Are you in the mood for fantasy? Mystery? Historical fiction? How about adventure? The Apothecary has all of these things to offer, and more. The year is 1952. Fourteen year old Janie has spent her whole life in sunny Los Angeles, where her parents are writers for television. When the feds start questioning them about their Communist sympathies, they decide to move to London. Janie is sent to a private school, where she is sure she won't fit in. She meets a defiant classmate named Benjamin there, and he would rather be a spy than follow in his father's footsteps. His father is the neighborhood apothecary, but the two friends soon find out that he does far more than sell aspirin and hot water bottles. He is actually an alchemist, and in possession of a 700 year old book of formulas that can do everything from turn you invisible to transform you into a pile of salt. Janie and Benjamin are swept up into an adventure where scientists aren't just scientists and they must race to stop the Russians from setting off a nuclear bomb. This fast paced story gives a good picture of what life was like after WWII, and stirs the imagination as well.

Similar books: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle; The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award

Awards nominated: 2014 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

Reviewed by: lauraf

Date read: 10/4/2012

ISBN-10: 039925627X

ISBN-13: 9780399256271

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On Thursday, December 6, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia. One ship was filled with 2,925 tons of explosive materials meant for the war in Europe. The resulting explosion flattened two towns and killed almost 2,000 people. The next day, a blizzard dumped almost a foot of snow on the still-smoldering ground. This true story is told through the eyes of five families who lived in the towns then. This gripping story uses maps and period photos to illustrate the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb, heroic survivals and rescues, and eventual rebuilding.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award

Awards nominated: 2014 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

Reviewed by: donna

Date read: 1/29/2013

ISBN-13: 9780805089455

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Foster and her mom leave their home suddenly with just a few things in the car to avoid harm from her mom's boyfriend. They find friendship and the help they need in the small town of Culpepper. The town itself is struggling with the problems created by the opening of a new prison. Foster loves to bake and she shares her cupcakes and muffins with everyone. But she can't read, so she memorizes every recipe that Sonny Kroll, a TV Chef, makes. Sonny has a serious accident and she uses him as inspiration to keep trying to read. With the help of a famous Hollywood actress, Miss Charleena, and the compassion of her friends, she overcomes her struggle with reading. You'll find it interesting how cupcakes become a solution for everything.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Nominee 2014

Reviewed by: rn

Date read: 5/24/2013

ISBN-10: 0670012823

ISBN-13: 9780670012824

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Many of the celebrities that we know from history- King Tut, Beethoven, Charles Darwin- had awfully gruesome ends. This fascinating book tells in gruesome detail of the deaths of 19 important figures from the past, not leaving out any of the blood, pus, stabbings, or organ removal. Full of information but never boring, this book will have you riveted. For an extra gross and exciting experience, listen to it on audio!

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award

Awards nominated: 2014 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

Reviewed by: lauraf

Date read: 10/18/2012

ISBN-10: 0802798179

ISBN-13: 9780802798176

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This story is about a group of black students who are enrolled at a local white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1958. Twelve year old Marlee is preparing for the new school year and is very nervous about speaking in class. She doesn't really have any friends until she meets a girl named Liz. Liz is a bold and brave new girl who stands up for herself in front of the snobby students. Liz and Marlee form a friendship when working together on their history project. Liz really helps Marlee overcome her fear of speaking in front of others. Marlee comes to school one day and notices that Liz is gone and has no idea where she went. Marlee searches for Liz throughout the book and just wants her best friend back. This book is all about segregation and how these two girls fight for their friendship. I absolutely loved this book and fell in love right away. The characters were easy to relate to and to understand where they were coming from.

Awards nominated: Rebecca Caudill Award

Awards nominated: 2014 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

Reviewed by: rvillacorta

Date read: 6/4/2013

ISBN-10: 039925644X

ISBN-13: 9780399256448

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