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"A" is for the Alchemist
Sisters and brothers. Cats and dogs. Science and sports. Rivals or allies? Author James Larson plunges into the madcap world of middle school with his new Winnie and Winslow Adventure series.
The first book, “A” is for the Alchemist, introduces readers to twelve-year-old Winslow, who wants to do well in the upcoming football championship, and his brilliant kid sister, Winnie, who is finishing her sure-to-win entry for the national science contest—a robot designed with unique artificial intelligence that enables it to sing any and every piece of music.
Unbeknownst to them, Winnie and Winslow’s brilliance and bravery are about to be tested by a mad scientist who will stop at nothing to master the art of turning base metal into gold. And he’s just discovered that Winnie’s robot holds the key to his formula.
Joined by Cavalcade, the family cat, and Amulet, a cowardly homeless dog who dreams of being part of the family, too, Winnie and Winslow must set aside their differences and pool their resources if they have any hope of stopping the villainous alchemist before he kills anyone.
A thrilling young-adult adventure that will keep you guessing—and laughing—from start to finish, you’ll be glad this is just the beginning.
The first book, “A” is for the Alchemist, introduces readers to twelve-year-old Winslow, who wants to do well in the upcoming football championship, and his brilliant kid sister, Winnie, who is finishing her sure-to-win entry for the national science contest—a robot designed with unique artificial intelligence that enables it to sing any and every piece of music.
Unbeknownst to them, Winnie and Winslow’s brilliance and bravery are about to be tested by a mad scientist who will stop at nothing to master the art of turning base metal into gold. And he’s just discovered that Winnie’s robot holds the key to his formula.
Joined by Cavalcade, the family cat, and Amulet, a cowardly homeless dog who dreams of being part of the family, too, Winnie and Winslow must set aside their differences and pool their resources if they have any hope of stopping the villainous alchemist before he kills anyone.
A thrilling young-adult adventure that will keep you guessing—and laughing—from start to finish, you’ll be glad this is just the beginning.
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2014
About the author
James Larson
1 book1 followerBIO OF JAMES LARSON
James Larson, Artistic Director and Writer
For twenty-eight years James served as Artistic Director of the Omaha Theater Company and first established the education, touring, and multicultural programs that are currently in operation. James was also Associate Professor of Theater at New York University and Director of Educational Theater at NYU. As an actor, James has performed from coast to coast with Megan Terry’s Magic Theatre, performing for the athletes in the Olympic Village at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics in 1980 and at the Seattle Bumbershoot Festival in 1979. He studied acting with the late Zbigniew Cynkutis, principal actor with Jerzy Grotowski’s Polish Theater Laboratory. As a playwright, James has had his plays produced around the country and overseas at the Edinburgh Theater Festival, with several productions in New York City at venues such as the Wonderhorse and he has been the recipient of a Rockefeller grant and a grant from the Advanced Office of Drama Research for his playwriting. His stage adaptation of Mercer Meyer’s There’s an Alligator Under my Bed is available from PlayScripts, Inc., in New York. James has brought playwrights such as Tony Award-winning Mark Medoff, National Book Award-recipient Robert Bly, Pulitzer Prize-nominee Joe Sutton, and Obie Award-winning, Guggenheim recipient Megan Terry to write for the Omaha Theater Company, and has brought in all the leading writers in the field of Theater for Young Audiences, along with former Artistic Director of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company, Everett Quinton, and three-time Academy Award-nominee, Debra Winger, and best-selling children’s author in the history of publishing, Stan Berenstain, who wrote and designed scenery for two shows at the theater, and musical director of the Tony Awards each year, Elliot Lawrence. James has been published in American Theater, in the Drama/Theater Teacher, Stage Directions, and in all the major journals for Educational Theater. He has served on theater review panels for the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation, and has served as a reader for the NEA Playwriting Awards. He was recently Guest Director at the Theatre School at Florida State University. Under his leadership, the Omaha Theater Company received the highest award in its field, the Sara Spencer Artistic Achievement Award, and the Nebraska Governor’s Organizational Achievement Award. James received his Ph.D. in Theater from the University of Kansas, where he was the recipient of the Kilty Kane award, the highest award the university can give to a graduating theater student.
James Larson, Artistic Director and Writer
For twenty-eight years James served as Artistic Director of the Omaha Theater Company and first established the education, touring, and multicultural programs that are currently in operation. James was also Associate Professor of Theater at New York University and Director of Educational Theater at NYU. As an actor, James has performed from coast to coast with Megan Terry’s Magic Theatre, performing for the athletes in the Olympic Village at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics in 1980 and at the Seattle Bumbershoot Festival in 1979. He studied acting with the late Zbigniew Cynkutis, principal actor with Jerzy Grotowski’s Polish Theater Laboratory. As a playwright, James has had his plays produced around the country and overseas at the Edinburgh Theater Festival, with several productions in New York City at venues such as the Wonderhorse and he has been the recipient of a Rockefeller grant and a grant from the Advanced Office of Drama Research for his playwriting. His stage adaptation of Mercer Meyer’s There’s an Alligator Under my Bed is available from PlayScripts, Inc., in New York. James has brought playwrights such as Tony Award-winning Mark Medoff, National Book Award-recipient Robert Bly, Pulitzer Prize-nominee Joe Sutton, and Obie Award-winning, Guggenheim recipient Megan Terry to write for the Omaha Theater Company, and has brought in all the leading writers in the field of Theater for Young Audiences, along with former Artistic Director of the Ridiculous Theatrical Company, Everett Quinton, and three-time Academy Award-nominee, Debra Winger, and best-selling children’s author in the history of publishing, Stan Berenstain, who wrote and designed scenery for two shows at the theater, and musical director of the Tony Awards each year, Elliot Lawrence. James has been published in American Theater, in the Drama/Theater Teacher, Stage Directions, and in all the major journals for Educational Theater. He has served on theater review panels for the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mellon Foundation, and has served as a reader for the NEA Playwriting Awards. He was recently Guest Director at the Theatre School at Florida State University. Under his leadership, the Omaha Theater Company received the highest award in its field, the Sara Spencer Artistic Achievement Award, and the Nebraska Governor’s Organizational Achievement Award. James received his Ph.D. in Theater from the University of Kansas, where he was the recipient of the Kilty Kane award, the highest award the university can give to a graduating theater student.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 29, 2016
A wonderful book for middle-school children. It has so much packed into it: talking animals, animals made of metal that fly, talk, andthink; mysterious aliens; talking/thinking robots; brother and sister team, plus a grandfather who has strange powers, lots of technology real and science fiction AND what could be called an evil scientist.
The characters in the book are Winnie (main character-smart), her brother Winslow (not a great sports person), Cavalcade (family cat that likes to tease the dog), Amulet (homeless dog that's afraid of everything), Grandfather (has secret super powers), Dr. Lodestone (greedy, mad scientist). There are other lesser characters: many talking animals, flying metal animals, and a very large flying hawk that can change anyone or any animal to scrap metal.
Dr. Lodestone wants to make gold out of metal. He has everything except someone who can sing a specific song. Winnie enters a science contest and makes a singing robot. The Doctor needs the robot so he can make gold. Dr. Lodestone’s metal hawk steals the robot. Winnie, Winslow and company must get the robot back before Dr. Lodestone makes his gold and kills hundreds of people.
Very fast paced book. Characters are excellent. The author brings everything together at the end. This is the first book in a new series.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
The characters in the book are Winnie (main character-smart), her brother Winslow (not a great sports person), Cavalcade (family cat that likes to tease the dog), Amulet (homeless dog that's afraid of everything), Grandfather (has secret super powers), Dr. Lodestone (greedy, mad scientist). There are other lesser characters: many talking animals, flying metal animals, and a very large flying hawk that can change anyone or any animal to scrap metal.
Dr. Lodestone wants to make gold out of metal. He has everything except someone who can sing a specific song. Winnie enters a science contest and makes a singing robot. The Doctor needs the robot so he can make gold. Dr. Lodestone’s metal hawk steals the robot. Winnie, Winslow and company must get the robot back before Dr. Lodestone makes his gold and kills hundreds of people.
Very fast paced book. Characters are excellent. The author brings everything together at the end. This is the first book in a new series.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
July 11, 2014
I received this book through goodreads first reads. Thank you for choosing me. The last chapter of this book sealed the deal for me. I didn't really know what to expect when I got this. This was one of the wackiest sci fi kid friendly books around. The writing was age and language appropriate and did not jump around. Winnie was the brains and Winslow the wanna be brawn. In this hodge podge group of put together characters, the author does a good job of making them become a family and eliminating the bad guys!
August 6, 2014
Review: "A" IS FOR ALCHEMIST by JAMES LARSON
The first delightful installment in an alphabetical series for middle-grade readers, this story reminded me of the classic children's literature fantasists I read as a child, such as John Bellairs, Lloyd Alexander, and C. S. Lewis, yet in a very contemporary setting. The characters are appealing, there's plenty of adventure both solo and team, and mysteries galore. I recommend it!
The first delightful installment in an alphabetical series for middle-grade readers, this story reminded me of the classic children's literature fantasists I read as a child, such as John Bellairs, Lloyd Alexander, and C. S. Lewis, yet in a very contemporary setting. The characters are appealing, there's plenty of adventure both solo and team, and mysteries galore. I recommend it!
July 2, 2014
I love that Winnie is a STEM-strong girl. The story is very technologically relevant, children enjoy the real-life references. There are numerous chapters that left me wondering what would happen next! I can't wait for the next book to come out.
Want to Read
April 14, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 29, 2014
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT JAMES LARSON’S “A” is for the Alchemist
5 Stars (Out of 5)
In “A” Is for the Alchemist, James Larson has written a wild adventure that defies prediction. Children and young adults will enjoy the well-written characters and numerous zany inventions. Larson also includes something to spark almost any reader’s interest. In less than three hundred pages, the author incorporates such diverse elements as a mysterious castle-like house, ominous fog-like beings, sheet music with swirling notes, a computer tablet with astounding applications, two starving rats, a flock of buzz-saw-like birds, and a mysterious superhero. This level of exciting, imaginative detail makes for an action-packed novel that will keep readers guessing. Larson’s fast-paced, fantastic book also manages to address the important themes of failure and cowardice. Winslow fails his football team at a crucial moment but ultimately saves the day. Likewise, Amulet, who lives for years believing that his cowardice doomed his beloved brother to a terrible fate, becomes a hero. At the same time, Cavalcade, who repeatedly calls Amulet a coward, learns what it feels like to be afraid. Even Dr. Lodestone’s twisted nature stems in part from his fear of failure. “A” Is for the Alchemist is a promising start to Larson’s new series, which will appeal to children and young adults seeking an action-packed novel with some fantastic twists.
--Clarion Review
Two audacious children, a pet cat and a homeless dog overcome an evil scientist in Larson’s first series installment for middle-grade readers. The book’s plot wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! The high-spirited kids face a series of hair-raising scares, including a battle with a mechanical hawk that can turn things into molten, metallic scrap. The wacky adventure manages to fit together in the end, with each member of the eccentric cast playing a valuable part. The story is engaging enough to keep readers guessing until the end. A well-paced story with all the ingredients to keep kids enthralled.
--Kirkus Review
Larson’s new book, “A” is for The Alchemist, is an absolute joy, a book seemingly written by a seasoned literary veteran rather than a first-time novelist. Of course, Larson brings to writing a lifetime as a master storyteller, particularly of stories meant to engage and entertain young minds.
--Robert Nelson, Managing Editor, Omaha Magazine
5 Stars (Out of 5)
In “A” Is for the Alchemist, James Larson has written a wild adventure that defies prediction. Children and young adults will enjoy the well-written characters and numerous zany inventions. Larson also includes something to spark almost any reader’s interest. In less than three hundred pages, the author incorporates such diverse elements as a mysterious castle-like house, ominous fog-like beings, sheet music with swirling notes, a computer tablet with astounding applications, two starving rats, a flock of buzz-saw-like birds, and a mysterious superhero. This level of exciting, imaginative detail makes for an action-packed novel that will keep readers guessing. Larson’s fast-paced, fantastic book also manages to address the important themes of failure and cowardice. Winslow fails his football team at a crucial moment but ultimately saves the day. Likewise, Amulet, who lives for years believing that his cowardice doomed his beloved brother to a terrible fate, becomes a hero. At the same time, Cavalcade, who repeatedly calls Amulet a coward, learns what it feels like to be afraid. Even Dr. Lodestone’s twisted nature stems in part from his fear of failure. “A” Is for the Alchemist is a promising start to Larson’s new series, which will appeal to children and young adults seeking an action-packed novel with some fantastic twists.
--Clarion Review
Two audacious children, a pet cat and a homeless dog overcome an evil scientist in Larson’s first series installment for middle-grade readers. The book’s plot wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! The high-spirited kids face a series of hair-raising scares, including a battle with a mechanical hawk that can turn things into molten, metallic scrap. The wacky adventure manages to fit together in the end, with each member of the eccentric cast playing a valuable part. The story is engaging enough to keep readers guessing until the end. A well-paced story with all the ingredients to keep kids enthralled.
--Kirkus Review
Larson’s new book, “A” is for The Alchemist, is an absolute joy, a book seemingly written by a seasoned literary veteran rather than a first-time novelist. Of course, Larson brings to writing a lifetime as a master storyteller, particularly of stories meant to engage and entertain young minds.
--Robert Nelson, Managing Editor, Omaha Magazine
August 25, 2014
A free copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A in for the Alchemist is the story of brother and sister Winnie and Winslow who are forced into action when a robot that Winnie has built for her school's STEM fair is stolen and an evil alchemist tries to use it to turn an entire stadium of people into gold, killing all those inside. Along the way they are helped by their pet cat, Cavalcade, a stray dog, Amulet, and a host of other animals including the city' pigeons and rats.
This is a good story, but most of the exciting parts of the plot that speed along are in the second half. I really liked the character of Winslow, and was rooting for him throughout, and I thought the interactions between Cavalcade and Amulet were quite funny. There's also quite a lot of gruesome deaths, which I think would entertain the younger reader.
It's a little disappointing then that the first half of the story is a little tricky to get through. Unfortunately, while this story has some really good ideas, it makes the mistake of having a few too many ideas, all of which are thrown into the story and which left me really confused as to what was going on. As well as the robot plot line, there's threads about football games, a mysterious superhero, some pigeons, two rats, disappearing dog-nappers, a locked attic, a golden apple, a metal falcon and a mystery chemical that everyone's desperate to get their hands on. It's a bit too much to take in and figure out, and although it's mostly all tied together at the end, there's still too many loose threads left over and it makes for a messy read. This is really disappointing especially as I think there's a lot of good stuff in this story. I think part of the problem is that this book is written as the first in a series and while in some ways that's fine, I don't think it would ever be able to stand alone in it's own right.
A bit of a mixed bag. A good story that distracts itself with too many plot threads. 3 stars.
A in for the Alchemist is the story of brother and sister Winnie and Winslow who are forced into action when a robot that Winnie has built for her school's STEM fair is stolen and an evil alchemist tries to use it to turn an entire stadium of people into gold, killing all those inside. Along the way they are helped by their pet cat, Cavalcade, a stray dog, Amulet, and a host of other animals including the city' pigeons and rats.
This is a good story, but most of the exciting parts of the plot that speed along are in the second half. I really liked the character of Winslow, and was rooting for him throughout, and I thought the interactions between Cavalcade and Amulet were quite funny. There's also quite a lot of gruesome deaths, which I think would entertain the younger reader.
It's a little disappointing then that the first half of the story is a little tricky to get through. Unfortunately, while this story has some really good ideas, it makes the mistake of having a few too many ideas, all of which are thrown into the story and which left me really confused as to what was going on. As well as the robot plot line, there's threads about football games, a mysterious superhero, some pigeons, two rats, disappearing dog-nappers, a locked attic, a golden apple, a metal falcon and a mystery chemical that everyone's desperate to get their hands on. It's a bit too much to take in and figure out, and although it's mostly all tied together at the end, there's still too many loose threads left over and it makes for a messy read. This is really disappointing especially as I think there's a lot of good stuff in this story. I think part of the problem is that this book is written as the first in a series and while in some ways that's fine, I don't think it would ever be able to stand alone in it's own right.
A bit of a mixed bag. A good story that distracts itself with too many plot threads. 3 stars.
August 13, 2014
A wonderful read for your elementary-aged reader (and up!) Clever, imaginative and zany are the words to describe the characters in this book. You have talking animals (cat, dog, rats, pigeons) as well as a dangerous metallic talking bird with laser-beam like eyes, a 7-foot-tall evil villain, mysterious fog-like men (or are they aliens?) who are rounding up stray dogs for their own dastardly plans, crazy and clever inventions, and - what the heck is Grandpa Terry's secret in the attic?
A fun read for all around.
A fun read for all around.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews