posted on 19 Jun 2025

The Elixir by Lindsay Galvin, illustrated by Kristina Kister

Here’s a puzzle for you: imagine that you have – with the help of a soon-to-be famous scientist – found the elixir of life that will cure all ills when taken in small amounts. Now, that sounds great, doesn’t it? 

But what if revealing your great discovery means that you will almost certainly be declared a witch and put to death?

Would you still go public with your world changing medicine? Not such an easy decision, is it?

Well, that’s the dilemma facing Ann Storer, a teenager growing up in seventeenth century England when witchfinders travel the country hunting down ‘witches’ – usually just ordinary women who, like Ann, have a gift for healing. She’s smart enough to know she has to keep secret the ‘special’ gifts her grandmother has passed on to her but when a young, still unknown, Isaac Newton comes to lodge with Ann’s family at their pharmacy, everything is about to change.

Slowly, the thorny and difficult Newton (who has a deep interest in alchemy) forms a bond with Ann and the two of them start to experiment with a combination of elements that would make an elixir of life.

When the two seem to succeed, Ann wants to go public but Newton won’t agree – he knows that it will be seen as witchcraft and a particularly eager witchfinder has just arrived at their lodgings. But a crisis is just around the corner – plague has entered their village and people are dying. Surely, Ann thinks they must try the elixir – and just to be sure it won’t make things worse, Ann drinks one whole phial herself and then puts the rest in the town’s water supply.

And that’s all I’m going to tell you of the plot because I want you to find out all the exciting repercussions for yourselves. And let me tell you, it’s a breathtaking and exciting ride. And, I think you’ll be surprised to discover just what happens to Ann…!

Available now from Barrington Stoke, champions of accessible reading for even the most reluctant audiences, you will be able to get a copy from your local independent bookshop – who will order you a copy if they don’t have it on their shelves.

 

Terry Potter

June 2025