I first read this book back when I was younger (right now I'm 20) and all I knew was that the ending confused me. I had no idea of what actually happened. I tried to look for the book again years later but couldn't find it. I knew the title was Alchemy and the cover had a girl under a tree with some transparent, enlarged eyes.Years later (being now) I found it! And I just had to reread it, to finally understand what was happening at the end. I really liked this book, the idea of alchemy just always draws me in. The main character was rather interesting but I have to say that my favorite was Jess. There was something about the jittery way she was portrayed that really drew me in (is that even the right word?). She mixes up her words to make you think, she's very cautious, and she says she doesn't need anyone but then likes to be around the MC. She explains things rather...strangely, sometimes I'm like, hmmm, yeah I get it (not really). And so I got to the end and I had to really concentrate on what I was reading. I was finally able to understand what happened but I was rather disappointed. Most of it was just the MC going up the stairs and into Jess' room and then he brought her to the kitchen. The actual 'battle' was probably a page long? Because of this I gave the book a 3/5Also, did the MC break up with Chris? lol Yes, after all that happened I was left wondering about this.
I really like Margaret Mahy's novels - they are about teenagers and strange things happen to them - sort of young adult contemportary fantasy. Seventeen year old Roland is a popular young man - prefect at Ault Academy, dating the prettiest girl in school, smart, good-looking and has a good relationship with most of his teachers. But underneath it all, throughout his life Roland has felt that something inside him is warning him to be "careful", that he has to keep up his wholesome, normal image. He thinks it is because his father left when he was 10 and Roland must be a good, strong person that his mother can rely on. Things begin to change for him when one day one of Roland's teachers asks Roland to make friends with and keep an eye out for Jess Ferret, a quiet, unnoticable girl in Roland's classes. Jess is hiding something and Roland wants to know what it is. In this story almost everyone is more than they initially seem. Roland finds out that he has supressed something from his past that is the key to what is going on and who he is. More of my thoughts on this book are at my book blog (http://janicu.livejournal.com/6607.html)
What do You think about Alchemy (2004)?
I checked this book out of the library solely because of this sentence in the book jacket description that cracked me up:"Why has a shady magician from Roland's past suddenly come back into his life?"Turned out to be a pretty good book, as far as YA goes, one of those "realizing one's magical powers of being in extreme harmony with the universe whilst realizing girl you never talked to in school who's all into books about alchemy is actually sort of hot in her own intelligent-and-intriguing way, who knew, so let's simultaneously make out and take down the evil magician" books. Nice.
—Christina
YA fantasy. When charming, intelligent highschool student Roland inexplicably commits a petty crime, he finds himself blackmailed by a favourite teacher into befriending misfit Jess Ferret. But Jess has her own problems, and they're bigger and darker than Roland could have imagined.I loved this book. I knew I loved it from the first page. It opened with a dream sequence, and I still loved it. There are things about Mahy's style that don't work for me: in particular, the dialogue, although it's spirited and interesting, doesn't quite have a natural rhythm. I buy into it, though, to gain entry to Mahy's world. Her use of magic, of character motivation, the way she describes what happens to Jess's house ... just fantastic.
—Jarrah
