![]() She attended an English school, housed in a magical castle, where her wild imagination was held back only by her itchy uniform (bowler hat and tie included!). Galanti shares some history about horns and hooves, secret rooms and passageways, invasive species, and healing salves.ĭonna Galanti wanted to be a writer ever since she wrote a screenplay at seven years old and acted it out with the neighborhood kids. Make sure you check out the great backmatter at the end of the book. I believe this book would also appeal to reluctant readers and kids with dyslexia. ![]() The book has a large type face and includes many gorgeous colorful illustrations by Bethany Stancliffe, which add to the magic. And it ends with some interesting cliffhangers.Īlthough Unicorn Island is for students 8-12, it will also appeal to younger readers (7-10) who aren’t quite ready for wordy and lengthy MG fantasy novels. This is the second volume with four books to follow. The story also has a strong element of realism. Galanti’s narrative is engaging and immersive, Her plot is solid with elements of danger that will keep readers quickly turning pages. Sam can’t help but feel that Uncle Mitch is keeping secrets from her. Uncle Mitch is somewhat stern and elusive at first, but welcomes their help when he needs rescuing. She befriends Tuck, the veterinarian’s son, is very resourceful during difficult situations and a supportive friend. Samantha (Sam) is a curious and resilient protagonist who longs to become a unicorn protector. The characters are diverse and believable. It will captivate readers’ imaginations and lure them into a magical world of mythical beasts where they can learn to become “unicorn protectors.” With determination, courage, and fierce loyalty to one another-and to their code as unicorn protectors-the kids set out to protect the island’s secrecy and the unicorns’ very existence.ĭonna Galanti’s Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath Sand is the second volume in this enchanting contemporary fantasy, which is packed with adventure, mystery and tension. Learns the truth behind Aunt Sylvie’s disappearance and her own connection to the island. As Sam and Tuck race to help find a cure, she must confront a dark secret that her Uncle Mitch has spent her entire life trying to protect her from - a secret that links her own past to the future of the herd. Foggy Harbor is finally starting to feel like home,īut just when everything seems perfect, a mysterious illness befalls the unicorn herd and threatens to rob them of their immortality. Since coming to Foggy Harbor to stay with her Uncle Mitch while her mother tours with an orchestra, she’s discovered a magical island full of unicorns and is learning how to protect them with her new friend, Tuck by her side. Samantha’s (Sam) life couldn’t get much better. Themes: Unicorns, Mythical creatures, Mysterious Island, Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship But if you’ve seen movies built from the same parts as this one, you’ll likely find this too familiar-but energetic, well-acted, and distinguished by artfully artless chatter.Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand (Vol. ![]() The key relationships are well drawn, if not especially revealing of anything human, and director Fletcher sometimes dares some welcome absurdity. The three leads take naps and mope about his apartment meanwhile, there’s story-beefing filler with rival gangs, other killers, and the persistent problem of scoring more bullets when you’re fresh out. Gandolfini’s character wants to be killed, which confounds Violet and Daisy-and makes the job tricky. The target, though, is a fatherly lump played by James Gandolfini, an actor who lugs about world-weary gravitas like Scrooge’s partner Marley lugged chains. (Both resemble real teenagers, which is rare in movies.) After a sharp shock intro establishing their murderous bona fides, the duo daydream over celebrity magazines and agree to a new assignment to scare up cash to buy pricey new dresses. But Alexis Bledel and Saoirse Ronan are wholly winning as the white-girl assassins of the title, prickly Violet (Bledel) hiding her homicidal rage behind Zooey Deschanel bangs, and naive Daisy (Ronan) so apple-pie sweet she can’t really muster any homicidal rage at all. Then there are serious trace elements of Stand-Up Guys or any other bittersweet crime flick where those who whack find themselves un-eager to plug their latest victim. A somewhat tastier concoction than its list of ingredients might suggest, Geoffrey Fletcher’s Violet & Daisy mashes a teen-beauties-too-sensitive-for-their-world drama up with one of those dry comedies about professional killers who have grown blithe about their jobs.
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