Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8
The Blackthorn Key is the first book in the Christopher Rowe series. The story is set in 1665 and Christopher is an apprentice to apothecary Benedict Blackthorn. Master Blackthorn is good to Christopher and teaches him to use his mind in creative ways, one of which is learning to decipher codes. Christopher is content with his life until a mysterious cult begins to prey upon London's apothecaries. Unfortunately, Master Blackthorn becomes a victim of this cult. This sends Christopher on a mission to determine who is behind the cult. This book is quite exciting and does keep the reader turning the pages wondering what will happen next. One criticism is that the book is, at times, a little gruesome for my liking and so I recommend it to readers in grades 7 and 8. If you enjoy this book, there are others in the series, some of which have been nominated for the Red Maple award.
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