THE BOOKSELLER'S APPRENTICE BY AMELIA MELLOR

In this pre-quell to The Grandest Bookshop in the World, we are introduced to 12-year-old Billy Pyke who lives with his parents and numerous siblings. Things are tight in the Pyke household so Billy goes in search of a job. And so, begins this wild adventure. Set twenty years before Mellor’s first novel, Cole’s book stall is trading in busy Paddy’s Market. The story is set in the real world of Melbourne in the 1870s but with one small difference. Here, some people, like Billy, have the ability to perform magic to help them with tasks or daily life. Surrounded by all sorts of nefarious traders and colourful characters, Billy finds a new friend in Kezia Nobody, a perhaps orphan. The evil Mr Maximillian or Obscurosmith as he is commonly known, has done something with her parents and she is trying to find out what exactly he did.

 Together, all they want to do is go about their daily lives with no interruptions but Obscurosmith has other plans. He has taken a dislike to Billy as his magical practices interfere with his own. When the Haymarket Theatre burns to the ground after Obscurosmith made a tricky deal with its owner, Billy realises that the evil magician will stop at nothing to destroy those around him. Bravely he confronts Obscurosmith and challenges him to a duel.

 The two of them will set a puzzle for each other and they will have from dawn to dusk to solve it. The looser must leave Paddy’s Market and the winner can stay and do what they like there. The stakes are high, and Billy is not sure if he will be able to outwit the sneaky magician. Luckily, he is allowed “a second”, a tradition in duelling, where the duellist has someone to stand by them and help where needed. And so begins the race against time as Billy and Kezia try to solve Obscurosmith’s riddle.

 Amelia Mellor has yet again created a great imaginative narrative based in fact. The market comes to life with smells and noise and bustle and Billy’s life in a large family highlight a part of Melbourne’s fascinating history. Themes of friendship, family and bravery are clear through the novel and any reader who loves a puzzle or riddle will absolutely love this book.

For Ages: 10+ years

Number of Pages: 320

Published: September 2022 Affirm Press

Themes: Friendship, family and bravery

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-bookseller-s-apprentice-amelia-mellor/book/9781922400871.html