When twelve-year-old William Alton and his father sail from England for new opportunities on the Empress of Ireland, they leave behind the graves of his mother and baby sister. Will only hopes they will leave death and disease behind them, too. But a shipmate's baby falls ill and is forced into quarantine on Grosse Ile, and when they finally arrive in Hamilton - their new home - they discover that Will's Uncle Charlie is in the hospital. Why must everyone around him get sick and die? A competition at Will's new school offers an answer . . . and a challenge. In 1912, cities around the world declare war on the fly, blaming it for the spread of the diseases - summer complaint, typhus, consumption and typhoid - that are wiping out families. To avenge his mother and his sister, Will throws himself into the local fly-killing contest. Along the way, he makes enemies and friends: Fred Aitken, the wealthy classmate who hates losing; Fred's admirer, Ginny Malone, who often must skip school to look after sick siblings; and Rebecca, a doctor's daughter who hates poor sportsmanship worse than poverty and disease. William uses ingenuity and determination to climb into the top ranks of fly-catchers, but along the way loses track of his real mission. Can he beat Fred without cheating? How much does it matter?

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised by the Kerry Schooley Book Award. It was recognised by the Rocky Mountain Book Award. It also was recognised by the Best Books for Kids & Teens. It was recognised by the Resource Links the Year's Best.

This book has been graded for interest at 8-12 years.

There are 224 pages in this book. This book was published 2014 by Pajama Press .

Sylvia McNicoll is the author of over thirty novels. Bringing up Beauty , her guide dog story, won the Silver Birch Award, launching her to international success. Sylvia lives in Burlington, Ontario.