Sasha and Puck and the Potion of Luck (Library Edition) (Volume 1)

The Elixir Fixers #1

by Daniel Nayeri

When local chocolate maker Ms. Kozlow comes to the Juicy Gizzard potion shop asking for luck, Sasha needs to find out why. Does Ms. Kozlow need luck because she has a matchmaking appointment with Granny Yenta this afternoon? Can Sasha and her new friend Puck make it Ms. Kozlow's lucky day?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Magic, Kids, Mystery, Childrens

Audio CD

Published January 21, 2021

About the author

Daniel Nayeri is a writer and editor in New York City. He wrote and produced The Cult of Sincerity, the first feature film to be world-premiered by YouTube. He has had all kinds of jobs around books, including book repairman, literary agent, used bookstore clerk, children's librarian, Official Story-Time Reader Leader, editor, copy-editor, and even carpenter (making bookshelves). He's also a professional pastry chef. He loves Street Fighter 2, hates the word "foodie," and is an award-winning stuntman.

Daniel and his sister/co-writer Dina were both born in Iran and spent many young adult years in Europe. There they learned several languages between them and tried Frosted Flakes for the first time.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not terrible, just…. I’m not sure what grade level this was aimed at, but my 2nd grader was reading it just fine and yet the subject matter was too advanced and/or abstract. Magic potions and the concept of luck vs science and probability. Also, arranged marriages and difficult-to-pronounce names made this unnecessarily difficult considering the reading level.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a lot more to it than its appearance might imply. Sasha is an aspiring scientist and detective in an isolated village in a roughly 18th-19th century time. There might also be magic--Sasha would say not, but many of the adults in her life would say yes. Her parents, after all, make potions on the side of their apothecary business. To keep them from getting put out of business as frauds, she makes it her mission to see that the potions' claimed effects come true. The scenario makes for an intriguing local adventure. A very good read.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

In looking for more early chapter books to read with my six year old, I came across the recommendation for this series on Betsy Bird's blog (Fuse #8). I was excited, since I just read Everything Sad Is Untrue this year, and absolutely loved it (perhaps one of my favorite books ever). I was hoping that the series would incorporate some of Nayeri's Persian background and have the emotional resonance that Everything Sad Is Untrue did. It didn't, on both counts, but that isn't really a knock against the book, since it doesn't claim to anyway. It was a good series, and I put in a purchase suggestion at my library for books 3 and 4, but nothing really made it stand out from the other series we've been reading together.

The Elixir Fixers is about a girl named Sasha who lives in a fictional town where her father is the potion maker. Her mother disappeared some time ago, and the series revolves around Sasha's attempts to make the townspeople believe that her father's potions are legitimate. In the case of Sasha and Puck and the Potion of Luck, the town confectioner purchases a luck potion ahead of her meeting with the town matchmaker, and Sasha races to try to figure out which man she might be hoping to have some luck with. Sasha also meets her sidekick, the lovable non-verbal orphan so dubbed by Sasha for his mischievousness.

My six year old loved this book, even going so far as to call it her favorite series, but she says that about every single book that she's reading at the time. It definitely didn't hold my three year old's interest (who's been listening along to all the early chapter books along with us), because there were very few pictures. Again, the series doesn't claim to be preschool-friendly, but just thought I'd note that this is a little more on the upper end of the early chapter book scale.

Gr. 2-3

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I enjoyed the story and I appreciated the illustrations, but I did not feel like they went well together. The story is gritty and the illustrations are just too... neat and tidy. I wanted to see the dirt and grime on Puck, the dust of the chicken yard where romantic fortunes are told, the ominous vibe of the Gentry Mansion.

The story oversimplified some things, like the entire concept of romance. Perhaps when looking through a child's eyes it's easier to distill attraction down to an assessment of how kind, smart, and handsome someone is. There was also a blithe acceptance of the character Puck-- no attempt to figure out if he was lost, and then adopting him like a stray cat.

But this was a quick and engaging read about a young girl who worries about her father's business failing, and who tries to find romance for her new friend who runs the local chocolate shop.

[Joy Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

At 122 pages it moves right along with a good story line. I like the comparison of luck to science.
I'm going to suggest it for the 2nd grader who has a higher reading level. I'm eager to see the AR level. The illustrations will help those readers. I'm also eager to see other adventures of Sasha & Puck.

[felicialowj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming magical adventure-mystery with a precocious and feisty girl detective-scientist! The plot was simple, but still managed to be page-turning (even for an adult!) with a story that had a lot of heart (and surprisingly mature topics like class and inequality). This is the first book of a series and there are already hints of more intriguing (and dangerous) adventure to come.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/27/2021 ~ Interesting blend of science & observation with European medieval magic. I appreciated Sasha's use of observation, record keeping, logic & deduction as she's surrounded by magic. I'm curious about Puck - a magical sprite or a homeless, orphaned street urchin?

I'll be adding to my elementary collection if the others in the series continue to offer the same quirkiness.

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Cute series starter.

Early chapter book length. Disney movie vibe

[Roben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute beginning chapter book with a little bit of adventure, a dash of mystery, and a soupcon of fantasy- sort of like the potions that Sasha's dad mixes.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the help of Puck, Sasha tries to save her father's potion shop as they wait and hope for Sasha's mother's return.

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute early chapter book. My 6- and 4-year-olds were both into it. We'll be checking out the next book on our next library trip!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars: Quick, cute read, probably best for kids on the younger side.

[Rosalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read, I will recommend it to my lower readers. However, I would have liked to see some consistency between the naming of Ms. K, and the ending where they spelt the name of the winner made no sense spelling wise. Seems like it will be a cute series. I also wish the were more description of the area and why they were at war and also am explanation of the little animal boy puk.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Copy...Hmm promising start with an interesting magical exotic flavor so far.

[Dabney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute first chapter book. It has some illustrations, so it’s good for kids still needing or wanting that visual stimulation while easing into chapter books!

[Amy Seufert · Rating 3 out of 5]

KCR book - luck potion, love, and chocolates! I'm interested to hear how everyone like it in Kids Club Read!

2nd read for a KCR book

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't quite middle grade, but junior fiction, first chapter books kind of deal. It was a fun read for a 6-8 year old. I really enjoyed it. Can Sasha find out why Ms. Kozlow needs a luck potion? Will she be able to figure out who Ms. Kozlow loves? What about Puck, the little boy who doesn't speak and loves macaroons? Can Sasha's dad really make potions? In this book you will get all these answers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book for review.

[Kate]

Read for Elementary Book Talks 2019.