THE ALCHEMYST

TITLE: THE ALCHEMYST
AUTHOR: MICHAEL SCOTT
Pages: 369
Date: 29/05/2008
Grade: 5-
Details: no. 1 The Secrets of Nicholas Flamel
Library

Nicholas Flamel was born in 1330 in Paris and is still seen as the greatest alchemyst of his day. Officially he died in 1418, but his tomb is empty. All this is historical fact.
Legend has it that he learned the secret of immortality.
When the book starts Nicholas is running a bookshop in 21st century San Francisco with his wife, Perenell, working in a coffee shop across the road.
When Flamel is attacked by Dr. John Dee, the latter succeeds in getting away with most of "the Codex", the book that contains the secret of immortality as well as nearly all the information John Dee needs to destroy the world as we know it.
Present at the time of the attack are Sophie and Josh Newman, 15 year old twins.
Twins who, according to the Codex are destined to safe or completely destroy the world.
Now their world is turned upside down; everything Sophie and Josh considered myth, fairytale and impossible turns out to be real and happening. Thrown together with Flemel and his allies, they have only a month to learn what others learn during lifetimes. They find themselves landed in a true legend only they can bring to a good ending.

Scott has taken virtually every legend and myth known to man and turned it into a fascinating, fantastical and riveting story. I can't wait for the next one.