The Alchemyst Theme of The Supernatural

Do you believe in magic? Nicholas Flamel sure does. But Sophie and Josh aren't too sure, that is until they see it with their own eyes. The strange thing about magic in The Alchemyst is that it's really not all that extraordinary. In fact, as Flamel tells us, there's magical potential in all of us; we just have to learn how to Awaken it.

1. How does The Alchemyst define magic? What's the difference between magic and advanced science and technology? Are there any similarities?
2. Do we learn something more about Sophie when we learn her magic smells like vanilla ice cream? Do we think of Josh differently when we learn that his smells like oranges? What about Dee, or Nicholas Flamel? What is the effect of giving each character "his or her own distinctive odor; rather like a magical footprint"?
3. Nicholas Flamel believes that everyone has the possibility of magic within them. Do you think this might be a metaphor for something else? Do we all have that potential inside us? And if everyone does, what then makes the twins so special?