Ann Storer has always had a special gift with her tinctures and cures. But only Ann knows why.
She works in her family Apothecary business with her parents, older brother Edward and sister Katherine. While her parents are away on business, they get a young boarder in. He is a student and his name is Isaac Newton. He’s quiet, studious and keeps mostly to himself.
Ann must go to extra lengths to make her medicines work for her townspeople. It involves Nature, moonlight and a special symbol. Her family knows about her gift and so do the townsfolk who seek her out when someone is poorly.
When news comes to town that a Witchfinder has been summoned due to strange events in the town, Ann’s family is on alert. Her own grandmother was imprisoned in the local jail on suspicion of witchcraft, but died before she was actually accused by a magistrate. Only this allowed the family to move on in life and in business.
But these past claims lead the Witchfinder straight to their door. Ann is especially worried as she’s not sure whether she disposed of everything that might leave clues to her gift. It’s a close call.
For added safety, Ann begins to work in Isaac’s room. No one would suspect a young male student of Witchcraft. Together they make something incredible – something that can save an entire village, but threaten Ann’s family’s future and her life.
Set in 1655 in Grantham, England, this fictional blend of a young scientist Isaac Newton, and a young apothecary is an intriguing read. It gives a dyslexic or reluctant reader a glimpse into the time, swirled with the mania of Witchfinders, The Plague and the famous Scientist.
A handful of detailed illustrations are included in the novel, along with dire consequences for a gifted girl deemed a witch by superstition and religion.
The conclusion is a surprising and entertaining one, taking readers from the 17th Century to the present.Â
Author – Lindsay Galvin
Illustrator – Kristina Kister
Dyslexic Title
(2025, Barrington Stoke, Harper Collins, Historical, 1655, Grantham, England, Apothecary, Family Business, Witchfinder, Accused, Tinctures, Auras, Dyslexic Read, Dyslexia, Reluctant Reader, Plague, Illness, Sickness, Cures, Isaac Newton, Secret)