Synopses & Reviews
Two years have passed since Janie Scott last saw Benjamin Burrows, the mysterious apothecary’s defiant son who stole her heart. On the other side of the world, Benjamin and his father are treating the sick and wounded in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam. But Benjamin has also been experimenting with a magical new formula that allows him to communicate with Janie across the globe. When Benjamin discovers that she's in trouble, he calls on their friend Pip for help. The three friends are thrown into a desperate chase around the world to find one another, while unraveling the mystery of what threatens them all. Acclaimed author Maile Meloy seamlessly weaves together magic and adventure in this breathtaking sequel with stunning illustrations by Ian Schoenherr.
Review
"features the same fun, fast-moving formula as the first book, with charming characters and exciting intrigue mixed with a handful of magic . . . Schoenherrs moody illustrations (not all seen by PW) add to the atmosphere of this magical (in multiple senses) story.”
Review
“This . . . well-constructed adventure accurately conveys the geopolitical instability of the era and is leavened with just enough magic, chaste romance and humor to appeal to middle-grade readers through teens."
Review
“Meloy boldly weaves the disparate strings of the story together in inventive—sometimes breathtaking—ways. More nuanced than the first book, this brings together a large and intriguing cast and explores their knotty relationships . . . the characters become more memorable as the pages fly by."
Synopsis
Its 1955, and Benjamin Burrows and Janie Scott are trying to live a safe, normal life in America. Its not easy, when they have the power to prevent nuclear disaster, and sinister forces are circling. The advice of a mysterious, unscrupulous magician propels Janie and Benjamin into danger, and toward the land of the dead.
Meanwhile, their friend Jin Lo washes up on a remote island where an American spy is stationed, and finds herself on the trail of a deadly threat in China. But shes on the other side of the worldhow can Janie and Benjamin reach her?
The story of Maile Meloys bestselling, critically acclaimed The Apothecary continues in this captivating third novel, full of enchantment and heart, with Ian Schoenherrs stunning illustrations throughout.
About the Author
Maile Meloy is the author of the story collections Half in Love and Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It, one of the New York Times 10 Best Books of 2009, and the novels Liars and Saints, shortlisted for the 2005 Orange Prize, and A Family Daughter. Meloy's stories have been published in The New Yorker, and she has received The Paris Review's Aga Khan Prize for Fiction, the PEN/Malamud Award, the Rosenthal Foundation Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2007, she was chosen as one of Granta's Best American Novelists under 35. She lives in California.