July 2012 Debut of the Month.
Spies, secrets and spells lie at the heart of this thrilling mystery adventure set in the 1950s. Newly arrived in England after her parents' hurried flight from Los Angeles, Janie finds it hard to adjust. But meeting Benjamin, son of the apothecary, she finds herself caught up in an incredible adventure as they struggle to keep the precious and sacred book of spells and potions safe from the many evil hands who want to get hold of it. Exciting, evocative and full of surprise, this is a real page turner.
The Lovereading comment:
A magical and thrilling novel about Janie, a 14 year old girl whose life unexpectedly transforms when she gets swept up in a race to save the world from nuclear war. With a sacred book in hand can she and Benjamin uncover the book's secrets before the Russian spies grab it for themselves ? Part fantasy and part historical, this beautifully written and expertly paced, stunning and poignant novel will have readers on the edge of their seats.
As this is a great book for reading groups and book clubs, the publisher has provided us with some Discussion Notes. Click on 'Readers Guide' on the right hand side of this page to download them. They're best for use after reading the novel, since there may be some spoilers !
It's 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows - a fascinating boy who's not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin's father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary's sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies - Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons.
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It's 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows - a fascinating boy who's not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Apothecary and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-14 years old
The Apothecary features in the following genres: Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 13+ readers
Paperback. Not Available.
The Apothecary was written by Maile Meloy and published by Puffin Books an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group
The Apothecary has 384 pages
Yes it is part of The Apothecary Series series