Jack Broom is an endearing character who balances doing
his apothecary duties for Old Mother Cobb with avoiding her beatings for being
late or messing up. He scrapes together any money he has to buy medical books
as he dreams of becoming a surgeon’s apprentice. He’s treated rudely by the
king’s guard and suspects he’s being spied on. He tries to survive his difficulties
as best he can and finally finds a friend in a girl named Alice. He’s willing
to help those who need it but discovers he often needs help from others.
Jack is an orphan and doesn’t remember anything about his
parents. The “aunt” he’s living with doesn’t seem to be a loving relative so
her relationship to Jack is unclear. These questions force readers to speculate
about Jack’s true story so the idea that he might be a lost son from nobility
is very possible. He eventually realizes he may be able to learn answers about
his past if he can somehow sneak into the Tower. However, there are people in
the Tower searching for Jack and he doesn’t understand why. He must weigh the
danger from the threats seeking him out with his desire to understand his past.
The story is set in the 1400s and the author includes
numerous details from that time period. Old Mother Cobb creates remedies from
herbs but Jack knows they probably don’t do much to cure any ailments. He
studies the latest medical treatments using his books which include blood-letting
with leeches to heal diseases. Clothing is handmade from wool and Jack mostly
moves by foot around the city. King Richard III is ruling England but his claim to the throne may be illegitimate. This leads to the Cousins War, or
the War of the Roses, which is a major part of the book. An epilogue and the
author’s note at the end will answer any lingering questions and provide
historical context to the story.
What didn’t work as well:
Clues are left regarding what’s happening in the plot but astute readers
will probably be able to easily figure everything out. The synopsis lets readers
know Jack will be misidentified and chased by unknown assailants but the
mystery isn’t hard to foresee. The author’s twist adds some intrigue to Jack’s
character but readers will have an inkling about that too.
The final verdict:
Jack’s kind, humble character is at the center of a historical
adventure. There’s enough danger and drama to satisfy everyone with mystery and
a suspenseful climax to wrap things up. I recommend you give this book a shot.
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