Idea Book Club, based on Maine Humanities’ Not For Children Only Book Discussion, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17 to discuss “The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death and a Boy Named Eel” by author Deborah Hopkinson.
Goodreads’ synopsis of this work of historical fiction relates how “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.”
To secure a book , call the Paris Public Library at 743-6994. The library will obtain a copy on loan. Call as soon as soon as possible so time will be ample for ordering, receiving and reading.
A refreshment related to the book will be available.
For those who are unable to attend and are nevertheless “forever learners” and much interested in the selection each month, which usually focuses on historical fiction from the children’s collections of juvenile fiction, young adult and picture books, there is an option of being a silent participant. A silent participant reads the monthly selection and emails their thoughts about the book to the children’sroom@paris.lib.me.us prior to the discussion date.
Readers and responders can include what they thought of the selection. 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, could they make a personal connection with one of the book’s characters, setting or a specific event, etc.
Responses from each silent participant will be shared during the discussion at the Novel Idea Book Club.
