The Apothecary's Daughter, by Julie KlassenAdult, 2008
Lillian Haswell is the daughter of the local apothecary in a small town in 19th century England. Her mother disappeared and is rumored to have run off with another man, and her younger brother has a mental disability. Despite the restrictions to her sex, she learns as much as any apothecary during that time through her position as her father's daughter, and through her photographic memory. When wealthy relatives come to town and offer her a 'season or two' in London, including an opportunity to travel and see the world, she grabs at it, hoping to experience what her imagination can't fulfill, and perhaps find the mother she has been missing.
Raspberry: This reads very similarly to the 19th century books we know and love, although the word-smithing isn't nearly as good. The plot is enjoyable if a tad long, and the characters are separate and well done. Lily is courted by multiple men, but only seems a bit slow on the uptake with the one she's supposed to be with, which is a bit odd. Again, the writing is a bit more modern, and since this is published by a Christian Fiction company, there's a lot more praying than normal. There isn't any illusion to a particular religion, however, and it isn't so forceful that it detracts from the plot.
Graded a B+.
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