January 1, 2021
K-Gr 3-Ruby and Iris compete to prove who has the fastest unicorn. The two sisters are keepers of the Enchanted Kingdom, a magical land of fire mountains and diamond deserts where unicorns are protected. Dragon rider Cole challenges them to a unicorn race: Whoever returns with the Lotus Gem, hidden in an oasis in the desert, has the best unicorn. Ruby chooses Tempest, who is fast, strong, and impulsive. Iris decides on Lyric for her intelligence and quick thinking. Before they set out, Cole warns of perilous quicksand and labyrinthine caves, but Ruby impetuously races off toward the gem, inadvertently triggering a dangerous sandstorm. Can the girls work together to make their way back to safety? Sanderson reestablishes the series premise in a catch-up at the beginning of the book. Maps of the town and surrounding countryside add to the effective world-building. The winner of the race is debated by the sisters: Tempest outruns Lyric, but Lyric uses her wits to rescue the foursome. Discussion prompts at the back of the book guide young readers to reflect on their own strengths and skills. Plentiful illustrations show powerful unicorns in exciting action shots: A front-facing image of Tempest galloping at full speed is particularly effective. Short, simple sentences with limited vocabulary and large typeface give the early elementary crowd a chance to practice reading fluency. VERDICT A winning, fast-paced adventure story for fans of the series.-Sarah Webb, City and Country Sch. Lib., NY
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2020
Unicorn Guardians Ruby and Iris compete in a race to determine the better rider. After a near collision on unicorn-back, sisters Ruby and Iris argue about who is at fault: Iris thinks Ruby needs to watch out while Ruby thinks Iris too fearful a rider. Their friend Cole, the Dragon Guardian, suggests a contest to resolve the conflict. He proposes that they race across the Diamond Desert to the Lotus Oasis, where they can find the Lotus Gem--the first to retrieve it wins. Ruby chooses a unicorn for size and strength; Iris opts for a smart unicorn who can "think fast and avoid trouble." While Ruby's desire for speed causes costly mistakes, she still manages to overtake Iris and, with single-minded focus, reach the gem first--triggering a calamity. Unable to outrun the trouble she's accidentally caused, Ruby is lucky that Iris and her clever mount are there to guide her to safety. Ultimately, Ruby thinks Iris is the better rider for listening to her mount while Iris points out that Ruby was on track to win their contest as the faster rider. Discussion questions at the end of the book ask readers which skill is more important, riding fast or riding smart, but the text itself doesn't denigrate Ruby's talents to push a moral, landing on an ending that's both ambiguous and joyful. Illustrated characters present White. Series companions Unique Unicorn, Starberry Magic, and Shadow Stallion publish simultaneously. Character development and nuance enhance a simple, action-oriented plot. (Fantasy. 6-8)
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