Alchemy (novel) facts for kids
Book cover of 2004 paperback edition
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| Author | Margaret Mahy |
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | CollinsFlamingo |
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Publication date
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November 4, 2002 |
| Pages | 271 |
| ISBN | 978-0-00-713135-8 |
| OCLC | 55076927 |
| Preceded by | 24 Hours |
| Followed by | Don't Read This! |
Alchemy is an exciting fantasy novel for young people. It was written by the famous New Zealand author Margaret Mahy. The book was first published in 2002.
What is Alchemy About?
The story follows a character named Roland. He is a high school student who gets into trouble for shoplifting. Because of this, he is given a very unusual task. He must secretly watch a mysterious girl in his class. This girl, named Jess Ferret, is studying something called alchemy.
Jess is a bit quirky and loves to play with words. But there's a problem: an old enemy from Roland's past is interested in Jess's special powers. This enemy is using Roland to get information about her.
As Roland spies on Jess, he starts to learn more about himself. He discovers that he might have abilities similar to hers. However, this discovery puts both Roland and Jess in a very dangerous situation. They must work together to survive.
Themes in the Story
Alchemy shares some ideas with other books by Margaret Mahy. For example, it has similar themes to The Changeover and The Haunting. These books often explore magic, mystery, and young people discovering their hidden strengths.
Awards and Recognition
Alchemy was recognized for its great storytelling. It won the senior fiction section of the 2003 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. This shows how much people enjoyed Margaret Mahy's work.
