by Karen Cushman
Flap Copy Description:
"Ye Toads and Vipers!"
Thus says Meggy Swann, newly come to London from the country village where she was raised. She's not happy to be there, and why should she be? Her mother was glad to see the back of her. Her father, who sent for her, doesn't want her after all. The city is awash in dirt and muck, teeming with thieves and rogues, and very weary to walk around in - especially for Meggy.
She is the alchemist's daughter, though. Just as her father seeks to transform base metal into gold, Meggy sets out to change her condition for the better. In doing so, she finds herself to be braver and stronger and friendlier than she ever thought possible, and a competent rhymer as well.
Earthy and colorful, everyday life in Elizabethan London has its dark side - but it also has gifts in store for witty, sharp-tongued Meggy Swann.
My Thoughts:
Karen Cushman is a Newbery Medal winner and a master storyteller of historical fiction - Alchemy and Meggy Swann is another glorious example of her talent. Set in Elizabethan England; the sights, sounds, and smells of London remarkably come to life in this beautiful book. The protagonist, Meggy, is beset with severe challenges in her life - both physically and emotionally; this old world tale skillfully reveals to the reader the young girl's surprising and wondrous transformation. Ms. Cushman weaves a story of betrayal, abandonment, greed, and possible murder to which Meggy Swann confronts with strength and spunk. I would highly recommend Alchemy and Meggy Swann to readers from the ages of eight to eighty!
To learn more about the author, Karen Cushman, click here: http://www.karencushmanbooks.com/about/bio.html
