The Unicorn Quest

by Kamilla Benko

Overview

An enchanting, exciting fantasy about a real-world girl searching for her sister in a land full of magic and strange creatures, blending the timeless feel of A Wrinkle in Time with Frozen's powerful themes of identity, enchantment, and sisterhood.

Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor . . . until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden.

There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other, the beloved unicorns have disappeared, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes in the night, it will take all of Claire's courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns' greatest secret.

A Kids' Indie Next Selection
A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
An ALA Top Ten First Novel for Youth

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681199832
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	02/19/2019
Series:	The Unicorn Quest
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	203,205
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	790L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kamilla Benko spent most of her childhood climbing into wardrobes, trying to step through mirrors, and plotting to run away to an art museum. Now, she visits other worlds as a children's book editor. She currently lives in New York with her bookshelves, teapot, and hiking boots. In addition to the Unicorn Quest trilogy, she is the author of the original Frozen novel that bridges the events of Disney's massively successful animated movie and its upcoming sequel.
www.kamillabenko.com
@kkbenko (Twitter)

Editorial Reviews

Benko does a stellar job of painting Arden for the reader…and clearly delineates the distinct cultural elements of the different guilds, like the smoke-scented streets of a Forger town and the vine-coated walls of a Tiller home. Also clear is how much more wonderful this world would be if these cultures were ever allowed to mingle. The true heart of this book, though, is the relationship between Sophie and Claire.

The New York Times Book Review - Christopher Healy

"Fans of magic and fantasy, especially those who love Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time . . . [or] Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, can’t miss this debut." - Booklist, starred review

"Hand to readers who love Narnia." - School Library Journal

"Rich worldbuilding and high stakes make this a quest worth taking with a protagonist who grows by facing her fears." - Kirkus Reviews

"Enter and be transported to a lush land full of intrigue, danger, and thrilling magic! Benko’s sharp storytelling will keep readers madly flipping the pages in this new, timeless adventure. Spectacular!" - Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of The Guardian Herd and Riders of the Realm series

"An adventure-quest brimming with magic and heart. Benko reaches the child in all of us who secretly hopes that a door is never just a door. Mesmerizing." - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author

"The Unicorn Quest draws you into a richly imagined alternate world, keeps you on edge with clever twists and turns, then leaves you breathless as it gallops to its sensational climax!" - Bruce Coville, author of The Unicorn Chronicles series

"Filled with wondrous surprises, fascinating magic, and appealing characters, it hits all the right notes, and I loved every second of it!" - Sarah Beth Durst, author of JOURNEY ACROSS THE HIDDEN LANDS and THE GIRL WHO COULD NOT DREAM

"Utterly delightful! Taps into the wonderful childhood fantasy of finding a secret door to another world." - Jessica Day George, New York Times bestselling author

"As dazzling and richly imagined as anything I’ve read in years. The Unicorn Quest promises to be a must-read." - Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author

From the Publisher

08/01/2017
Gr 5–8—A magical story of two sisters, Claire and Sophie, who enter a fantastic land named Arden. While exploring their new home in Windemere Manor, Claire and Sophie discover a land in the heat of battle. The people in charge of magic are fighting and the revered unicorns are missing, all while terrifying creatures called wraiths haunt the land. The sisters sense danger and decide to return home. The true adventure begins when Sophie disappears one night and Claire must return to Arden to find her. Benko crafts fully developed characters and a detailed fantastical world. Though the plot is reminiscent of many of magical fantasy adventure, the suspense and sisterly bonds will keep readers hooked. VERDICT A solid start to a new series. Hand to readers who love Narnia.—April Sanders, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL

School Library Journal

2017-10-10
Unity in Arden died with the queen and the unicorns. As a new war threatens to fracture the land, a girl races to rescue her sister and return home.Eleven-year-old white girl Claire Martinson doesn't trust the mysterious ladder in the fireplace of Great-Aunt Diana's mansion, but when her older sister, Sophie (also white), disappears, Claire chases after her into the magical land up the chimney. However, Claire isn't the only one searching for her willful sister. Anvil Malchain, a dangerous treasure hunter, seeks Sophie too—and the unicorn artifact she might have stolen. The four guilds of Arden—Tillers, Forgers, Spinners, and Gemmers—all covet the unicorn artifacts that strengthen their magic. With the help of Nett, a Tiller with light brown skin, and Sena, a white Forger exile, Claire must rescue Sophie before a new war begins. In this debut, Benko constructs a world with a complex history and no clear divides between good and evil; Claire discovers that the legends of Arden's last war don't tell the whole truth. Despite Claire's envy of Sophie's bravery (and easy-to-ponytail straight hair), she rises to overcome her insecurities and unlock her own power to save the people she loves in a satisfying hero's journey. Readers will be pleased to know more adventures in Arden are planned.Rich worldbuilding and high stakes make this a quest worth taking with a protagonist who grows by facing her fears. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews