A review by kat_bookworm
The Bookseller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor

4.0

The Bookseller’s Apprentice is the second (but first written) of Amelia Mellor’s middle-grade books set in Cole’s Book Arcade, Melbourne in the late 1800s. They are not linked, so you can read one without the other.

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I loved this one much more than ‘The Grandest Bookshop in the World’ for a number of reasons. Mainly because it didn’t centre around a child’s death- but also the riddles were fun, and it wasn’t as ‘dark’ as the other. There is plenty of educational history woven into the story, about the ‘temporary’ (there for years!) markets in Melbourne, and life on the goldfields during the gold rush. There’s great exposure of family life during these years - including having 8 siblings and having to leave school to find a job at age 12.

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Full of adventure, suspense and riddles- this is a great read (or audio listen) for kids or adults who are adventurous and love an immersive story.

Again, the authors note at the end with the explanation of the history, was just the icing on the cake.