I love this books it shows that even the average teen can get wrapped up in something amazing pretty quickly!
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
(2007, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by Michael Scott)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Myth-based, modernized fantasy is nonstop fun.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel was written by Matt Berman
Parents need to know that, despite the almost nonstop action and fantasy violence, there is very little real violence, gore, or anything realistic.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the world-wide mythology behind the story and how allusions to Flamel compare to mentions of him in the Harry Potter books. Kids might also be interested in reading more about the myths the author uses, and the ways in which he has tried to make sense of the legendary past. If the gods of the ancient world lived today, how might they appear to human beings? What would you do if you were immortal? Are the powers Sophie gains worth the pain?
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More on The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Book Summary
Teen twins Josh and Sophie discover, in a rather explosive way, that the San Francisco bookstore owner Josh works for is really Nicholas Flamel, a nearly 700-year-old alchemist who created the Philosopher's Stone, from which he and his wife Perenelle get the Elixir of Life. Their enemy is Dr. John Dee, who works for the Dark Elders, members of the Elder Race who are the source of most of humanity's ancient myths and legends. The Dark Elders want to reinstate their dominion over the Earth.
Dee kidnaps Perenelle and steals the Codex, an ancient book containing the secrets of magic, and a prophecy involving twins. But Josh accidentally ends up with the final two pages, and now Dee and his masters and minions are out to reclaim the pages, and enlist or kill the twins. As they race across the West Coast, members of the Elder Race begin lining up on both sides.
Is It Any Good?
Harry Potter fans will recognize the name Nicholas Flamel, and may be surprised to learn that J.K. Rowling didn't make him up. Irish author and mythology expert Michael Scott has taken elements from Flamel's legend, woven them together with myths and stories from around the world, and set the whole thing in modern-day California. The result is a slam-bang, fantasy-adventure, with enough action to keep the most rabid genre fans happy, and enough references to ancient stories to keep the mind working as well.
Though the good-vs.-evil and kids-with-secret-powers themes may be well worn by now, nothing about this story -- from its setting and characters to its intricate use of myth to create an alternative history of earth -- is typical. Though an appendix with references for all the characters and places mentioned in the story would have been welcome, this book, the first of a planned series, is plain old-fashioned fun, with an intellectual gloss that will give fans something to look into while waiting for the next in the series.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Delacorte Press, Publication date: 05/22/2007
Number of pages: 384, Price: $16.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 10, Read Alone: 11
Number of pages: 384, Price: $16.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 10, Read Alone: 11
Our Members Say
See all 20 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Perfect
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Perfect for any agegroup of 12+!! Best Book In History. It beats Twilight by a longshot!
I LOVED IT!!!! Read it or you will dissapionted you didn't! Read it NOW!!!!I love how Josh and Sophie connect!I love reading about them together, or thinking about eachother. -The Future Mrs.Josh Newman
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
best book ever
This book is so awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Get it, read it, love it
Love it great for lovers of the super natural, Great if you like magic and ledgend
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Good
I walked away from this book a little disappointed. It wasn't that great even though it wasn't horrible. I'm reading the second book and I'll see how the story countinues.
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