Alchemy and Meggy Swann

I've been reading Cushman's books since I was nine or ten and received Catherine, Called Birdy as my Scholastic book of the month. She's not a hugely prolific author, so I just check every few years for new books. However much I love Cushman's books I might have hesitated if I'd read the description of this one and realized it was about a physically disabled girl, as disability is often handled very poorly, particularly in historical settings. (I'm disabled myself.)

Cushman soon erased all of my doubts. She was so smart in how she went about writing this. First, she chose a real condition and researched it - hip dysplasia, which can be corrected without too much trouble, but if left means the legs don't develop in the usual way and the show more person is left crippled and in pain. This often results from a certain type of breech birth, and of course couldn't be corrected in the early Elizabethan period when this book is set. Cushman's choice to allow Meggy to be angry, at other people, not at herself or necessarily because of her disability, was equally wondrous. In fiction, there are two prominent disabled tropes - the Pollyanna and the bitter cripple. We are rarely allowed to be outspoken and angry and grouchy and be a protagonist. Meggy's disability impacts how she goes about things but it has little to nothing to do with the main plot of the book. Third, Cushman lets Meggy sometimes use typical historical perceptions of disability as a result of curses or demonic possession to her own advantage when trying to get people to leave her alone (I say historical, but the Catholic church still wasn't accepting men with epilepsy into the priesthood in the 1960s due to the old 'demonic possession' explanation).

After Meggy's grandmother dies, her mother sends her to London to live with her father, who she doesn't know. He's an alchemist and takes little notice of her, never even using her name. As she learns the streets and makes herself useful running errands, she befriends a variety of people. Soon she overhears men buying poison from her father with the intent of killing an Earl. She's shocked and tries to talk her father out of it, but soon must find a way to foil the plot herself.

I really loved this book, and I'm so relieved and pleased that Cushman took this representation seriously. My love for her remains undiminished. show less

"Ye toads and vipers," the girl said, as her granny often had, "ye toads and vipers," and she snuffled a great snuffle that echoed in the empty room."
It is 16th Century Elizabethan London and 13 year old Meggy Swann, with her deformed legs and walking sticks, has just arrived from the country to live with the cold and distant father she has never met. But once this father, the odd and unfriendly Alchemist, realizes she is both deformed and female, Meggy is left to fend for herself-- virtually and then literally abandoned-- her only friend the equally bad tempered goose named Louise. But Karen Cushman's hallmark is the strong female character and Meggy is at the top of the list. She makes her way-- finding friends and allies and show more creating a life for herself that is both positive and believable within her historic context. I love Cushman-- for her strong female characters, clever and likable as well as for the beautiful and luscious language she employs to carry us away. Great for girls and anglophiles and lovers of Shakespearean insults. show less

Ye toads and vipers, it takes a certain kind of nerd to appreciate a book like this. For example: Shakespeare lovers, language geeks, Renaissance Faire attenders, history buffs, etc. I enjoyed it, but I am your classic Society of Creative Anachronism apologist.

Here we have young Meggy Swann who is transplanted from a country village to the middle of teeming London in the year 1573. Meggy was born with crooked legs, so she walks with the aid of sticks and endures a lot of insults and prejudice. But Meggy is no wilting flower. She has a sharp tongue and dishes out counter insults like a pro ("A pox on you, moldwart, and a plague and an ague, and the pukes!"). Inside, though, poor Meggy does feel like no one wants her. Her mother sent her show more away. Her father is obsessed with his alchemical pursuits. Her only friend is a goose.

But can Meggy make friends? Aye, belike she can. This is basically the story of a lonely person finding a community to belong to. In the pursuit, Meggy learns about players and plays, printing presses, murder plots, poetry, and alchemy. If the language doesn't completely scare you off, this is a great little book. show less

This is a delightful tale of Meggy Swann, a young girl hobbled by the birth defect of what would now be diagnosed as hip dyplasia. She fends for herself in un merry ole England during Elizabethan days. Those with deformities were looked upon as freaks marked by the devil.

It is obvious that the author researched the time period. Cushman is a Newbery honor and medal winner for good reason.

While the tale may seem gloomy, truly it is a story of the resiliency of the human spirit and the ability to overcome obstacles. Deemed illegitimate and unfit, Meggy's mother ships her from the countryside to live with her biological father in London. Witnessing the sights of England is a true eye opener for Meggy. Her father, an alchemist does not want show more her and thus she is twice rejected.

Strong and brave, Meggy finds friends who are part of a traveling theater during pre-Shakespeare days. show less

I had very fond childhood memories of Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife's Apprentice by the same author, so I jumped on the chance to read an e-galley of this one, and I wasn't disappointed.

I really enjoyed this book. Meggy Swann was raised by her beloved grandmother in a village outside of London during the reign of Elizabeth I. Her mother has no interest in her, so following her grandmother's death she's sent to live with her alchemist father. But when her father finds out that she's both female and crippled, he says that he has no use for her either. This is the story of Meggy's struggle to find a place for herself in an uncaring world, where people spit on her in the street and call her names because of her disability. She has show more understandably developed a prickly temperament to shield herself from the insults of others, and has difficulty opening up. I have to admit that I found her personality a bit obnoxious at first, but I did come to love her in the end.

On the other hand, I loved the writing from the very beginning. Cushman has a way of making Elizabethan England come to life, so that I was gripped from the very first chapter. Given that I was reading in less-than-ideal conditions on a computer, it would have been easy to put the book down, but I found that the story kept me absorbed throughout.

Because I hadn't read any of Cushman's work since I was maybe 11, I was a bit concerned that the story wouldn't have enough depth to hold my interest as an adult. That fear turned out to be entirely unfounded. I do wish the story had been longer only because I enjoyed it so much, but everything was developed and resolved satisfactorily in the short space there was. I'll definitely go back and read Cushman's other books that I missed between The Midwife's Apprentice and here, and I may even buy myself a physical copy of this one when it comes out in paperback.

So I was personally completely satisfied with this book, and I think that other adults would like it as well. On the other hand, I've seen some other reviews saying that the language is too difficult for children, but since I read Cushman's other works as a child myself, I'm not convinced that this would be a problem. In fact, I often see people asking for books for children with high reading levels: there's a need for books that aren't too easy, but are still age-appropriate in terms of content. This book fits perfectly in that niche. Plus, it has a positive message that doesn't feel too in-your-face, and there's a section at the end explaining the historical setting, so it has good educational potential.

In short, I really think Cushman has a winner here. This is a great book for children and adults. show less

Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Karen Cushman is one of those authors who can make a historical period come alive for young people, featuring characters of fierce will. Meggy, disabled since birth, is dumped off at her biological father's home in London. Mostly sheltered and bullied for her disability all her life, Meggy is frightened and lonely, and mostly ignored by her father who is absorbed by his alchemy projects. Meggy realizes she is going to have to fend for herself. As the book progresses, Meggy goes through an alchemy of her own, becoming stronger, assertive, and more sure of herself. Narrator Kellgren transports listeners to Elizabethan England with her emotional voice work and accents.

Alchemy and Meggy Swann
by Karen Cushman
Clarion Books
978-0-547-23184
Page Count: 176
Ages: 10-15, grade 5-9

The year is 1573 when Meggy Swann arrives in London after traveling in a wagon “between baskets of cabbages and sacks of flour.” Her companion and friend is a crippled white goose. And like the goose, Meggy does not walk, she waddles with the aid of two sticks to support her crippled legs. She is raised by her Gran after her mother turned her back on her. Now she is summoned to live with her dad, Master Peevish, an alchemist. An alchemist who makes it quite clear his transformations, his search for gold are paramount.

Meggy must find her way alone. With willful determination she carries on, unaided, struggling as she learns to show more care for herself. She is angry with understandable reasons. She is befriended by a young boy, an actor, smitten by her angelic face. She has a gift of language, crude yet humorous. She can’t help but spit out threats and insults with each searing word. You have to love this impish character Cushman has created. In one tirade Meggy aims her wrath at Roger as she says,

“Go then you writhled, beetle-brained knave. You churl, you slug, you stony-hearted villain! May onions grow in your ears.”

You can’t help but chuckle as the author makes it so easy to visualize this hot-tempered gammin turning red faced, blowing off steam. If she could, she would probably stomp her foot! The streets of Elizabethan England come alive when you walk them with Meggy Swan, a delightfully quick witted soul on a virtuous mission.

Karen Cushman is one of my favorite children’s authors. Of her many works I especially liked, The Midwife’s Apprentice and Catherine, Called Birdy. Both excellent. I highly recommend Alchemy and Meggy Swann for historical fiction bookshelves in classrooms, and libraries. A great read aloud and perfect for literature circles. show less