On a recent trip to the library, a book on display caught my attention. It could be the chemistry set in the foreground, or maybe the mummy, but I knew I had to read this book with my kids…

And they loved it!

Here’s a summary from Amazon:

For hundreds of years, all of our medical findings, our technological advancements, and even our weapons are a direct result of magical potions. Few people know about the truth because few people are aware of the hidden potion community known as B.R.E.W.–the Board of Ruling Elixirists Worldwide.

Twelve-year-old Gordy knows all about the importance of cauldrons, flasks, and Bunsen burners. He has an extensive knowledge of hundreds of ingredients including Toadflax, porcupine quills, and catfish eyes because Gordy’s mother is the Director of B.R.E.W., and he is an apprentice potion master with a secret lab in his family’s basement.

When the world’s most powerful potion–the Eternity Elixir–disappears and then mysteriously ends up in Gordy’s possession, he must use all of his skills to protect the forbidden potion before enemies of B.R.E.W. find and use it to destroy the world as we know it.

Gordy recruits his two best friends, Max and Adeline, to assist him while his mother leaves to confront the most powerful elixirist of all time-the great Mezzarix-who happens to be Gordy’s grandfather.

My Review:

This book did not fail to provide action, imagination, and adventure. All four of my children (ages ranging from almost 5 to 11 years old) were sucked in and kept begging for more. The science was fun, the mummy spectacular (I figure I should comment on them since that was what caught my attention and caused me to check the book out, to begin with).

To parents: Be warned that upon completion of this book, your children may attempt to create their own potions around the house, including to/especially in the bathroom.  Keep an ear out for whispers and rush movements… because you never know when you will find four kids hiding in the bathroom, with a bowl full of fabric softener, laundry detergent, hand soap, shampoo, nail polish (or dragon’s blood, as they referred to it), and toothpaste.

Enjoy!