Unicorn Island, a mid-elementary action horned reader

I’m at the beach, reading a book for mid- elementary-aged and up students about unicorns. Shouldn’t I be putting my feet in the sand, walking, and looking for shells or something? Instead, I’m under an umbrella, willingly reading Unicorn Island, and enjoying it immensely. I could speed read it, but I’m taking my time reading the book, digging into the vivid descriptions and adventure that Sam is experiencing in Foggy Harbor.

Unicorn Island is a treat for ages eight and up. Those younger ages might need some help with the bigger words. The same ages probably won’t be able to read all of the chapters in one sitting. Most of the chapters are around 20 pages, and even though these pages have large font, an eight-year-old might find it challenging to do that. If the kids are slightly older then they’ll breeze through the chapters and, just like their younger counterparts, will enjoy every moment of it.

It’s a unicorn story that defies the stereotypes of unicorn stories that you’d expect. Unicorn Island is more mysterious and laced with adventure; all the while having traits that children will admire and seem as regular as them. Sam lives in the big city with her mom who performs in an orchestra. Because of that, they move about every 12 months and now she’s been offered an amazing chance to join one in Europe. Unfortunately, this means that Sam has to spend the summer with her Uncle Mitch who lives on the South Carolina coast. She also has to leave tomorrow. Her summer is looking grimmer by the moment.

It doesn’t get any cheerier when she sees the population of Foggy Harbor is a scant 3,320 people and that Mitch is unaware of her arrival. He’s a gruff man who begrudgingly says that she can stay there, but makes it clear that there are parts of the house that are off-limits. Thankfully, Sam quickly makes a friend in Tuck, who is the son of the local veterinarian. The two meet when she sees a hurt stray kitten and he advises her on how to approach a kitten who you don’t know.

Tuck and her quickly bond over their mutual love of animals. He gets her up to speed on local folklore, including the island that can sometimes be seen called Lost Luck. The local sailors avoid it and there’s usually a very thick shroud of fog around it. Things get even stranger when the two youth sneak into one of the places where Uncle Mitch specifically told them not to go. In the basement, the two discover things that look like unicorn horns, white hair, and a clock. Tuck immediately knows that this is a fog clock, something he’s only heard about in legends and doubted that they actually existed.

Unicorn Island is a mystery, with periods of action and a backbone of friendship. It’s also very well written and will keep readers easily going from one page to the next. As we said, the chapters might be a bit long for some readers, but the text is large. The format of the book will give young readers confidence also. The chapter size might be intimidating, but when they finish one they’ll realize that the book is actually quite approachable and something that can finish and enjoy. So are there unicorns on the titular Unicorn Island? You’ll have to read it to find out. When you do, you’ll find out how well the book sets up future releases with equal amounts of intrigue and animals.

Unicorn Island is by Donna Galanti with illustrations by Bethany Stancliffe and available on epic!, an imprint of Andrews McMeel Publishing.

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