Swindells runs two stories in parallel. One is set in 19th century London, and tells of an orphan boy who encounters Dr. John Snow, the founder of modern epidemiology, and discoverer of the cause of cholera. The second story is set in modern times, and follows a young girl who flees sexual abuse from her mother’s boyfriend, and lives in a London “squat”. Interspersed through these episodes are newspaper letters from a conservative crank, and the diaries of a nasty Victorian magistrate. The boy’s narrative is written in phonetic transcription of his dialect, which may cause trouble for a Canadian or American reader. Juggling these disparate elements is a difficult task, and the author pulls it off beautifully. The novel has an obvious message: the struggle against ignorance never ceases. I was delighted that a youth novel like this draws attention to Snow, who is one of my personal heroes. The more attention is paid to really important historical personages like Snow, the more people will understand the difference between them and the assortment of gangsters, thugs, and con-men who are conventionally represented as “great”.
14717. (Robert Swindells) No Angels
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