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357 pp.
| Putnam |
October, 2011 |
TradeISBN 978-0-399-25627-1$16.99
(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.