The enthralling sequel to The Apothecary, Maile Meloy's first book for young readers.

Two years have passed since Janie Scott last saw Benjamin Burrows, the mysterious apothecary's son who stole her heart. She's thrown herself into an ambitious chemistry project and, when it vanishes, she suspects the rich and powerful Magnusson of stealing it. And she knows she needs help to fight him.

On the other side of the world, Benjamin and the apothecary have been working in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam, using their elixirs to help the sick and wounded. But Benjamin has also been experimenting with a new formula that allows him to see into Janie's world.

The friends are thrown into a whirlwind chase around the Pacific Ocean, trying to find each other and the truth behind what threatens them.

The Apprentices is a magical blend of fantasy and reality that sparkles with life and adventure, a delightful sequel to the much-loved The Apothecary.

Maile Meloy is the award-winning author of the short story collections Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It and Half in Love and the novels Liars and Saints and A Family Daughter. The Apprentices is her second novel for young readers. The Apothecary was published by Text in 2011.

textpublishing.com.au

'Set in 1954, this sequel to The Apothecary features the same fun, fast-moving formula as the first book, with charming characters and exciting intrigue mixed with a handful of magic.' Publishers Weekly US