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The Unicorn in the Barn
For years people have claimed to see a mysterious white deer in the woods around Chinaberry Creek. It always gets away.
One evening, Eric Harper thinks he spots it. But a deer doesn’t have a coat that shimmers like a pearl. And a deer certainly isn’t born with an ivory horn curling from its forehead.
When Eric discovers the unicorn is hurt and being taken care of by the vet next door and her daughter, Allegra, his life is transformed.
A tender tale of love, loss, and the connections we make, The Unicorn in the Barn shows us that sometimes ordinary life takes extraordinary turns.
One evening, Eric Harper thinks he spots it. But a deer doesn’t have a coat that shimmers like a pearl. And a deer certainly isn’t born with an ivory horn curling from its forehead.
When Eric discovers the unicorn is hurt and being taken care of by the vet next door and her daughter, Allegra, his life is transformed.
A tender tale of love, loss, and the connections we make, The Unicorn in the Barn shows us that sometimes ordinary life takes extraordinary turns.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2017
80 people are currently reading
1759 people want to read
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February 19, 2023
Q&A below review-
Have you ever seen a Unicorn? Eric has, and now his life may be changed forever.
Eric’s grandmother isn’t well and has been put into a nursing home. Her house is now being occupied by someone new, a girl named Allegra, and her mother, a veterinarian. One day, Eric stumbles upon Allegra pounding in a “No Trespassing” sign on the tree where his treehouse resides: his favorite place to be. They don’t seem to like each other, but Eric doesn’t know yet that Allegra may not be as awful as she seems.
As Eric spends more time around the woods and farmhouse, he begins to discover magical creatures, including a white and glowing animal he first thinks is a pony. Soon, he realizes this beautiful pony-like animal is a unicorn: the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. He soon observes that she’s living in the old barn near the farmhouse which has been converted into a vet practice by Allegra’s mother. The unicorn was meant to remain a secret, but Eric is inquisitive and must find out everything he can about this magnificent creature.
We absolutely loved all the magical creatures in the book, especially Moonpearl, the majestic unicorn. The talking animals reminded us of another favorite children’s story-Charlotte’s Web. The human characters are memorable and even though it’s an imaginary story, it felt real. The relationship between Eric and his grandmother is heartwarming and we admired how Eric and Allegra’s friendship developed over time.
There were a few events in the book that we needed to stop and discuss that dealt with loss and mourning and not everything unfolded the way we wanted it to. Overall, this story was beautiful and something I would’ve loved reading as a child. We fell in love with all of the illustrations and found ourselves wanting more. My kids did enjoy it and I’m happy to have it as part of our home library.
My rating on this book is 5*****
Age Range: 10 - 12 years
Grade Level: 5 - 7
Hardcover: 304 pagesPublisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (July 4, 2017)
ISBN-10: 054476112X
ISBN-13: 978-0544761124
Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A: I didn’t really start calling myself a writer until after about my third picture book. By then I began to believe it was something I was good at, not just a fluke. I had always written things – poetry, journals, letters – starting when I was around 8 or 9.
Q: What made you decide to write children's books?
A: My path was a bit unusual. I had moved to New York City in my early 20s because I wanted to work in book publishing. My first job was in children’s books, and it made me remember how I fell in love with reading. I wrote my first picture book when I misunderstood a book title. I thought it was The Noise Lullaby, but it turned out to be The Norse Lullaby. Not nearly as intriguing a title, so I wrote a manuscript to go along with the incorrect one.
Q: What is your favorite childhood book?
A: Lots of favorites: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and A Wrinkle in Time, also Harriet the Spy and It’s Like This, Cat were some I read and reread. Looking at that list, it is not surprising I moved to New York City. I also loved Black Beauty and Bambi, both which had very sad and harsh scenes. And lots of fairy tales, mostly the one from the Grimm Brothers. I hated most of the Hans Christian Anderson stories. I especially loathed The Little Match Girl. His stories seemed so cruel.
Q: Have you always enjoyed writing?
A: Like many people, I started with poetry. I like playing with the rhythms and how intricate they could be. Writing a poem can be like solving a puzzle, finding how the pieces fit.
Q: What influenced you to write The Unicorn in the Barn and are any of your books influenced by your childhood?
A: My daughter sparked the idea, when she mentioned that unicorns might be hard for a vet to treat. The setting of the story is based on the farm in North Carolina near Charlotte where my grandmother and my mother grew up, and my uncle still lives. I tried to give it a Southern feel, but not in a stereotypical way.
My book The Jukebox Man was based on my grandfather, who had jukeboxes and pool tables at bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina. The illustrator, James Ransome, also used my house in one of the pictures.
Q: How does writing make you feel and does it come easy for you?
A: I hate starting a piece. Starting is so hard, trying to find a way in. Those first few sentences set up so much. Once I get past that, it is very absorbing. Picture books are so short that I can usually write a full draft in a day or two. I can hold the whole picture book in my head while I research and work out the plot or the structure.
Novels are hard because they have so much middle. Some many possible blind alleys and it seems to magically expand. Or you get stuck and aren’t sure how to keep it building towards the end.
Q: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
A: That’s like asking who is your favorite child. I love them all. I have published 10 picture books and one middle-grade novel. I love The Reptile Ball because it was a collection of poems. The Magic Nesting Doll was an original fairy tale. The Bake Shop Ghost because it is about cakes and a cranky ghost. Also because I got to write a musical based on it and see it performed, and it was made into a short film, which I got to see being made.
Q: What makes a great children's book?
A: It’s easier to say what makes a bad one – a didactic approach, condescending tone, sugary sweet sentimentality, not respecting that children are people, stories that rote, routine and boring.
Q: Why don't you illustrate your own books and what's the process like for finding illustrators?
A: While I like to draw, I haven’t developed that talent. There are so many incredible artists out there, and I have been lucky in the ones who had illustrated my books. I don’t find the illustrators, the publisher does that, because they give a separate contract to the artist. I usually discuss the style of art the story needs with the publisher. Lots of artists have turned down my stories, for all sorts of reason – they didn’t like it, didn’t fit their schedule, etc. Once I met an illustrator years after he turned down my story. He did wonderful, realistic illustrations of children that were beautiful and intense. He remembered my story. He explained that he didn’t do it because the action took place inside, and he hated drawing interiors. He loved illustrating outdoor scenes.
Q: What’s the publishing process been like for you and how do you market your books?
A: I have been very lucky in my publishing career. I don’t have an agent, but have worked with several editors at three different houses. I have had several books rejected, and probably don’t market those enough. I do some online marketing for my published, but that is changing so rapidly that it is hard to keep up. I do some school visits, but I have a day job, so I’m not a true road warrior.
Q: Do you like to read a lot? If so, who are some of your favorite authors and are there any that heavily influence your writing?
A: I read constantly. I’m the type of person who reads the cereal box if there is nothing else around. For picture books, Margaret Mahy was an influence – she is very funny and whimsical and playful with language. For a novel, The Bridge to Terabithia was an influence.
Q: When it comes to writing, what tools do you use?
A: Pen for poetry, computer for prose.
Q: How long did it take you to write The Unicorn in the Barn?
A: More years than it should have – about 10. I didn’t work on it consistently. I would put it away for months at a time, then find myself thinking about the characters and work on it until I got stuck again.
Q: What was the most difficult part of writing this book?
A: The middle kept growing, that there were more things I realized I needed to put in that weren’t part of the original outline.
Q: Will there be any other books regarding Moonpearl or the characters in this book in the future?
A: I have some chapters of a sequel, told from Allegra’s point of view. The main magical creature is a griffin, because I love the hybrid of lion and eagle.
Q: How did you come up with the character names in the book and are any characters or events based on anything true?
A: My daughter who gave me the spark, her middle name is Harper, so I used that for Eric’s family name. I did research by volunteering at the Piedmont Wildlife Center, so some of the details about the clinic are drawn from that, and the farm is based on the one where my grandmother and mother grew up.
Q: I appreciated that the book dealt with some harder topics like aging, death, and mourning which can be difficult for children to cope with. Did you make any major edits to the book or have other endings for the story?
A: I changed an important scene. Originally Eric tried to take the unicorn to his grandmother and Moonpearl ran away after being frightened by a car. My editor and husband thought it made Eric seem too selfish and unsympathetic. So I had to change a lot and ended up with the wampus cat.
If you tell a story about a hospital or a doctor, about healing, then death is always a possibility. I called a friend crying once, because I realized I needed to include the death of an animal if it was going to be a fantasy grounded in reality.
Being the parent or grandparent of a children’s book protagonist is risky business – they die off at an alarming rate. The loss of a grandparent or a pet are frequently a child’s first experience of death, and the initial setting I created made them almost inevitable. I tried to do it in a way that was emotionally true, but not crushing. To show that these things can be faced, especially with help.
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
A: Read a lot, and be persistent. Dr. Seuss was famously rejected over 30 times before he found a publisher for his first book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street.
Q: Do you have any advice for parents who are dealing with struggling readers?
A: That is a bit outside my expertise, but modeling reading is one. Anything that appeals to an interest they have, don’t worry about if it's “good” just something that they want to figure out. Reading out loud, just as sharing, not as pressure.
Q: Are you working on anything now and do you have any future projects planned?
A: The possible sequels and I have an idea for a series, maybe a bit younger than this.
Q: What else do you like to do outside of writing?
A: I live in Durham, North Carolina, which is now a foodie town. I like to cook and eat well. I grow herbs and flowers and tomatoes, because not even the farmer’s market has tomatoes as good as the ones in your own backyard.
I'd like to thank Jacqueline K. Ogburn for her time in completing this interview.
Have you ever seen a Unicorn? Eric has, and now his life may be changed forever.
Eric’s grandmother isn’t well and has been put into a nursing home. Her house is now being occupied by someone new, a girl named Allegra, and her mother, a veterinarian. One day, Eric stumbles upon Allegra pounding in a “No Trespassing” sign on the tree where his treehouse resides: his favorite place to be. They don’t seem to like each other, but Eric doesn’t know yet that Allegra may not be as awful as she seems.
As Eric spends more time around the woods and farmhouse, he begins to discover magical creatures, including a white and glowing animal he first thinks is a pony. Soon, he realizes this beautiful pony-like animal is a unicorn: the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. He soon observes that she’s living in the old barn near the farmhouse which has been converted into a vet practice by Allegra’s mother. The unicorn was meant to remain a secret, but Eric is inquisitive and must find out everything he can about this magnificent creature.
We absolutely loved all the magical creatures in the book, especially Moonpearl, the majestic unicorn. The talking animals reminded us of another favorite children’s story-Charlotte’s Web. The human characters are memorable and even though it’s an imaginary story, it felt real. The relationship between Eric and his grandmother is heartwarming and we admired how Eric and Allegra’s friendship developed over time.
There were a few events in the book that we needed to stop and discuss that dealt with loss and mourning and not everything unfolded the way we wanted it to. Overall, this story was beautiful and something I would’ve loved reading as a child. We fell in love with all of the illustrations and found ourselves wanting more. My kids did enjoy it and I’m happy to have it as part of our home library.
My rating on this book is 5*****
Age Range: 10 - 12 years
Grade Level: 5 - 7
Hardcover: 304 pagesPublisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (July 4, 2017)
ISBN-10: 054476112X
ISBN-13: 978-0544761124
Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A: I didn’t really start calling myself a writer until after about my third picture book. By then I began to believe it was something I was good at, not just a fluke. I had always written things – poetry, journals, letters – starting when I was around 8 or 9.
Q: What made you decide to write children's books?
A: My path was a bit unusual. I had moved to New York City in my early 20s because I wanted to work in book publishing. My first job was in children’s books, and it made me remember how I fell in love with reading. I wrote my first picture book when I misunderstood a book title. I thought it was The Noise Lullaby, but it turned out to be The Norse Lullaby. Not nearly as intriguing a title, so I wrote a manuscript to go along with the incorrect one.
Q: What is your favorite childhood book?
A: Lots of favorites: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and A Wrinkle in Time, also Harriet the Spy and It’s Like This, Cat were some I read and reread. Looking at that list, it is not surprising I moved to New York City. I also loved Black Beauty and Bambi, both which had very sad and harsh scenes. And lots of fairy tales, mostly the one from the Grimm Brothers. I hated most of the Hans Christian Anderson stories. I especially loathed The Little Match Girl. His stories seemed so cruel.
Q: Have you always enjoyed writing?
A: Like many people, I started with poetry. I like playing with the rhythms and how intricate they could be. Writing a poem can be like solving a puzzle, finding how the pieces fit.
Q: What influenced you to write The Unicorn in the Barn and are any of your books influenced by your childhood?
A: My daughter sparked the idea, when she mentioned that unicorns might be hard for a vet to treat. The setting of the story is based on the farm in North Carolina near Charlotte where my grandmother and my mother grew up, and my uncle still lives. I tried to give it a Southern feel, but not in a stereotypical way.
My book The Jukebox Man was based on my grandfather, who had jukeboxes and pool tables at bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina. The illustrator, James Ransome, also used my house in one of the pictures.
Q: How does writing make you feel and does it come easy for you?
A: I hate starting a piece. Starting is so hard, trying to find a way in. Those first few sentences set up so much. Once I get past that, it is very absorbing. Picture books are so short that I can usually write a full draft in a day or two. I can hold the whole picture book in my head while I research and work out the plot or the structure.
Novels are hard because they have so much middle. Some many possible blind alleys and it seems to magically expand. Or you get stuck and aren’t sure how to keep it building towards the end.
Q: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
A: That’s like asking who is your favorite child. I love them all. I have published 10 picture books and one middle-grade novel. I love The Reptile Ball because it was a collection of poems. The Magic Nesting Doll was an original fairy tale. The Bake Shop Ghost because it is about cakes and a cranky ghost. Also because I got to write a musical based on it and see it performed, and it was made into a short film, which I got to see being made.
Q: What makes a great children's book?
A: It’s easier to say what makes a bad one – a didactic approach, condescending tone, sugary sweet sentimentality, not respecting that children are people, stories that rote, routine and boring.
Q: Why don't you illustrate your own books and what's the process like for finding illustrators?
A: While I like to draw, I haven’t developed that talent. There are so many incredible artists out there, and I have been lucky in the ones who had illustrated my books. I don’t find the illustrators, the publisher does that, because they give a separate contract to the artist. I usually discuss the style of art the story needs with the publisher. Lots of artists have turned down my stories, for all sorts of reason – they didn’t like it, didn’t fit their schedule, etc. Once I met an illustrator years after he turned down my story. He did wonderful, realistic illustrations of children that were beautiful and intense. He remembered my story. He explained that he didn’t do it because the action took place inside, and he hated drawing interiors. He loved illustrating outdoor scenes.
Q: What’s the publishing process been like for you and how do you market your books?
A: I have been very lucky in my publishing career. I don’t have an agent, but have worked with several editors at three different houses. I have had several books rejected, and probably don’t market those enough. I do some online marketing for my published, but that is changing so rapidly that it is hard to keep up. I do some school visits, but I have a day job, so I’m not a true road warrior.
Q: Do you like to read a lot? If so, who are some of your favorite authors and are there any that heavily influence your writing?
A: I read constantly. I’m the type of person who reads the cereal box if there is nothing else around. For picture books, Margaret Mahy was an influence – she is very funny and whimsical and playful with language. For a novel, The Bridge to Terabithia was an influence.
Q: When it comes to writing, what tools do you use?
A: Pen for poetry, computer for prose.
Q: How long did it take you to write The Unicorn in the Barn?
A: More years than it should have – about 10. I didn’t work on it consistently. I would put it away for months at a time, then find myself thinking about the characters and work on it until I got stuck again.
Q: What was the most difficult part of writing this book?
A: The middle kept growing, that there were more things I realized I needed to put in that weren’t part of the original outline.
Q: Will there be any other books regarding Moonpearl or the characters in this book in the future?
A: I have some chapters of a sequel, told from Allegra’s point of view. The main magical creature is a griffin, because I love the hybrid of lion and eagle.
Q: How did you come up with the character names in the book and are any characters or events based on anything true?
A: My daughter who gave me the spark, her middle name is Harper, so I used that for Eric’s family name. I did research by volunteering at the Piedmont Wildlife Center, so some of the details about the clinic are drawn from that, and the farm is based on the one where my grandmother and mother grew up.
Q: I appreciated that the book dealt with some harder topics like aging, death, and mourning which can be difficult for children to cope with. Did you make any major edits to the book or have other endings for the story?
A: I changed an important scene. Originally Eric tried to take the unicorn to his grandmother and Moonpearl ran away after being frightened by a car. My editor and husband thought it made Eric seem too selfish and unsympathetic. So I had to change a lot and ended up with the wampus cat.
If you tell a story about a hospital or a doctor, about healing, then death is always a possibility. I called a friend crying once, because I realized I needed to include the death of an animal if it was going to be a fantasy grounded in reality.
Being the parent or grandparent of a children’s book protagonist is risky business – they die off at an alarming rate. The loss of a grandparent or a pet are frequently a child’s first experience of death, and the initial setting I created made them almost inevitable. I tried to do it in a way that was emotionally true, but not crushing. To show that these things can be faced, especially with help.
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
A: Read a lot, and be persistent. Dr. Seuss was famously rejected over 30 times before he found a publisher for his first book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street.
Q: Do you have any advice for parents who are dealing with struggling readers?
A: That is a bit outside my expertise, but modeling reading is one. Anything that appeals to an interest they have, don’t worry about if it's “good” just something that they want to figure out. Reading out loud, just as sharing, not as pressure.
Q: Are you working on anything now and do you have any future projects planned?
A: The possible sequels and I have an idea for a series, maybe a bit younger than this.
Q: What else do you like to do outside of writing?
A: I live in Durham, North Carolina, which is now a foodie town. I like to cook and eat well. I grow herbs and flowers and tomatoes, because not even the farmer’s market has tomatoes as good as the ones in your own backyard.
I'd like to thank Jacqueline K. Ogburn for her time in completing this interview.
March 18, 2019
Harper's woods around Chinaberry Creek have belonged to Eric's family for as long as he can remember. His grandma lived in the farmhouse next door until she couldn't live at home anymore and had to move to a nursing home.
Now strangers live there.
Eric goes with his father and older brother to see his grandma every Sunday but it's not the same as when he could visit her at the farmhouse every day and he misses her so very much.
For years, people in Chinaberry have claimed that they've seen a white deer in the woods but no one has ever caught it.
One evening while in his tree house, he thinks he sees it.
It came closer to the tree house, moving slowly. My eyes had adjusted to the moonlight.
It wasn't a deer.
White and glowing, with slender legs and a long curved neck, at first I thought it was a pony. Then it raised it's head and I knew. Ponies don't have coats that shimmer like a pearl. And there's never been a pony born with an ivory horn curling from the center of its forehead.
It was a unicorn.
It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
What he notices next is that the unicorn is hurt. Following it, he discovers that it's gone into his grandma's old barn and a lady is there, too. When the lady catches him peaking through the window she invites him in. She tells him that her name is Dr. Brancusi, that she's a veterinarian, and she and her daughter, Allegra, are the new owners of the farm which is now a new veterinary hospital. She begins examinaning the unicorn's hoof, finding that the unicorn is a female and she has an infection in her hoof that will need care. She asks Eric if he can hold the unicorn's head while Allegra helps her treat the injury. Allegra is none too happy about this but her mom has decided to trust Eric with their secret. He does such a good job helping with the unicorn that Dr. Brancusi gives him a job looking after the unicorn and helping out at clinic. Eric and Allegra name the unicorn Moonpearl and he loves looking after her. But Eric still misses his grandma and wants more than anything for her to get well and move back home. When Eric and Allegra discover that Moonpearl's hair has magical healing powers they secretly use the hair on his grandma in the hopes of making her well again. But will it work?
The Unicorn in the Barn is a creative, magical, emotional story about friendship, trust, hope, love and loss that's beautifully written with characters who are both endearing and full of life. I loved every minute.
I highly recommend it no matter how old you are.
Now strangers live there.
Eric goes with his father and older brother to see his grandma every Sunday but it's not the same as when he could visit her at the farmhouse every day and he misses her so very much.
For years, people in Chinaberry have claimed that they've seen a white deer in the woods but no one has ever caught it.
One evening while in his tree house, he thinks he sees it.
It came closer to the tree house, moving slowly. My eyes had adjusted to the moonlight.
It wasn't a deer.
White and glowing, with slender legs and a long curved neck, at first I thought it was a pony. Then it raised it's head and I knew. Ponies don't have coats that shimmer like a pearl. And there's never been a pony born with an ivory horn curling from the center of its forehead.
It was a unicorn.
It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
What he notices next is that the unicorn is hurt. Following it, he discovers that it's gone into his grandma's old barn and a lady is there, too. When the lady catches him peaking through the window she invites him in. She tells him that her name is Dr. Brancusi, that she's a veterinarian, and she and her daughter, Allegra, are the new owners of the farm which is now a new veterinary hospital. She begins examinaning the unicorn's hoof, finding that the unicorn is a female and she has an infection in her hoof that will need care. She asks Eric if he can hold the unicorn's head while Allegra helps her treat the injury. Allegra is none too happy about this but her mom has decided to trust Eric with their secret. He does such a good job helping with the unicorn that Dr. Brancusi gives him a job looking after the unicorn and helping out at clinic. Eric and Allegra name the unicorn Moonpearl and he loves looking after her. But Eric still misses his grandma and wants more than anything for her to get well and move back home. When Eric and Allegra discover that Moonpearl's hair has magical healing powers they secretly use the hair on his grandma in the hopes of making her well again. But will it work?
The Unicorn in the Barn is a creative, magical, emotional story about friendship, trust, hope, love and loss that's beautifully written with characters who are both endearing and full of life. I loved every minute.
I highly recommend it no matter how old you are.
May 29, 2018
This book completely surprised me. I read it in one sitting, and it is one the cutest damn books I've ever read! This is perfect for grade school kids, or us older kids who want some nostalgia from their own childhoods.
Anyone here a fan of Charlotte's Web? This book had that same feeling, and a lot of the same kind of messages. While a very unique and fun story on its own, I kept thinking of my joy of reading about Charlotte, Fern and Wilbur for the first time as I was reading this story. Charlotte's Web is one of my favorite childhood books ever. And I really hope this book makes it into the hands of many, many school-age kids so they can have a similar experience to what I did.
I can't recommend this one enough. Read it!
January 4, 2018
This is a very sweet and gentle read for younger fans not ready for the intensity of Harry Potter level fantasy, or for older fans looking for something soft to soothe their jaded aches.
Something I heard an ex-boyfriends father say many years ago came back to me when I read this book: People are meant to be used, but never abused.
By that, he meant that people have talents which you should use. You allow them to use. But you don’t ever take advantage of them. The main characters learn this lesson in a very subtle way.
Overall,the word I have for this book is *sweet* so I said it multiple times. And that, is that.
Recommended for ages 7+
Something I heard an ex-boyfriends father say many years ago came back to me when I read this book: People are meant to be used, but never abused.
By that, he meant that people have talents which you should use. You allow them to use. But you don’t ever take advantage of them. The main characters learn this lesson in a very subtle way.
Overall,the word I have for this book is *sweet* so I said it multiple times. And that, is that.
Recommended for ages 7+
August 15, 2017
I read this one with my second grader. We both enjoyed it, but I think I liked it more than he did. He enjoyed the magical elements of the story, and that there were a lot of animals ("like Charlotte's Web," he said). But he thought some parts were sad (they were), and sometimes he wished the story moved a little faster.
I actually thought the pace of the story was perfect. And I appreciated how the book dealt with some more serious topics like aging, death, birth, and finding contentment and connection after loss--but still had an uplifting ending. The friendship between Eric and Allegra was very sweet, too, and one of my favorite things about the book.
Overall, I think this is a solid book for a younger reader. It's interesting, thoughtful, and optimistic.
I actually thought the pace of the story was perfect. And I appreciated how the book dealt with some more serious topics like aging, death, birth, and finding contentment and connection after loss--but still had an uplifting ending. The friendship between Eric and Allegra was very sweet, too, and one of my favorite things about the book.
Overall, I think this is a solid book for a younger reader. It's interesting, thoughtful, and optimistic.
August 9, 2017
I was lucky enough to hear the author speak at a bookstore recently and have her sign a copy I bought there.
I adore magical creatures, so how could I not love Moonpearl, the beautiful unicorn? And the illustrations by Rebecca Green are fanastic.
This was such a sweet story with very touching moments. I may not be a kid anymore, but my grandma is in a nursing home. Those parts about the visits were very realistic.
I adore magical creatures, so how could I not love Moonpearl, the beautiful unicorn? And the illustrations by Rebecca Green are fanastic.
This was such a sweet story with very touching moments. I may not be a kid anymore, but my grandma is in a nursing home. Those parts about the visits were very realistic.
August 5, 2017
This was the sweetest, most beautiful book I've read in a long time <3
December 30, 2018
This was such a sweet story. 😭💛
September 6, 2017
Probably a great book for the 3rd graders.
June 13, 2017
An ARC was provided me by the publisher.
This was a fun, light read. My seven-year-old really enjoyed it. I was pretty disappointed to come across language I deemed inappropriate for this level at just one small part more than halfway into the book. (The book labels it for ages 10-12 and grades 5-7.) Really? Why? I want my child to be able to pick up any book in the children's section without the risk of him adopting a profane phrase.
Also, I thought it was interesting that there was a positive association made with smoking. We haven't seen that done in recent times, at least not in anything related to children. It's not a deal breaker for me, but is this what we want to have happen in our culture?
This was a fun, light read. My seven-year-old really enjoyed it. I was pretty disappointed to come across language I deemed inappropriate for this level at just one small part more than halfway into the book. (The book labels it for ages 10-12 and grades 5-7.) Really? Why? I want my child to be able to pick up any book in the children's section without the risk of him adopting a profane phrase.
Also, I thought it was interesting that there was a positive association made with smoking. We haven't seen that done in recent times, at least not in anything related to children. It's not a deal breaker for me, but is this what we want to have happen in our culture?
June 13, 2025
My daughter LOVED this story. We read 1-2 chapters together every night, except for the nights she fell asleep in my bed, or she lost story privileges. Those were the sad nights (especially for me).
I especially liked it because it featured a veterinarian and her amazing hospital she runs out of her country farmhouse. But Dr. B doesn't just work on dogs, goats and ferrets. We soon finds out that there is also a whole new and unconventional variety of critters that are among her clientele. There is a contrary goose named Prissy who lays golden eggs, a Cheshire cat named Timothy with an invisibility problem, and the most magical of all is a unicorn named Moonpearl, and she has been injured.
The story and the illustrations make a perfectly lovely companion to each other. The combination has an old fashioned, classic feel to it. This book also doesn't hesitate to deal with darker topics (death, loss of a parent/grandparent, birth, injury from a gun) but does so in a way appropriate for just about any age. My daughter is 5 and I don't hide her from the harsh realities of the world and she handled it just fine.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to gift a book to a child who loves animals and mythical creatures alike :)
I especially liked it because it featured a veterinarian and her amazing hospital she runs out of her country farmhouse. But Dr. B doesn't just work on dogs, goats and ferrets. We soon finds out that there is also a whole new and unconventional variety of critters that are among her clientele. There is a contrary goose named Prissy who lays golden eggs, a Cheshire cat named Timothy with an invisibility problem, and the most magical of all is a unicorn named Moonpearl, and she has been injured.
The story and the illustrations make a perfectly lovely companion to each other. The combination has an old fashioned, classic feel to it. This book also doesn't hesitate to deal with darker topics (death, loss of a parent/grandparent, birth, injury from a gun) but does so in a way appropriate for just about any age. My daughter is 5 and I don't hide her from the harsh realities of the world and she handled it just fine.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to gift a book to a child who loves animals and mythical creatures alike :)
October 6, 2022
I didn’t know if I was going to like this book at first, but it quickly grew on me and even made me shed some tears. I love stories about faintly magical places tucked into the real world, plus I’m a huge sucker for “correct” unicorns.
July 21, 2017
t'was very good :)
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May 19, 2018There's a definite audience for this book. Interesting approach, very calm and a nice read.
January 13, 2018
My 10 yr old son got this in one of this OwlCrate Jr and refused to read it because it looked too childish. This does end up looking like more of a kids book than a book aimed at middle grade readers. The print is very large and there are pictures throughout. I however don’t mind larger print :-) so I went ahead and read the book. This ends up being a cute and touching story about a boy who is dealing with his gma’s decline when he stumbles across something amazing in the barn that a veterinarian has purchased from his gma.
I really enjoyed the idea of a veterinarian that takes care of mythical beasts in her small town barn. I loved how Eric finds his place in life by helping to care for these amazing creatures. This is a deliberately paced story that has a very simple plot and simple language but it’s a good book for what it is.
Much of the story is focused around Eric’s family dynamics. The whole family is struggling with the decline of Eric’s gma. Eric’a gma held the family together after Eric’s mother left (for somewhat ambiguous reasons). Now it’s Eric, his teenage brother, and his dad holding things together. None of these guys are very emotionally demonstrative and Eric is struggling with how to move on now that his gma isn’t there but is in a nursing home struggling with her health.
When Eric starts spending a lot of time with the neighboring vet and her daughter, Allegra, the two families end up helping to support each other.
The drawings throughout are really well done and I enjoyed them as well.
Overall this was a cute story, that is touching and heartfelt. I enjoyed it. However I do agree with my son, this is definitely intended for a younger audience. Although the main character in the book is 11 years old, the story is very simple both in the language structure used and the plot developed. I would recommend for younger middle grade readers or even younger children.
I really enjoyed the idea of a veterinarian that takes care of mythical beasts in her small town barn. I loved how Eric finds his place in life by helping to care for these amazing creatures. This is a deliberately paced story that has a very simple plot and simple language but it’s a good book for what it is.
Much of the story is focused around Eric’s family dynamics. The whole family is struggling with the decline of Eric’s gma. Eric’a gma held the family together after Eric’s mother left (for somewhat ambiguous reasons). Now it’s Eric, his teenage brother, and his dad holding things together. None of these guys are very emotionally demonstrative and Eric is struggling with how to move on now that his gma isn’t there but is in a nursing home struggling with her health.
When Eric starts spending a lot of time with the neighboring vet and her daughter, Allegra, the two families end up helping to support each other.
The drawings throughout are really well done and I enjoyed them as well.
Overall this was a cute story, that is touching and heartfelt. I enjoyed it. However I do agree with my son, this is definitely intended for a younger audience. Although the main character in the book is 11 years old, the story is very simple both in the language structure used and the plot developed. I would recommend for younger middle grade readers or even younger children.
August 28, 2018
My last summer read of 2018 was a sweet realistic fantasy that warmed my heart. Eric’s Family has to sell off part of their farm after his grandmother had a stroke and moved to a nursing home. The woman who bought it is a Veterinarian, and her daughter helps her take care of the animals. But Eric soon realizes it’s not just traditional animals in their care, but magical creatures, including a unicorn pregnant with twins. Since Eric knows their secret, they hire him to helping out. But as his grandmother’s health continues to decline Eric wonders if the magical healing powers of the unicorn could save her. Lots of twists and turns and emotional events make this story hard to put down. An MSBA nominee for 2018-19.
August 4, 2020
Alright so the story itself is sweet and heartwarming. It is a touching story about loss, growth, and the magic that surrounds us if we choice to seek it out.
I had to knock of a couple of stars because
I had to knock of a couple of stars because
January 13, 2018
I love so much about this sweet little chapter book.
Just a few gripes:
My biggest issue with the story is that Eric’s brother seems to be written as an inconsistent character. A kind soul who loves his Grandma and spending his days cooking, or a bad boy who taunts his brother and whose friends like to use guns?
I also didn’t fall in love with Eric himself. I felt like he always had his own agenda and didn’t respect authority all that much.
That all being said...
The unicorn? The magic? The grandma? Allegra? The doctor and her huge heart? I love them all.
Just a few gripes:
My biggest issue with the story is that Eric’s brother seems to be written as an inconsistent character. A kind soul who loves his Grandma and spending his days cooking, or a bad boy who taunts his brother and whose friends like to use guns?
I also didn’t fall in love with Eric himself. I felt like he always had his own agenda and didn’t respect authority all that much.
That all being said...
The unicorn? The magic? The grandma? Allegra? The doctor and her huge heart? I love them all.
March 9, 2018
This is a good story for middle grade school kids! They'll love reading about the unicorn and other magical animals the new animal vet treats! Eric, the boy who lives next door to the vet, discovers the unicorn when the vet and her daughter put up a Keep Out sign on the property where his tree house is. They live in the home of his grandmother, now that his beloved grandmother is in a nursing home. I am sure kids 8-11 will enjoy this tale!
I received a Kindle Arc in exchange for a fair review from Edelweiss.
I received a Kindle Arc in exchange for a fair review from Edelweiss.
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October 6, 2020I love this book through and through. It's definitely a book for 10 year olds, but that's ok. I wish that there would have been more to the end, or maybe even another book. I think this because I want to know why Gem came back. Is he hurt, too? Or is he coming back to only say hi? I just want to know.
July 27, 2017
The main character in this book was SO ANNOYING. It just got to be too much to handle after awhile. The cat in this book was prob my favorite character! So funny.
"Grief takes its own time to unfold".
"Grief takes its own time to unfold".
August 26, 2017
I would give this 3 1/2 stars because the first half seemed to wander somewhat. The writing greatly improved in the second half so much so that I would love to read another book about Eric and Harper's Woods.
October 7, 2017
A cute children's tale which will make your imagination run wild and make your children's heart believe again. I truly loved it, and I think this would be a great tale to read to children.
December 16, 2020
I loved this book so much! I love the story and the characters 😍 💕 ❤
September 20, 2021
really a good little story. loved the characters and the family
October 13, 2021
This was a super sweet read. Katie's attention wandered a little but it was perfect for Evelyn. Brought up some questions and discussion about secrets and death and letting wild things be wild.
May 3, 2024
My daughter and I couldn’t put this one down. Magical and sweet. I would recommend.
August 1, 2024
I really wanted an easy light read, so a kids book seemed like the way to go. It was long enough to have built up a nice story. I love animals, so this was a great cozy book for that.
January 13, 2025
Eric’s new neighbours, who bought his grandma’s farmhouse, take care of all animals, including mythical ones. He is sworn to secrecy but his family already knows more than he thinks they do.
June 7, 2020
Charming elementary school age book about a boy and the vet and her daughter on the next door farm who treat some pretty magical animals.
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