About the Author

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.

Reviews

"Unicorn lovers and fans of the first book will enjoy the fantasy".-- Horn Book

"Unicorn lovers and fans of the first book will enjoy the fantasy".

-- Horn Book

Gr 3-6-The second book of The Unicorn Chronicles by Bruce Coville (Scholastic, 1999) finds Cara on an exciting quest. She must make her way through the magical world of Luster to the unicorn queen, who asks Cara to bring back her grandmother Ivy so that old wounds can be healed. Believing that her grandmother, known to the unicorns as "The Wanderer," is on Earth, Cara must find a way home with the help of her growing list of companions. Filled with peril, humor, and many surprising revelations, Cara's quest takes her back to Earth, only to find her grandmother trapped in a mysterious dimension by the evil Beloved, whose greatest desire is to destroy all unicorns. Although Cara's father is a Hunter, one of Beloved's loyal warriors, a touching reconciliation between father and daughter is affected when he realizes that all he previously believed is untrue. Coville leaves the ending open, but does give some closure by revealing the mystery of Ivy's past and her relationship to the unicorns. Those unfamiliar with the first book in the series, Into the Land of the Unicorns (Scholastic, 1994), will likely be confused by a number of plot points and the sparse characterization in Song of the Wanderer, and will have to rely on the voice characterizations of this talented cast in order to better identify the characters. As the 12-year-old Cara, Carmen Viviano-Crafts compellingly conveys the confusion and deep longings of this young heroine seeking to understand her purpose in life. Jackie Grace as M'Gama lends the role of the Geomancer the full gravitas and majesty required. A real highlight is the several versions of the poignant titular "Song of the Wanderer," beautifully rendered by the cast. Briskly paced, emotionally moving, and featuring compelling female characters, this traditional fantasy will leave listeners longing for the next book in the series.-B. Allison Gray, South Country Library, Bellport, NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.