Nikko's Notes

The Apothecary, The Apprentices, The After-room

by Maile Meloy

*This series is set after WWII

After US Government officials start following Janie Scott’s parents in suspicion of communism, Janie and her parents move to shattered London, England after World War II. Janie meets Benjamin Burrows, a wacky boy and the London Apothecary’s son, and her life changes a lot.

Mr. Burrows, the “gentle” apothecary, is not a normal apothecary. He, in fact, possesses a book full of all sorts of medicinal recipes and magical elixirs. He can create an “Avian Elixir”, which turns you into a bird temporarily, and blind you, and lots more. The Apothecary and his allies, Jin Lo and Count Vili go on missions to help stop the post-war disputes between the world, like nuclear bombs from exploding and all sorts of other things. They also chase down Russian spies, traitors and more. On the way, unfortunate events like rich men kidnapping Janie happen, trusted...

the First Rule of Punk

by Celia C. Perez

María Luisa (Malú), a Mexican American seventh grader, has a crazy life. She grew up in a record store, is obsessed with everything about punk, and she loves zines. When she moved to Chicago, she was not sure about the change. Her parents divorced and Malú lives with her mother, who wants her to be a Mexican senorita, but Malú’s dad is a punk and she wants to be one too. So, since the Fall Fiesta was soon, Malú and four friends decided to create a punk rock band called the Co-Co’s. After being rejected in the tryouts (for being “too loud”), they set up an “Alterna-Fiesta” for people who were kicked out of the talent show to express themselves. What will happen to Malú’s band? Will they get suspended for the Alterna-Fiesta? Will the parents approve? Find out here!

The Bridge Home is a delightful book, a fun and fast read that highlights the importance of helping homeless people. Set in India, teenager Viji tells her story about escaping abusive parents, going to the city, setting up tents on a bridge with friends, and doing whatever she can to find money for food. The suspense of the book kept me wondering, “Are they going to starve? Will they find a job?”.  Author Padma Venkatramen painted beautiful images in my head of the characters’ predicament. Will Viji and her sister and friends survive? Will they ever escape homelessness and chase their dreams? Check out this book for a great read!

Visit Padma Venkatramen here. 

Danny owns a small filling station and car mechanic workshop with his father, and they dwell in a gypsy caravan. They have a simple life, and then one day something happens that will change it forever…

Danny’s father is the most fun and perfect father ever. He shows Danny lots of things kids his age don’t normally experience, which helps Danny excel at being a young car mechanic. One day, Danny gets exposed to something unexpected. His father poaches pheasants from neighbor Victor Hazell, who is very rich and also very mean. Every year Hazell hosts a famous pheasant shooting party, with all the dukes, kings, and important men. Danny has a brilliant idea to ruin Hazell’s shooting party. Will it work out? Or will he get sent to prison? You’ll find out in this exciting read!

 View Roald Dahl here:

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Lalani sets off on a journey deemed impossible. Generations of the strongest men have perished looking for Mt. Issa, a mountain lush with plants that can cure any sickness. Lalani wants to find the one plant that will save her dying mother, but many obstacles and new acquaintances are waiting.

Lalani Sarita is a normal girl in the depressed village called Sanlagita, located by a mountain on which the people blame all bad things. Sanlagita has a menyoro, a leader who assigns tasks to the villagers. Lalani’s mother is tasked to mend, a dangerous job because if you prick yourself, you are doomed to the fatal mender’s disease. Few menders survive. One cure exists, but it’s far across a misted sea on mythical Mount Issa. Each year, the menyoro sends the strongest men in the village on the strongest boats to search for Issa. But none have come back alive. When Lalani’s mother pricks herself and contracts...

A Tale of Magic is a blend of rebellion, magic, suspense, and plot-twists. All that you loved about Chris Colfer’s: A Land of Stories comes packed in this fruitful story, as well.
In the Southern Kingdom, magic is outlawed and women are not allowed to read, and Brystal Evergreen, a normal fourteen-year-old girl, is livid. Women are not allowed in libraries, except if they have a job as a maid. Brystal signs up to be a maid working after library hours. When she gets caught reading banned books in a secret Justices Only room, she is trialed and rapidly sent to the Bootstrap Correctional Facility, using young women for free labor. Then a plot-twisting mysterious fairy named Madame Weatherberry rescues Brystal, and brings her to Madame Weatherberry’s Academy of Magic. Madame Weatherberry teaches Brystal and a few other students all they need to know about magic, and she hopes that they can defeat the Snow Queen, a mysterious...

This adventureful series will keep you on the edge of your seat with it's suspense and pure complexity. If you are a fan of Rick Riordan's Greek and Roman adventure books, you'll surely devour this one. Weaving together lots of different mythologies, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel will stretch your mind.
Fifteen-year-old twins Sophie and Josh Newman are working across the street from each other in beautiful San Francisco. What they don't know is that Josh works for centuries old Nicholas Flamel (going by Nick Flemming)-who is supposed to be dead, and they might be the Twins of Legend - Twins with extremely powerful auras, Gold and Silver. With that comes big responsibility. Then one day when Josh is working at Nicholas Flamel's bookstore, Dr. John Dee comes by and steals the ten thousand year old Codex - The Book of Abraham the Mage, which is a book with all the world's knowledge, including the prophecy that...