Castle Avamir (Unicorn's Secret (Prebound)) [Hardcover]

Kathleen Duey (Author), Omar Rayyan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2003 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Unicorn's Secret (Prebound) (Book 7)

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Heart must figure out a riddle in order to locate Castle Avamir, a possible safe haven for her unicorns, as the Gypsies leave Lord Levin's mountains for Lord Kaybale's lands.

--This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4--In the seventh installment in the series, young Heart Avamir continues her quest to discover her heritage. Although reading is forbidden for commoners, she owns a mysterious book that she took from the home of evil Lord Dunraven. She reads about Castle Avamir and, hoping that the name may hold a tie to her family, she takes her unicorn and goes to find it. Heart befriends a neglected serving maid and learns about two girls who had once lived at the castle, but fled in fear of Dunraven and his men. In the meantime, the evil lord is hunting for Heart as well. She manages to stay ahead of him until she reaches her destination, where she is welcomed by a strange little man who describes how all the children of the castle family were sent away for safety. But, before he can reveal more, Dunraven and his band sweep into the courtyard and take the old man away as a prisoner. Heart resolves to follow them. More a serial than a series, this book begins right where True Heart (S & S, 2003) left off and ends with a cliff-hanger, to be continued next time. Character relationships and plot elements are continued from the previous six books with limited background exposition. The brief text and short, simple writing style will attract transitional readers and the unicorn theme and the multibook serial will appeal to fans of the earlier titles.--Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Kathleen Duey's works include the middle grade series American Diaries and Survival, and the well-reviewed chapter book series The Unicorn's Secret, with a companion series, The Faeries' Promise, launching in Summer 2010 on the Aladdin list. She lives in Fallbrook, California.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 73 pages
• Publisher: Perfection Learning (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756933579
• ISBN-13: 978-0756933579
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,118,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have published over 80 books for children of all ages and YA/Adult readers. Many have won state and national awards and all of them have brought me the kind of fan mail that writers love to get.

Two from today's email (Jan 27 11)
Dear Ms. Duey,

I am 8 years old and I live in Catalonia (Spain). I just finished reading your book "Moonsilver" with my mom, and I really liked it. I want to ask you, what was your dream in 3rd grade? I'm asking you because at the end of the book, it says that the series of the Unicorn's Secret books is based on a dream you had in 3rd grade. I am in third grade right now, so I'm really curious!!!
Please tell me

(writer's name)



Dear Ms. Duey,

I loved your book the Unicorn's Secret. Me and my mom read it together. I like your books because I like unicorns and your story was very exciting. I like to draw unicorns. They are one of my favorite animals. I have two stuffed animal unicorns. One is named Sparkle. I sleep with her every night. Did you always want to be a writer? Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I am in 1st grade. I love to read. When I grow up I want to be a animal trainer and I want to train unicorns if I can find one.

LOVE , (writer's name)


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YA readers are writing a lot, too. Most say something like this one:

I have been waiting for the third book in Skin Hunger trilogy forever. Ok not forever but it feels like it. When is it coming out? How long will you make me wait? I love these books and am really needing to know what happens to Sadima and Hahp!!!!!


I know, me, too. Please read below.
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If it is later than 6:30am PST, I am probably writing, even if I am on an airplane. I might be working on a faerie book or writing about unicorns for grade school kids, or I could be lost in something dark, detailed, and strange for YA/adult readers. The third book in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy is dragging me through the woods. I am working on it every day, and am Skying instead of traveling to schools and libraries until I get it DONE. It's taking wild amazing turns and I love it.

If I am not working...I might be answering readers who contact me through my website: http://www.kathleenduey.com Thanks to everyone who gets in touch with me on Facebook, my blog, http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com/, Twitter, and all the other ways to reach me. I can't keep up anymore, but I try to answer questions and I send out signed bookplates when I can. It means so much to know that you like my books.

I appear at schools, bookstores, and teach at writers' conferences nationwide and internationally. There is a schedule on my website and I try to keep it current.
And more and more... I Skype. It's a wonderful way to meet readers in classrooms and at libraries, I love to drop in on book clubs and critique groups, then get back to work!

Book news: The Unicorn's Secret books are getting lovely new covers by Sandara Tang, an amazing artist based in Singapore. The fan mail astounds me.
Sandara is the cover artist for the new kid's series The Faerie's Promise, too. Excerpts from all my books are on http://www.kathleenduey.com

YA NOVEL ONLINE/IN PROGRESS: RUSSET fans: http://russet-one-wing.blogspot.com/
I am accumulating entries and will tag you all when there is more to read. Give me your contact info and I will add you to the alert list. kathleenduey at earthlink dot net

The third book of my YA/adult trilogy is in the works now. I don't have a release date yet because I still writing like MAD. But it will be ASAP, I promise. The story is taking amazing turns and dragging me through the woods the way the first two did. Thanks!!!! to the thousands of people asking when it will come out.

You have no idea how happy that makes me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter loved this series, June 28, 2004

By 

"stephs_books" (Meridian, ID United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Castle Avamir (Paperback)

My daughter is 7 (almost 8), and she loved this series. She'd finish one, and couldn't wait to start the next. You should start with the first book in the series (Moonsilver), and read them in order so they make sense.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, July 13, 2005

By 

rteach - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Castle Avamir (Paperback)

This book has to be read as part of the series. My daughter is 10 years old and has loved this series. I have also. It is a great read.