Review: The Apothecary, by Maile Meloy

The Apothecary
By Maile Meloy
Publication Date: August 29, 2011 (G.P. Putnam's Sons)
Hardcover, 362 pages
Genre: Fantasy; Adventure; Historical Fiction; Mystery; Childrens;  YA
Source: Library (but I loved the story so much that I bought it)

DESCRIPTION:

It's 1952 and the Scott family has moved unexpectedly from Los Angeles to London. Janie Scott feels uncertain in her strange new school until she meets Benjamin Burrows, the local apothecary's curious defiant son, who dreams of becoming a spy.

Benjamin's father promises Janie a cure for homesickness, and it seems to work. But Mr. Burows is no orindary apothecary, and he holds dangerous secrets. When he disappears, Benjamin and Janie find themselves entrusted with his sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia. And Russian spies are intent on getting their hands on it.

Discovering transformative elixirs they never imagined could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous quest to save the apothecary and prevent an impending nuclear disaster.

From award-winning author Maile Meloy comes a novel that sparkles with life and magic. Breathtakingly illustrated by Ian Schoenherr, this is a sotry that will delight kids and return not-so-young readers to a world in which the extraordinary is possible.

—from the book's dust jacket

REVIEW:

I love love love The Apothecary. It's classified as a childrens book, but I'd say it's boarderline young adult. Scratch that. The Apothecary is for anyone young at heart,  but I think female fans of Harry Potter will enjoy it the most.

Anyway, The Apothecary had a completely delightful cast of characters.

Janie was a real diamond in the rough in the world of weak-female-protagonists and male-hero-dominated-adventure-books: she was both a strong and determined main character, and a pleasant narrator (the book is written in first-person). As a reader, I found Janie easy to get along with. Benjamin, who I'd say was another protagonist, was admirably brave, and Pip, the street urchin was resourceful, funny, and intelligent. Pip wasn't my favorite, but he could easily be any reader's favorite.

My favorte character was Sergei. I completely adored Sergei. He reminded me of a more lonely version of Neville Longbottom, and I pitied him so much for it. I loved Jin Lo second best, because she acted tough and nonchalant on the outside, but harbored hidden sorrows inside. 

The plot rocked. It was fresh and ingenious. Even though the characters often brewed potions such as the Smell of Truth and the Invisibilty Elixar, I found none of it cheesy or unbelievable partially due to the way the author, Maile Meloy, and Janie presented it in the book. By "Chapter 7: The Message," which began on page 60 in my hardcover copy, the pace of the book picked up and I coudn't put it down. By the end, all the sub-plots and plots and conflicts were so tangled together that I didn't know how the end would turn out (and it seemed like the author didn't know either because one point of the conflict was lamely compromised), until I reached the ending.

The ending. Grrr. :( It took my breath away not in the way you may think. :(

The Apothecary, by Maile Meloy (funfact: Maile Meloy is the sister of Colin Meloy, lead singers in the band, The Decemberists) is a truely magical and ingenious book that I would read again and again and again and again and...

RATING:

Review: Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1), by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1)
By Laurie Faria Stolarz
Publication Date: December 16th, 2008 (Hyperion)
Hardcover, 252 pages
Genre: Paranormal; Mystery; Romance; Suspense; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfirned's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help—but can he be trusted? She know he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret.

—from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

Here is a tasty morsel of what is to happen between the pages of Deadly Little Secret:

You walk into you bedroom one day after school. You find the the window was up, only you didn't remember opening it before you went to school. You turn to your mirror...and scrawled on it is the word "bitch" in blood red lipstick...you know someone has been watching you...following you...but who?

And suspenseful tastes like the one above, dear reader, is what will keep you reading Deadly Little Secret, by Laurie Faria Stolarz. Deadly Little Secret is the first book in a series of five, known as "Touch Novels." I'm wishy-washy at the moment about whether I'm going to finish the series. Why? I didn't find the plot—especially the writing style—very interesting or engaging. 

While I didn't find the writing style or plot special (it was mediocre), a few redeeming points in the book sparkled. The dialogue between the characters rocked; it was humorous, especially when Camelia's friends Kimmie and Wes were talking, which was most of the book (yay). Speaking of Kimmie and Wes, you'll wish you had friends like them and you'll go head-over-heals for their personalities. Also, the mystery of who was stalking Camelia was a page-turning factor. 

It's safe to say, however, that I hated Camelia. She has to be one of the worst. Heroines. Ever. Seriously, she does nothing whatsoever except make some bowls at a local art studio.

Deadly Little Secret was basically Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick—which is essentially like Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer—except Hush, Hush (especially) and Twilight (not so much) are a billion times better written. Even Camelia's best friend, Kimmie, reminded me of the Hush, Hush main character's best friend, Vee.

SO, if you liked Twilight or Hush, Hush (or if you're like me and love funny dialogue and lovable characters), you'd enjoy Deadly Little Secret, by Laurie Faria Stolarz.

RATING:

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1), by Mary E. Pearson

The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1)
By Mary E. Pearson
Publication Date: April 29th, 2008 (Henry Holt and Co.)
Hardcover, 266 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi; Dystopia; Mystery; Romance; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?

-from goodreads.com

REVIEW: 

I really enjoyed Jenna as a character. She was quite fiery in her own way. She didn't need a sword to run people through with or blackmail she could hold people to—just her stinging wit, curiosity, and super intelligence. I never really pitied her for certain things, and maybe I should have, but I wasn't feeling it. However, I did feel sympathetic towards Jenna when her sour relationship with her grandmother, Lily, the person she loved best, was highlighted through many part in the book.

In The Adoration of Jenna Fox, things are described as if Jenna is observing them for the first time, and it's written in a vaguely dream-like and reflective style, which I found I liked a lot.

The plot chugged along slowly, but the questions Jenna asked and the things she said provoked deep thought and reflection on the reader's part. The Adoration of Jenna Fox questions medical ethics most openly, but there are other undertones of themes in there. Also, the mystery of not only who Jenna Fox is, but what she is snags any reluctant reader and keeps them reading until the last page.

RATING: