Janie Scott loved her life in California, smelling orange blossoms, eating salted avocado slices, and the sunshine that nearly always spilled down upon the streets. That life suddenly changed, and Janie found herself in bitter, gray London, where the streets were scarred from the war and the beds icy at night. Despite her parent’s obvious efforts to “make the best it”, Janie felt out of place and lonely, until she met Benjamin Burrows. Benjamin and Janie became fast friends, though little did they know, that the next turn of events would result in a wild adventure, including transformative elixirs, atomic bombs, and Russian spies in disguise. The Apothecary is a thrilling book, each page haunting you to keep reading. It’s definitely one of my favorites.

*Because this book contains a wee bit of romance, I recommend it for ages twelve and up.