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(1)
4-6
Illustrated by
Ian Schoenherr.
Secundus, a pilgrim, and Boy, a goatherd, travel together from France to Rome in 1350, each mysterious character on a quest. Murdock is in complete control of her medieval material, limning a world of bleak, plague-decimated villages and steeped in religious belief. The fantastical story is beautifully served by its generous page design, thick deckle-edged paper, and gorgeous woodcut-style illustrations. Most remarkable is the complex, compelling character of Boy.
Reviewer: Sarah Ellis
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2018
415 pp.
| Putnam
| November, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-17544-2$17.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Ian Schoenherr.
Magic, science, and the demands of international espionage continue to plague Janie and Benjamin (The Apothecary; The Apprentice). This time Benjamin struggles with the temptation to contact his dead father via a dangerous form of magic, and Janie worries about the consequences. On the other side of the world, a loose nuclear weapon requires their attention as well. A satisfying conclusion to an intriguing trilogy.
409 pp.
| Putnam
| June, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-16245-9$16.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Ian Schoenherr.
Janie, Benjamin, Pip, and Jin Lo reunite two years on in this genre-defying sequel to The Apothecary that spans the globe and knits together elements of ancient alchemical principles and modern nuclear chemistry. Meloy employs a light touch and a taste of verbal humor, and, while her story sometimes demands suspension of disbelief, strong characterizations and unexpected twists carry the reader along.
144 pp.
| Putnam
| January, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-25546-5$16.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Ian Schoenherr.
Carefully researched and beautifully designed (including well-selected woodcuts and art reproductions), this offering from veteran biographer Fritz introduces Alexander Hamilton. Readers' appreciation of this cradle-to-grave biography would be enhanced through prior knowledge of the man; Hamilton's place in history and value to an emerging nation don't emerge until almost halfway through the book. Explanatory notes are appended. Bib., ind.
357 pp.
| Putnam
| October, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-25627-1$16.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Ian Schoenherr.
In 1952, Janie's family moves to London. When her new friend Benjamin's father--the titular apothecary--goes missing, the kids discover he's more of an alchemist; they develop magic elixirs that help them free the man and avert nuclear war. Janie's first-person narrative is engaging, the characters are well drawn, and the historical details nail the Cold War setting.
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Ian Schoenherr.
"When do you love me most of all?" a raccoon asks his mother. After guessing likely times of the day, the mother answers that she always loves him most "right now." This is neither a distinguished nor an original addition to the growing number of books about how much mothers love their babies. Still, Schoenherr's illustrations capture the warmth and coziness of the relationship.
327 pp.
| Philomel
| March, 2001
|
TradeISBN 0-399-23601-5$$22.95
(2)
4-6
Illustrated by
Ian Schoenherr.
When the legendary Fleiger Hollander is condemned to sail the world forever, the cook's assistant and his dog are granted immortality of a different sort. In 1896, Neb and his dog turn up in Chapelvale, where they assist a cast of colorful characters in an extended treasure hunt to uncover the title to the village. The involving story captures the details of historical small-town England and its people with great panache.
Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2001
(3)
K-3
Told in the first person by a young white girl, this is the story of New York painter Winslow Homer's little-known 1876 visit to Virginia to sketch the black citizens of a small town. The girl secretly watches Homer--and her previously unknown neighbors--learning to respect the painter and also the people and customs of the African-American community. Schoenherr's realistic painting style resembles Homer's.