Moonsilver (Unicorn's Secret, Book 1) [Paperback]

Kathleen Duey (Author), Omar Rayyan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Unicorn's Secret

Heart Trilby has no family. She lives a hard and lonely life in the dusty village of Ash Grove -- until she finds a scarred, skinny mare in the forest. Against the wishes of her guardian, mean-spirited Simon Pratt, Heart adopts the mare and names her Avamir. Heart is thrilled when she realizes Avamir is in foal. But when the colt is born weak and disfigured, Simon decides to sell Heart's beloved horses to be slaughtered by the town's soapmaker. Can Heart find a way to protect them -- and the only love she has ever known?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-The first title in a projected series of beginning chapter books introduces reluctant readers to Heart Avamir, an abandoned girl with no memory of her origins, who wakes up one day in a strange feudal community. She lives with the hard-hearted curmudgeon who found her, but it is the neighborhood apothecary, Ruth, who names and befriends her. When the girl finds a wounded mare limping around untethered, she claims it for her own and nurses it back to health despite her guardian's protests that the animal would be better off sold for slaughter. In addition to the limp, the mare bears a deep scar on its forehead, which Ruth acknowledges but is a bit too quick to dismiss. Readers will already have guessed that the mare is really a disfigured unicorn and that Heart, who was found wearing a blanket emblazoned with unicorn figures, is destined to care for the animal. Duey uses simple but evocative language; few words are more than two syllables long. The text is set with wide leading and interspersed throughout with moody, evocative black-and-white illustrations. A cliff-hanging ending rounds out this portion of the narrative. This is a good alternative for children who have outgrown easy-readers but who are not quite ready for longer, denser works of fiction.

Catherine Threadgill, DeKalb County Public Library, Atlanta, GA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. Heart Avamir remembers nothing prior to her rescue as a toddler by Old Simon, and her life since has meant lots of hard work as they struggle to stay alive in their feudal village. Simon is not affectionate, so it's to the village healer, Rosa, that Heart turns when she discovers a starving, injured white horse wandering in the woods. Duey manages a remarkable feat: she has written a beguiling story of love and healing in an easy-to-read style, with short sentences and simple words that flow smoothly across the pages. The impoverished village setting is vividly portrayed, and Heart is admirably strong without being unbelievable. Rayyan's lushly detailed black-and-white illustrations, one per chapter, add to the charm. The book's format and typeface will lure readers who are looking for fantasy that's a bit more challenging than what they'll find in the Magic Treehouse series. As the first book in a quartet, this doesn't come to a full conclusion; instead it sets up readers for the next book in the series. Susan Dove Lempke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689842694
• ISBN-13: 978-0689842696
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Horses > Fiction

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

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice beginning, December 2, 2004

By 

M. Baker "mbaker" (GA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Moonsilver (Unicorn's Secret, Book 1) (Paperback)

We bought this as a read aloud for our 5 yr old. She enjoyed it, but I felt it was still over her head so I'll wait and read it to her next summer. Unfortunately, it read like an introduction to a series of books instead of one good story that will be followed by another (I like books to "stand" on there own without being dependant on what comes before or after). I have to mention I love series, but each book should hold its own. Oh, and I found it enjoyable too.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irresistible, December 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Moonsilver (Unicorn's Secret, Book 1) (Paperback)

My 8-year-old niece loved this book and so did I. It has all the elements of enchantment--abandoned orphan girl, cruel guardian, hints of a mysterious, perhaps even royal, past and, of course, unicorns--even a baby unicorn. But I particularly enjoyed the tone and style of the book. It's appealing and fun, but it isn't overly sweet. As my niece said, "It isn't silly." It's set in a realistic medieval world that gives added emphasis to the daring efforts of Heart, the main character, to save the unicorns. I guess the book is designed for beginning readers, but it didn't seem simple or like it was talking down.
We can't wait for the third book in the series!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Magical Tale of Unicorns, January 6, 2005

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moonsilver (Unicorn's Secret, Book 1) (Paperback)

Heart Avamir was abandoned in a field one day by her parents - whom she doesn't remember in any way, shape, or form - and was taken in by a cold-hearted man named Simon. Her existence is not pleasurable, as she spends her days and nights working in the fields, but all that changes when she finds a beautiful white horse with many scars, who quickly takes to Heart's gentle and kind nature. Due to the fact that the mare is limping around, and malnourished, Simon wants nothing more than to sell the mare to the knacker - someone who will kill the horse - but Heart convinces him otherwise. With the help of Ruth, a kind, old magic lady who lives next door, Heart is able to give the mare, now named Avamir, the care that it needs. And soon, Avamir has begun to foal. Her baby is lovely, and Heart quickly names him Moonsilver. Then trouble strikes, and Heart knows that she must take care of the horses before something absolutely dreadful happens to them.

I have always loved stories about unicorns and horses, and Kathleen Duey is definitely one of the best authors out there when it comes to writing on either of these subjects. However, I found myself enjoying MOONSILVER, even more than I ever thought possible. Duey's imaginative prose is magical, and her descriptions of the people found throughout the town in which Heart lives in couldn't be better. Her character development of young Heart and the kind, old Ruth is wonderful, and is sure to win over young readers.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper