by Maile Meloy
Flap Copy Description:
A mysterious apothecary.
A magic book.
A missing scientist.
An impossible plan.
It's 1952 and the Scott family has moved unexpectedly from Los Angeles to London. Janie Scott feels uncertain in her strange new school until she meets Benjamin Burrows, the local apothecary's curiously defiant son, who dreams of becoming a spy.
Benjamin's father promises Janie a cure for homesickness, and it seems to work. But Mr. Burrows is no ordinary apothecary, and he holds dangerous secrets. When he disappears, Benjamin and Janie find themselves entrusted with his sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia. And Russian spies are intent on getting their hands on it.
Discovering transformative elixirs they never imagined could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous quest to save the apothecary and prevent an impending nuclear disaster.
My Thoughts:
The Apothecary is the debut middle grade novel of award-winning author Maile Meloy. This magical and mysterious story is set in London amidst the aftermath of World War II. Ms. Meloy's setting descriptions, character development, and imaginative plot make for a story that will definitely delight the young reader, with a depth befitting an adult novel. I would highly recommend The Apothecary to readers aged 9 and up.
To learn more about the author Maile Meloy, click here: http://www.mailemeloy.com/mailemeloy/Biography.html
