There’s something completely irresistible about the
intersection of alchemy, speculative fiction, and history. Maile Maloy’s The Apothecary is one of those books. It manages to bring them together in a way
that is always smart, often intriguing, occasionally funny, and altogether
engaging.
Set in 1952, at the beginning of the Cold War and the Red
Scare in America, The Apothecary opens
with Janie Scott’s family repatriating from California to London, England. But it’s not the story of Janie Scott’s
family. It’s the story of Benjamin
Burrows and his father, “The Apothecary.”
The Apothecary is more than just a pharmacist; he’s an alchemist who is
working with some of the best (and most subversively underground) scientists of
his time to bring together ancient magic and science in the name of protecting
the world from nuclear annihilation.
This doesn’t sound like a fun book, but somehow it is. It’s a race against time with death, and
peril, and intrigue, with good dashes of Dickensian humor, spies, and
invisibility potions bringing it all together.
Maloy weaves a story that is hard to put down, and makes re-entry into
the mundane world just a little difficult. There’s a touch of Harry Potter, a
sprinkle of Jeeves, and a wee dash of Jasper Fforde for good measure. If you, or a boy you know, enjoys magical
realism, The Apothecary is an
excellent choice.
What worked:
The plot was well-developed and compelling.
The characters were well-drawn and mostly realistic.
The pacing moves quickly without feeling hurried.
What worked less well:
Some stereotyping.
Space limitations—the book could have been longer, and some
scenes would have benefitted from further exposition (note: I’m not a fan of
lengthy exposition, so requesting more of it is kind of a big deal).
Compulsive readability: 7/10. I had some trouble getting
into the first few pages, but once I was into it, I was INTO it.
Audience: Middle School
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