Waiting on Wednesday: The Apothecary

While I am completely not justified in adding another Maile Meloy book to my TBR list, considering I own three of her four books, and the only one I've read is the fourth (which I borrowed from the library and loved and then promptly bought all the others), this one sounds so different from her previous books it is almost like adding a separate author to my stack of books to read. Right? Anyway, here's my review of her most recent book, the short story collection, Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It. That said, I was very intrigued and excited when I learned she had a middle grade novel coming out and hopefully I'll have finished a couple more of her adult books in time to read her children's debut, The Apothecary.

It's 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows--a fascinating boy who's not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin's father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary's sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies--Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons. Discovering and testing potions they never believed could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous race to save the apothecary and prevent impending disaster.

Together with Ian Schoenherr's breathtaking illustrations, this is a truly stunning package from cover to cover.

What are you Waiting on this Wednesday?