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madcat29's review
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
robotswithpersonality's review
A warm hug of a book. The magic and sweetness of fantastical creatures and animal lovers contrasted with the harder realities of confronting mortality, and learning to respect the autonomy of wild animals.
Might have originally picked it up because I love Rebecca Green's illustrations, but I'm just as enamoured by Jacqueline K Ogburn's cozy, touching story.
Might have originally picked it up because I love Rebecca Green's illustrations, but I'm just as enamoured by Jacqueline K Ogburn's cozy, touching story.
lmarch's review
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
anniekslibrary's review
3.0
This was a fun read with a really cute concept, but it was all too 'normalized' for my taste: there were fantastic animals, but still the book lacked some magic in my opinion.
bandherbooks's review
3.0
My five-year old is starting to like reading chapter books for bedtime stories! Woo! This was a new mid-grade selection at my library.
A sweet story about a young boy who finds out the veterinarian next door is no ordinary vet and the woods he lives in are no ordinary woods.
There is a little action but most of the story is about the attempts to take care of a wounded, pregnant unicorn, how to deal with familial loss, and the concept "do no harm."
I didn't quiet expect the level of violence and sadness. A character is shot accidentally by hunters, the main character's grandmother dies, and there is a grave fear the unicorn who is pregnant with twins will lose one, or both, of her babies. There is some sassy language (lots of "stupid") and the boy's tentative friendship with the girl next door was sort of lame and old-fashioned.
In all, a pretty sophisticated emotional story that may not be appropriate for a five year old, but she dealt with the themes well. Lots of talking points.
A sweet story about a young boy who finds out the veterinarian next door is no ordinary vet and the woods he lives in are no ordinary woods.
There is a little action but most of the story is about the attempts to take care of a wounded, pregnant unicorn, how to deal with familial loss, and the concept "do no harm."
I didn't quiet expect the level of violence and sadness. A character is shot accidentally by hunters, the main character's grandmother dies, and there is a grave fear the unicorn who is pregnant with twins will lose one, or both, of her babies. There is some sassy language (lots of "stupid") and the boy's tentative friendship with the girl next door was sort of lame and old-fashioned.
In all, a pretty sophisticated emotional story that may not be appropriate for a five year old, but she dealt with the themes well. Lots of talking points.
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