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The Alchemist's Apprentice
Jack is about to discover how to make gold--but the secret art will come at a price
The year is 1720, and Jack, a London blacksmith's apprentice, is fleeing the punishment of his master. Now a runaway, Jack's wanderings take him to the Thames River, where he plucks a curious little pot out of the water. Hoping that his find will prove valuable, Jack discovers that it belongs to a practitioner of the forbidden art of alchemy. The alchemist agrees to take Jack on as an apprentice and teach him his secret craft, which will lead not to shelter or security, but to something far more wonderful and perilous. Jack's quest will take him to unexpected places where he'll learn that there's more to alchemy than he bargained for. But will learning the secrets of making gold come at too great a cost?
The year is 1720, and Jack, a London blacksmith's apprentice, is fleeing the punishment of his master. Now a runaway, Jack's wanderings take him to the Thames River, where he plucks a curious little pot out of the water. Hoping that his find will prove valuable, Jack discovers that it belongs to a practitioner of the forbidden art of alchemy. The alchemist agrees to take Jack on as an apprentice and teach him his secret craft, which will lead not to shelter or security, but to something far more wonderful and perilous. Jack's quest will take him to unexpected places where he'll learn that there's more to alchemy than he bargained for. But will learning the secrets of making gold come at too great a cost?
199 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2002
19 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Kate Thompson
61 books150 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Kate Thompson is an award-winning writer for children and adults.She has lived in Ireland, where many of her books are set, since 1981. She is the youngest child of the social historians and peace activists E. P. Thompson and Dorothy Towers. She worked with horses and travelled in India before settling in the west of Ireland with her partner Conor. They have two daughters, Cliodhna and Dearbhla. She is an accomplished fiddler with an interest in Irish traditional music, reflected in The New Policeman.
While Kate Thompson's children's fiction is primarily fantasy, several of her books also deal with the consequences of genetic engineering.
She has won the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award four times, for The Beguilers, The Alchemist's Apprentice, Annan Water and The New Policeman. The New Policeman was also awarded the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Book Award and the Dublin Airport Authority Children's Book of the Year Award for 2005.
Kate Thompson is an award-winning writer for children and adults.She has lived in Ireland, where many of her books are set, since 1981. She is the youngest child of the social historians and peace activists E. P. Thompson and Dorothy Towers. She worked with horses and travelled in India before settling in the west of Ireland with her partner Conor. They have two daughters, Cliodhna and Dearbhla. She is an accomplished fiddler with an interest in Irish traditional music, reflected in The New Policeman.
While Kate Thompson's children's fiction is primarily fantasy, several of her books also deal with the consequences of genetic engineering.
She has won the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award four times, for The Beguilers, The Alchemist's Apprentice, Annan Water and The New Policeman. The New Policeman was also awarded the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Book Award and the Dublin Airport Authority Children's Book of the Year Award for 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 21, 2016
When I got into this book I was expecting it to be kind of like a Sword in the Stone sort of thing, with the main character being taught by a wise mentor. What actually ended up happening was a coming-of-age story with almost no alchemy in it at all. One would think that would make it a poorly-named book, right? But I don't really think that's the case.
What I found interesting about this book was how it took the idea of philosophy into account. One of the most well-known alchemy tools is the philosopher's stone, and in this book we have the philosopher's egg. This book actually incorporates philosophy into the study and practice of alchemy. The "climax" is just Jack going through a self-reflective time where he basically cleanses himself from all the pain, hurt and loss build up in the past. I thought that was pretty cool.
I also liked the coming-of-age part, where Jack set out on his own and learned that being wealthy wouldn't lead him to happiness. At the time I was a little distracted constantly thinking "I'm this far into the book and there's hardly been any alchemy". Still, that part of the story really grew him as a character and showed his potential. Jack himself was an interesting main character since for most of it he was very insecure and constantly doubting his abilities or how people would value him. That's way different from how most main characters are written.
Overall I liked the book. It wasn't anything great but it did provide a few new things to enjoy.
What I found interesting about this book was how it took the idea of philosophy into account. One of the most well-known alchemy tools is the philosopher's stone, and in this book we have the philosopher's egg. This book actually incorporates philosophy into the study and practice of alchemy. The "climax" is just Jack going through a self-reflective time where he basically cleanses himself from all the pain, hurt and loss build up in the past. I thought that was pretty cool.
I also liked the coming-of-age part, where Jack set out on his own and learned that being wealthy wouldn't lead him to happiness. At the time I was a little distracted constantly thinking "I'm this far into the book and there's hardly been any alchemy". Still, that part of the story really grew him as a character and showed his potential. Jack himself was an interesting main character since for most of it he was very insecure and constantly doubting his abilities or how people would value him. That's way different from how most main characters are written.
Overall I liked the book. It wasn't anything great but it did provide a few new things to enjoy.
March 20, 2018
My name is Jack, and I made a big mistake that means I can never return to my role as a blacksmith's apprentice. I later found a sealed pot floating in the river that was created by an alchemist, Mr. Barnstable. I accepted his offer to become his apprentice, and my life became an adventure. Barnstable sent me off to find my prima materia, a stone that is the most important ingredient in alchemy. I wandered across the country, learning to steal for my survival. Finally, events led me to a life of wealth that did not bring me happiness. No one cares about me, and I’ve been used by others all along. I’m now convinced the mercury fumes have gotten to Barnstable’s brain, and he’s delusional. I don’t know what to do.
This book is not at all what I expected. Once Jack leaves on his quest for the prima materia, alchemy takes a backseat in the plot. The story becomes a tale of self-awareness and contentment. Jack finds various characters who help him along the way, but he seems to be searching for his place in the world. Finding a lost horse lifts him out of a life of poverty and changes his life dramatically. However, he continues to search for happiness. You will be disappointed if you’re looking for a story full of spells and magic normally associated with books concerning alchemy. This book is more philosophical and explores the growth of Jack’s spirit. It may be a little deeper than middle graders expect, but it can be enjoyed by more mature readers.
This book is not at all what I expected. Once Jack leaves on his quest for the prima materia, alchemy takes a backseat in the plot. The story becomes a tale of self-awareness and contentment. Jack finds various characters who help him along the way, but he seems to be searching for his place in the world. Finding a lost horse lifts him out of a life of poverty and changes his life dramatically. However, he continues to search for happiness. You will be disappointed if you’re looking for a story full of spells and magic normally associated with books concerning alchemy. This book is more philosophical and explores the growth of Jack’s spirit. It may be a little deeper than middle graders expect, but it can be enjoyed by more mature readers.
June 13, 2023
A fun story about an 18th-century London orphan boy who chances on something that opens up another kind of life for him. I really enjoyed this unusual story.
February 17, 2022
If you can find meaning, do. Jack, starving, poor, meets alchemist, gets rich, spoiled, rejected, penniless. Hope seesaws with pessimism. Visions of Red King, White Queen, mix purify methods while events change his soul.
August 2, 2011
Jack is an orphan who is doing an apprentice for a blacksmith. He runs into a bit of trouble and rather and face the music he hides.
As he is hiding, he finds an old pot and tries to sell it but the woman who he tries to sell it to tells him its a relic and send him to see someone else. And so Jacks adventure begins.
I thought as a young adult book it was ok, but I was a bit disappointed by the end. It seemed to drag on for a bit then a bit of a rush to get finished at the end.
As he is hiding, he finds an old pot and tries to sell it but the woman who he tries to sell it to tells him its a relic and send him to see someone else. And so Jacks adventure begins.
I thought as a young adult book it was ok, but I was a bit disappointed by the end. It seemed to drag on for a bit then a bit of a rush to get finished at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2019
Read because The New Policemen was (and remains) one of my favourite books, and one of the best YA books I've read. This, however, wasn't nearly as creative and clever as that, so I was disappointed. It's not terrible; it just isn't nearly as good as I wanted it to be.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews