Alchemy and Meggy Swann

Alchemy and Meggy Swann, By Karen Cushman. Clarion Books, 2010.


Meggy has been dumped on her father’s doorstep, and he is less than happy about the situation. Meggy is of foul temperament and spends much of her time wallowing in self-pity. She has been crippled since birth and can only walk with the use of two sticks that serve as crutches. Used to living with her grandmother who provided for her needs, Meggy is ill prepared to assist her alchemist father as he seeks to turn ordinary metal to gold. Meggy is thrust into the rough and dirty city of London, and expected not only to fend for herself but to assist her negligent father as needed. Throughout the course of the novel Meggy undergoes her own transformation, finding the strength to survive, and perhaps thrive in the unforgiving world in which she lives.

This historical fiction text is perfect for many uses in the classroom setting. Appropriate for middle school readers, embedded throughout this story are the details that make Elizabethan London come alive. An excellent companion for many of Karen Cushman’s other books, (Catherine, Called Birdy, The Midwife’s Apprentice), segments of this books would complement readings from Shakespeare and appeal to readers at lower levels in higher grades.