A review by sikata
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
3.0
“To be a kid is to be invisible and to listen, and to interpret things that aren't necessarily meant for you to hear--because how else do you find out about the world?”
The book starts with Janie's parents being labelled as communists in America and fleeing to London where Janie tries to fit in her new English school where Latin is thrust upon her and the only solace is the Latin teacher there. Janie befriends Benjamin who is the local apothecary's son and aspires to be a spy. Now pulled into what seemed to be an innocent stake out by a guy who has made her swoon, Janie lands herself in hot soup and has to figure things out soon. Mysteries unfold and not everyone is as they seem. There's obviously some romance. I wish I had read this book back in school to connect more with it.
The plot was good and an impartial view to the nuclear power is seen. But I would have liked a more of the mystic apothecary works and more details about the pharmacopeia and the organisation. I wanted to know more about Pip. I felt he was dragged into the story whenever the author needed a bridge between events without letting us connect with him. I felt the story was rushed without letting us get insight into all the characters. But then again as an adult I think that's necessary for me but may not be for teens.
The book starts with Janie's parents being labelled as communists in America and fleeing to London where Janie tries to fit in her new English school where Latin is thrust upon her and the only solace is the Latin teacher there. Janie befriends Benjamin who is the local apothecary's son and aspires to be a spy. Now pulled into what seemed to be an innocent stake out by a guy who has made her swoon, Janie lands herself in hot soup and has to figure things out soon. Mysteries unfold and not everyone is as they seem. There's obviously some romance. I wish I had read this book back in school to connect more with it.
The plot was good and an impartial view to the nuclear power is seen. But I would have liked a more of the mystic apothecary works and more details about the pharmacopeia and the organisation. I wanted to know more about Pip. I felt he was dragged into the story whenever the author needed a bridge between events without letting us connect with him. I felt the story was rushed without letting us get insight into all the characters. But then again as an adult I think that's necessary for me but may not be for teens.