(2) K-3 Illustrated by Felicita Sala. This delightful introduction to the problem-solving abilities of one of the most intelligent animals on our planet follows the adventures of a bright-orange cephalopod on his travels from under the ocean, to an aquarium full of curious visitors, and back to his ocean cave again. One day the little octopus comes across a mysterious object--a human's glove--and gets trapped inside. He's taken to an aquarium full of sad sea creatures and food that always comes at the same time and tastes the same. While the text is in the third person, the story is told from the octopus's perspective, with a poignant focus on the sensory experiences he misses from his ocean life. Sala's (Be a Tree!, rev. 5/21) vibrant illustrations bring this small creature to life, with expressive eyes and a plenitude of limbs that sometimes look like they're about to escape the pages of the book itself. No back matter is included, which may disappoint readers who are curious about the real-life escapes that inspired this story. But they'll cheer as the octopus, bright and bold against the gray backdrop of the nighttime aquarium, climbs out of his tank, slips off a pier, and makes his way back to the lively ocean home he's missed so much.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr. Magic, science, and the demands of international espionage continue to plague Janie and Benjamin (The Apothecary; The Apprentice). This time Benjamin struggles with the temptation to contact his dead father via a dangerous form of magic, and Janie worries about the consequences. On the other side of the world, a loose nuclear weapon requires their attention as well. A satisfying conclusion to an intriguing trilogy.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr. Janie, Benjamin, Pip, and Jin Lo reunite two years on in this genre-defying sequel to The Apothecary that spans the globe and knits together elements of ancient alchemical principles and modern nuclear chemistry. Meloy employs a light touch and a taste of verbal humor, and, while her story sometimes demands suspension of disbelief, strong characterizations and unexpected twists carry the reader along.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr. In 1952, Janie's family moves to London. When her new friend Benjamin's father--the titular apothecary--goes missing, the kids discover he's more of an alchemist; they develop magic elixirs that help them free the man and avert nuclear war. Janie's first-person narrative is engaging, the characters are well drawn, and the historical details nail the Cold War setting.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt