Alchemy by Margaret Mahy

Bibliographic Information:

Mahy, M. (2003). Alchemy. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
ISBN# 0689850530

Plot Summary:
Roland has a recurring dream where he and his father are at a carnival and he is chosen to help a magician Quando. Roland is placed in a coffin-like box. Once the lid is closed he experiences a strange place and sees stars. Other than the dream and that his father abandoned him and his mother, Roland has a great life. He does well in school, is popular and has a good looking girlfriend. But strangely enough Roland hears voices in his head. These voices lead him to shoplift. One of his teachers, Mr. Hudson, asks him to stay after school. He explains to Roland that he witnessed the shoplifting. Mr. Hudson states that he won’t turn Roland in if Roland will spy on a fellow student, Jess, and report back to Mr. Hudson. Seeing no better course of action, Roland agrees. He finds himself talking to Jess, the class recluse, and discovers that she is more than the teased, almost invisible student at school. She lives in a strange time frozen home and her parents are mysteriously never there. It turns out Jess is an alchemist trying to use her powers to balance nature. In his dealings with Jess, Roland discovers that he, too has powers and his childhood dream wasn’t a dream. Quando is quite real and is out to get them both.

Critical Evaluation:
This is a suspenseful fantasy novel that will be enjoyed by many teens who like either genre. The book has a classic good versus evil plot as Jess and Roland fight against Quando and Mr. Hudson. Mahy’s main characters are very believable. Roland is the quintessential popular guy and Jess is the opposite, at least at school. All teens will be able to relate to these two characters. Every school has at least one really popular student and one student who is looked down upon for their differences and/or lack of conformity. Many students may even see themselves in one of these characters. By seeing themselves in Roland they may come to understand that being popular isn’t everything nor does it last forever. If they see themselves in Jess, they may better be able to deal with school life. Jess may be a recluse and teased at school, but at home she is powerful, intelligent and a much deeper person than what she appears.

Reader's Annotation:
Blackmailed into learning about Jess, the class recluse, Roland discovers a mysterious world that he is tied to by a dream (?) that he had as a child.

Information about the author:
Margaret Mahy was born in 1936 in New Zealand. She was a children’s librarian, but then in 1980 became a full time writer. She has written many books of various types from “picture books to YA novels.” Many of her books have received awards. She is an avid reader and encourages all would be writers to read wide and deep. Mahy has lived her entire life in New Zealand. She writes in her bedroom/office at home with her very old cat keeping her company.

Genre: Fantasy; suspense

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas:
• Have you ever had a dream that you thought must have really happened?
• Are you or someone you know teased at school?
• Why are people teased?
• Why is Roland hesitant to get to know Jess?
• Why doesn’t Roland trust Mr. Hudson?
• Why is Roland’s girlfriend threatened by Jess?
• What do you think the mysterious shadow is?
• Do you wish you had a secret power? If so, what and why?

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Challenge Issues: Magic; sorcery; alchemy

If the book is challenged:
• Listen calmly to the complainant.
• Ask if s/he has read the entire novel.
• Show positive reviews of the novel.
• Show the selection policy.
If the complainant still has issues with the book:
• Request that the complainant read the entire book if this has not already occurred.
• Have the complainant fill out a reconsideration form.
• Set up a reconsideration meeting.
o Provide the reconsideration meeting members with:
 Positive reviews
 Selection policy
 Reconsideration policy

Selection Process: I did a search on Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database with the following criteria: Award winner, reviews available, and age range from 15 – 18.

Nine positive reviews

Awards/ Best Books Lists:
• Appears on five Best Books Lists
• Has received two awards

Reading/Interest level, selection process information, reviews, and Awards/Best Books Lists were accessed using the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database at http://clcd.odyssi.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~sMoAzi:1 accessed through SJSU and not available to everyone.