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katdfleming's review against another edition
4.0
I think my mind was on other things as I read this, but I had some difficulty following the story. I was originally going to give it 3 stars, but decided on 4 because I liked the ending so much. :)
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
This was really good. I wasn't expecting that.
I thought the American Janie would be annoying but actually she grew as a character and you could feel for her. Her situation could have been very Harry Potter with magic on every page but the 'spells' done (not that they are called that) were so placed in the everyday world you could almost believe in them!
Loved the 50s Cold War setting, certainly not pandering to a young reader.
Good chemistry between the three main children (teenagers I should say - they're 14).
This deserves to be widely read, an intelligent and different take on the 'children uncover a plot and help the adults beat evil' genre.
I thought the American Janie would be annoying but actually she grew as a character and you could feel for her. Her situation could have been very Harry Potter with magic on every page but the 'spells' done (not that they are called that) were so placed in the everyday world you could almost believe in them!
Loved the 50s Cold War setting, certainly not pandering to a young reader.
Good chemistry between the three main children (teenagers I should say - they're 14).
This deserves to be widely read, an intelligent and different take on the 'children uncover a plot and help the adults beat evil' genre.
goodem9199's review against another edition
3.0
Started very strong...but once the bird-morphing started...it kinda lost me.
em_fairfield's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
danileighta's review against another edition
4.0
A really fun read! I grabbed this off the discard pile at my library and I'm glad I did. It was a grand adventure with magic, spies, and world-saving feats. The budding relationships in the pages were sweet and familiar. Pip might be my favorite character, with his quick wit and unearned confidence.
I do have to admit that this book doesn't really feeeeel like the '50s. Though there is tension with Russia and Germany and there is much talk of WWII, etc., there is a way in which I feel the author failed to put us into 1950s London like I've seen so many other authors do really well.
Regardless, I have book 2 now and am diving in. The story is very fun and I want to know what's next.
I do have to admit that this book doesn't really feeeeel like the '50s. Though there is tension with Russia and Germany and there is much talk of WWII, etc., there is a way in which I feel the author failed to put us into 1950s London like I've seen so many other authors do really well.
Regardless, I have book 2 now and am diving in. The story is very fun and I want to know what's next.
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
THE APOTHECARY is the kind of middle-grade historical thriller that younger audiences or readers who are interested more in the actions rather than the thoughts and motivations of characters will enjoy best. I couldn't help feeling like it relied a little too much on old-fashioned attitudes toward WWII-era enemies and allies in its portrayal of foreign characters. It was disconcerting to see Jin Lo, the Chinese chemist, portrayed as a beautiful, poised, elegant, and a little snooty woman who casually swoops in to save the clumsy citizens with her stunning brain and, oh, just so happens to be good at kung fu as well. She is like the MG historical fiction equivalent of the perfect--and perfectly exoticized--Asian female kung fu master character that seems like a necessity in martial arts films and is the stuff of socially awkward, anime-loving teenage boys' wet dreams. Ick.
Janie was a pretty decent protagonist who didn't degenerate into pity-me helplessness no matter how hard the story tried to force its characters into cardboard roles. Janie's parents' and their friends are the kind of nerdy, intelligent, and wacky-humored adults that I want more of, both in literature and in real life. Unfortunately, the story's determination to let its nonstop fast pace slip and slide around without regarding for natural character development meant that, despite how potentially awesome the characters were, I never connected to the characters or the story.
Janie was a pretty decent protagonist who didn't degenerate into pity-me helplessness no matter how hard the story tried to force its characters into cardboard roles. Janie's parents' and their friends are the kind of nerdy, intelligent, and wacky-humored adults that I want more of, both in literature and in real life. Unfortunately, the story's determination to let its nonstop fast pace slip and slide around without regarding for natural character development meant that, despite how potentially awesome the characters were, I never connected to the characters or the story.
bookfrog508's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so much fun! I loved the characters and the setting and can’t wait to get the second book from the library (hopefully tomorrow)!!
christiana's review against another edition
5.0
This felt very timeless and was a really fun read. I love the beginning of each chapter being illustrated-it felt kind of old timey and cute. I kept showing the beginning of chapters off to whoever would pay attention to me.
I don't know how appropriate it is for the under 13 crowd. I almost think teens or adults would like this better than kids. I mean, could they read it? Yes. Will they like it? I don't know.
I don't know how appropriate it is for the under 13 crowd. I almost think teens or adults would like this better than kids. I mean, could they read it? Yes. Will they like it? I don't know.
michelleloretta's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended to me by Lili... Great read... Magical story, fun adventure.
kelewis0120's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0