Bruce Coville has received over a dozen Children's Choice Awards, and has written more than ninety popular books for young people, including MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, SONG OF THE WANDERER, and THE MONSTER'S RING. His most recent novel, DARK WHISPERS, is the third book in his beloved Unicorn Chronicles series. He lives in Syracuse, New York, with his wife, Katherine.
Gr 4-6-On a cold winter's night, Cara and her grandmother take refuge in a church after a mysterious man begins to follow them. Inside, Cara encounters an elderly woman who helps her cross a magical border into Luster, the Land of the Unicorns. Soon after arriving there, Cara meets Lightfoot, one of the many unicorns who inhabit Luster, along with other mystical creatures. Cara's magical new friends help her deliver a message to the Queen of the Unicorns. The narrator relates the plot in even, measured tones, allowing the full-cast of actors to express the characters' emotions. Sound effects cleverly convey how Lightfoot communicates with Cara in a telepathic manner. Their unspoken conversations are read with a hollow, echoing effect, underscoring the magical nature of these exchanges. Music provides transitions between chapters, with the tone and tempo of the music changing according to the events presented. The music is generally ethereal and delicate, creating an otherworldly feeling that is well suited for the fantasy genre. A solid choice for public and school libraries where fantasy series are popular.-Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library,KY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Coville's (My Teacher Is an Alien) mild fantasy, the first in the projected Unicorn Chronicles, opens promisingly, with a suspenseful chase scene, but somewhat dissipates its force. A nameless hunter pursues Cara and her grandmother into an empty church, where the grandmother gives Cara her amulet-along with the bewildering instructions to jump from the church tower at the twelfth toll of the bell. The girl lands in Luster, the land of the unicorns, and tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the amulet even as she continues to elude the hunter. Aided by a young unicorn and an assortment of odd creatures, including Dimblethum (``He looked like a bear that had started to become a man but hadn't finished the process'') and Squijum (``a cross between a monkey and a squirrel''), Cara embarks on a number of dangerous adventures. The plot jumps from one episode to the next, and can be confusing. But drama builds with the revelation that the hunter is none other than Cara's father (who long ago abandoned her); no stock villain, he is given plausible motives for his inimical deeds. Cara's loyalties are severely tested, leaving plenty of room for a sequel. Fantasy fans might be content with the headlong pacing, but most will hope that future installments will include more fluid writing and less convoluted plot lines. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)
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