Assistant principal Brandi Meeks recently finished reading “The Alchemist.”

“I liked the message, but I also liked it because it takes place in Spain and in Morocco,” Meeks said. “I actually got to go to those two places when I was in high school, so it was kind of cool to know what they were talking about.”

“The Alchemist” follows a young boy’s journey as he grows up and learns to explore his dreams. Santiago, a shepherd boy, experiences recurring dreams urging him to travel to Egypt and pursue his Personal Legend. As he makes this journey, Santiago discovers more about his purpose and the people around him.

“I read it about two weeks ago for Ms. Corallo,” Meeks said. “She needed an administrator to read the book, so I read it. Turns out it was really, really good.”

Brazilian author Paulo Coelho originally wrote “The Alchemist” in Portuguese. “The Alchemist” reflects Coelho’s journey to discovering his true passions. Coelho originally rejected his writing talent to work in music, but a hike through northwestern Spain eventually led him back to writing. He is also known for writing “The Pilgrimage” and “Eleven Minutes.”

“I think adults could use inspiration just as much as kids could use inspiration, and it’s a feel good book,” Meeks said.

“The Alchemist” encourages readers to examine their paths and reject distractions in order to achieve their dreams.