Cover of Alchemy and Meggy Swann

Alchemy and Meggy Swann

by Karen Cushman

Assigned across 1 curriculum list

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman is assigned in US schools at grades 3–10. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Alchemy and Meggy Swann is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Grade range
Grades 3–10
Pages
197
Reading time
about 3h 35m (est.)
First published
2010
Genre
Children's
ISBN-13
9780547487410
Buy on AmazonListen free on Audible

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

About this book

Meggy arrives in London expecting to be welcomed by her father, who sent for her, but he doesn't want her to assist in his laboratory when he sees that not only is she female, she needs two sticks to walk. Sent on trivial errands, she learns to navigate the city, which is earthy and colorful as well as dirty, noisy, and filled with rogues and thieves. Meanwhile she is befriended by the alchemist's former assistant, and when it appears that her father may be arrested and beheaded for practicing magic, together she and her new friend devise a plan to save him. Building strength and street smarts, Meggy goes from helpless to confident and from friendless to surrounded by warmth and love. Elizabethan London has its dark side, but it also has much to offer Meggy Swann.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Alchemy and Meggy Swann→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Children's title, typically at grades 3–10. Written in the 2010s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Common questions

What grade level is Alchemy and Meggy Swann?
Alchemy and Meggy Swann is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–10. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read Alchemy and Meggy Swann?
It takes about 3h 35m to read Alchemy and Meggy Swann (197 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 215 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Alchemy and Meggy Swann?
Alchemy and Meggy Swann appears on reading lists for Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Alchemy and Meggy Swann banned in schools?
Alchemy and Meggy Swann does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

Why this book is on this list

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 3–10 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: read-aloud.
Buy on AmazonAudible

Affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases & membership trials.