The Blackthorn Key
by Kevin Sands
Following a series of murders, an apothecary's apprentice must solve puzzles and... read more
14 Total Resources 3 Awards View Text Complexity Discover Like Books
- Grade
- 4-8
- Genre
- Adventure
- Mystery
- Science Fiction / Fantasy
Year Published 2015
Word Count 65,451
- Text Complexity
- Lexile Level: 630L
- ATOS Reading Level: 4.6
- AR Quiz Numbers
- 176195
- Curricular Area
- English Language Arts
- Subject Headings
- London
- 17th century
- Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction
- Apprentices--Fiction
- Supernatural
- Charles II, 1660-1685
- Great Britain
- Pharmacists--Fiction
- Secret societies
- Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
- Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
- Secret societies--Fiction
- Apprentices
- Paranormal fiction
- Supernatural--Fiction
- London--History--17th century--Fiction
- History
- Pharmacists
- Friendship--Fiction
- Friendship
- Great Britain--History--Charles II, 1660-1685--Fiction
- Lists With This Book
- Dig Deeper: iREAD Children
Our Original Resources 5
Meet-the-Author Recording with Kevin Sands about The Blackthorn Key
Created by TeachingBooks
Audio Name Pronunciation with Kevin Sands
Created by TeachingBooks
Story Map Multi-Leveled Lesson
Created by TeachingBooks
Cultural Representation Reflection
Created by TeachingBooks
Submit Qualitative Text Complexity Rubric
Created by TeachingBooks
Book Guides, Activities & Lessons 4
Story Map Multi-Leveled Lesson
Created by TeachingBooks
Cultural Representation Reflection
Created by TeachingBooks

Discussion Guide from Vermont Department of Libraries
Created by Vermont Department of Libraries

Reading Group Guide from Simon & Schuster
Created by Simon & Schuster
Book Trailers 1

Video Book Trailer from Riveted
Created by Riveted
Awards & Distinctions 3

John Spray Mystery Award, 2011-2020
Winner, 2016

Notable Children's Books, 1995-2021
Commended, 2016

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012-2020
Mystery / Adventure Selection, 2015
Images courtesy of publishers, organizations, and sometimes their Twitter handles.