Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand by Donna Galanti

In volume 2 of the series, twelve year old Samantha Sea Wells is amazed at how much her life has changed since she arrived at Foggy Harbor. Once she discovered that unicorns are real, she feels happier and more at home. After their last adventure on Unicorn Island, she and her new friend, Tuck, are learning to be unicorn protectors. How lucky are they! Sam is happy to have the time with Uncle Mitch learning all she needs to know to keep the unicorns safe. It's even better spending time on the island and learning about unicorns with a friend. But when the unicorns' horns start shrinking, real danger erases the comfort and joy Sam has been experiencing. What is causing their horns to shrink? Will the unicorns still have their magic if their horns disappear? Is there anything that can be done to reverse the damage? Sam and Tuck don't have a lot of time to sort it all out. They need answers! You will have to read the second volume in the Unicorn Island series to find out what happens to the unicorns. 

Over the years I have read and loved many books by Donna Galanti. I read the first volume in the series about a year ago, so I was excited to catch up with Sam and Tuck and find out how things were going on Unicorn Island. I love the purple cover and the illustrations on the cover. It's really eye-catching and would make anyone want to pick it up and check it out. Like volume 1, there are color illustrations by Bethany Standcliffe throughout the book. The illustrations definitely make the story even more magical, and when I was done reading I went back and looked at all the pictures again. Just beautiful! I liked that Sam is feeling happier and more settled. You can tell by her behavior, and it was nice to see her enjoying herself more. It's great to see a character grow! Tuck is still an awesome friend, and I think his kindness makes him someone we'd all like to have in our corner. I was curious about the mystery and wondered if and how it would be solved. It is always a thrill to piece together clues along with characters. I think other kids would enjoy trying to solve the mystery too. What an experience it would be to see unicorns in person! I would recommend this book to anyone eight and up who loves magic, unicorns, mysteries, and adventure. I have enjoyed both volumes and hope there will be more in the series! 

Has anyone else read Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand? Or has anyone read anything else by Donna Galanti? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Horns A Plenty!

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~ F

They honk to go or run to crash- signaling a mad dash. A horse with one isn't seen. When one is full, you'll not be lean. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Horns!

Fairday's Riddles: Beep and Bop...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess the answer? Some of my favorite characters have these. ~ F

They honk to go or run to crash- signaling a mad dash. A horse with one isn't seen. When one is full, you'll not be lean. 

What am I referring to? Stop by Sunday for the answer

I gave you a clue!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Virgil, Valencia, Kaori, and Chet are four kids growing up in the same town, and their lives are more intertwined than any of them know. Summer break may just change all of their lives. Virgil isn’t as happy as he should be for the start of summer vacation. He’s happy not to see the bully at school, but he regrets that he didn't do something he had tried to get up the nerve to do all year. Virgil is very quiet and comes from a family full of loud and chatty people. Only his grandmother seems to really get him. He sets of some regular appointments with Kaori, a self-proclaimed psychic who lives in his neighborhood. Maybe she can help him. Either way, Kaori loves having Virgil over so she can show her younger sister how to read signs and tell the future. Valencia loves the woods and likes to record her observances in her journal, just like other scientists. She would like to find a friend to talk to and confide in. Life would be a little bit easier for her if her parents would learn sign language, but she makes it through reading lips and using her hearing aides, which give her some help. And then there is Chet, a kid who likes to make fun of others and who can't stand all the "weird" kids in his town. He just wants to get better at basketball and get a snake picture to brag about. But when Chet throws Virgil's guinea pig down a well, things change in more ways than one. Will Chet get in trouble for his antics? Will he get his snake picture? Will Virgil be able to save his guinea pig? Can Kaori tell the future? Will Valencia find the friend she desperately needs? You will have to see what happens when four lives intersect and a well changes everything.

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly is a book that made me really care about the characters. I was rooting for Virgil to become a little braver right from the very beginning. I could understand that he was afraid to speak to a lot of people and stand up for himself, but it is sad to watch someone have opportunities pass them by. Valencia is a great character. I loved how she told people around her what she thought and wasn't afraid to be herself. When Virgil went in the well to save his guinea pig, I kept wishing he would stop and get help. I was so stressed out for him. He didn't have any food, water, or a cell phone to call for help. I am a big fan of books that have multiple characters whose lives are intertwined, so this book  was right up my alley. I loved seeing the way things unfolded  and the way things eventually turned out. Very interesting! I didn’t know when I started reading this book that it received the Newbery Medal in 2018. I found the story very compelling, and I still think about Virgil, Valencia. and Kaori. I would recommend this book to kids in fourth grade and up who like stories about friendship and brave people. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Has anyone else read Hello, Universe? Or have you read another book by Erin Entrada Kelly? We’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy Reading!

~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Wishing Well!

You asked for a sloth! He's out of place in a willow tree, but that's the brilliance of drawing. I can add whatever I like. :) Thanks for inspiring a drawing- it's been a while!

Hello, Riddlers! Excellent guessing. Next week we'll be drinking from a well. Tune in on Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Deep and dark still hold.

Suck it up then pour it down.

Dry or full in ground. 

What am I referring to? Answer: A Well

Fairday's Riddle: Still Deep Dark...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess the answer? Old ones are interesting (and a bit unsettling). ~F

Deep and dark still hold.

Suck it up then pour it down.

Dry or full in ground. 

What am I referring to? Stop by later this week for the answer.

The picture is the clue!

Margo's Musings: What's the Hurry?

My sister, Margo, loves sloths. They are pretty cute! So of course she spotted Sloth at the Zoom when we went to our town library last week. 

Sloth is supposed to be going to the zzzzzoo to relax and take it easy. But she accidentally gets dropped off at the zoom. Instead of taking naps all day, Sloth is watching animals rushing around. She can't believe her eyes. After she's been there a while she is ready to try to make some friends. But all the other animals never stop, and their speed makes conversation hard. Sloth doesn't understand "busy" and prefers to spend time listening to the leaves rustling and the sound of the wind. It seems like everyone is too busy to get to know her. When Sloth meets Snail they are actually able to have a conversation. It's slow, but neither of them seems to care. Will the two become friends? Will the other animals ever stop and take a break so they can all get to know each other? What will happen if they don't?

Orbie's illustrations were perfect for the story. The colors were great and the sky and foliage looked so pretty. Sloth won me over with her cuteness, and I thought the dialogue was easy to follow. Margo loved looking at the pictures of the different animals. While my sister pointed at the pictures of the animals being busy, thinking they were funny, it made me reflect on how sad it is to rush through life. There is so much to be gained from simply sitting and listening to the world around you. It can be good for the mind and soul! I would definitely go to the zzzzzoo over the zoom!

This a book that can be enjoyed by kids and adults. It would be a good reminder to adults that there are lots of benefits to stopping and listening. I think parents should give their kids plenty of time to observe the world, and I'm lucky mine do! This is a great addition to a any classroom or library.

Have you read Sloth at the Zoom? Or have you read another book by Helaine Becker? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!

~F