Flamel's Secret...

When Sophie and her twin brother, Josh, get summer jobs across the street from each other, they think that things are working out perfectly. Josh loves the bookstore, and Sophie adores the coffee shop. Everything is going great, until they witness something that changes their lives forever! From out of nowhere, strange beings pull up outside the bookstore. Sophie watches them on the street, and then suddenly smells sulfur in the air. Josh runs up the stairs in the shop when he hears a commotion, but he quickly feels like he needs to clear his eyes. His boss, Nicholas Fleming, is throwing colored mist at some strange man in the store. The man is Dr. John Dee, and he is after the Codex, an ancient book with many secrets. A major fight breaks out between the two and ends in an explosion. Books are everywhere, and Josh is on the floor with the Codex in his hands. John Dee grabs it from him and flees the store. Once he is gone Josh realizes that he has the last two pages of the book stuck in his hand. Knowing Dee will come back, Nicholas takes Josh and Sophie (who has come over to see if her brother is still alive after the explosion) away. This is when Mr. Fleming begins to tell Josh and Sophie who he really is, and it turns out that he's Nicholas Flamel, a 14th century alchemist! It takes some convincing, but when the twins are witness to more bizarre happenings they realize that he is telling them the truth. The only problem is that their lives are now in danger, and they will be dealing with magic like they have only read about in books. Will they be able to get away from John Dee? How will Josh and Sophie adjust to the magical world that they are thrown into? Is it possible for their lives to ever return to normal? When they enter the Shadowrealm, will either of them ever be the same? Read this page turner to find out what happens next. This is just the beginning of an unpredictable adventure!

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott has a lot of magic and fantasy elements that will appeal to anyone in fifth grade and up. The reading level may be a little high for some ten year olds, but if they enjoy fantasy, then this is a book they are sure to enjoy. Reading it with a teacher or parents would be exciting because the story contains characters that have shown up in mythology and other tales throughout the ages. It was fascinating to see the way the story came together.  I thought that the twins, Josh and Sophie, were both very likeable. I like how they tried to take care of each other, and it was great to witness their special bond. I was fascinated by the Shadowrealm and had a clear image in my mind of the setting and its unique features. The story has lots of adventure and elements that will keep the movie in your mind playing for hours. This is the first in a series, and I look forward to reading the rest of them!

Has anyone else read The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel?  Or another book by Michael Scott?

Happy Reading!
~L