Mark of the Plague: A Blackthorn Key Adventure

Well, today we finished STAAR testing at Ralls Elementary, and, as usual, my job was to cover the halls and help give breaks to teachers giving tests.  And of course, sitting in the hallway for almost four hours gave me time to read a good book!  Last test administration, in April, I read The Blackthorn Key, and really enjoyed it.  So I took the opportunity this administration to read the next book in the series: Mark of the Plague.

I liked the second book just as much as I did the first, and now would really like to read Book 3!  All of the characters were back (with a couple new--or expanded ones--thrown in) to solve a mystery involving a break-in at the Blackthorn Apothecary shop.  The biggest problem facing Christopher and Tom, however, was the fact that London was in the midst of a terrible Plague outbreak.  Then Christopher finds out his old master has left him a "treasure."  So not only must they try to figure out who broke in to the shop, they must try to figure out why the break-in occurred, and what was stolen, all while trying to avoid plague victims, plague doctors, and a mysterious prophet who seems to know where the plague will strike next.  Tom and Christopher are not sure who to trust as sinister and secretive events lead then deeper into a strange conspiracy.
Christopher is a wonderful character.  Author Kevin Sands does a very good job of conveying Christopher's youth, naivete, and innocence without making him seem dumb or unthinking.  Too often in books with younger characters, those characters can come across as reckless, annoying, and a bit dumb.  But Christopher is likable and someone the reader can relate to and root for.
Tom is a great friend to Christopher, and it was nice to see their relationship grow stronger as the Plague threatened them.  Sally was also a fun addition to the story, and I hope we can see more of her in later books.  And Bridget the pigeon always makes me smile.
The story was exciting with just enough historical details included to draw the reader in but not be boring.  Sands was able to really make the reader feel as though 17th century London had been brought to life.  The smells, sounds, and tastes of the city were well-described, and the bizarre and slightly macabre plague doctor Melchior was very easy to picture.  I did not want to put the book down and was very interested to see what would happen next to our heroes.
I am very glad we have this book in the library and would recommend it to anyone in 4th grade and up.  There were a few graphic parts (fighting, injuries, plague symptoms) that might not be appropriate for younger readers.  But this is a great novel, and if you enjoy history, adventure, or mystery, you should pick up a copy!