Silver Thread [Paperback]

Kathleen Duey (Author), Omar Rayyan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2001 | Age Level: 7 and up | Series: Unicorn's Secret (Book 2)

When her beloved Moonsilver, the unicorn, is nearly killed by a hunters arrow, Heart sneaks back into her village to get help froth the healer, Ruth Oakes. But even greater danger awaits Heart and Moosilver in Ash Grove. Rumors of Monsilver's secret have reached the ears of the cruel Lord Dunraven. Once again Heart must flee, with Ruth's mysterious gift -- a silver thread -- to protect her and Moonsilver.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. The story of Heart Avamir and the unicorn mother and child she befriends continues in this second part of a fantasy quartet. Knowing they are in danger if they are seen, Heart takes shelter in a cave and manages to keep the three of them alive. When Moonsilver, the young unicorn, is shot by a hunter's poisoned arrow, Heart must risk revelation to get him the help he needs from her healer friend, Ruth Oakes. Kathleen Duey again creates a story with dramatic tension and plenty of endearing touches (Heart's new puppy is almost too adorable). The book is easy enough for second-graders and uses satisfyingly rich language. Susan Dove Lempke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; Original edition (December 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689842708
• ISBN-13: 978-0689842702
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Horses > Fiction
  • #27 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Dragons
  • #70 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Horses

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 Excellent Book, December 18, 2002

By 

Mary C. Bonnema (Walker, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silver Thread (Paperback)

This is my daughter's (age 7) favorite book. She has read it several times and does not seem to tire of it. Kathleen Duey's plot is interesting and suspenseful, but not frightening. Duey engages and reaffirms a young girl's fantasy about unicorns and animals in general (my daughter's favorite character is Kip the dog). It also amply demostrates the strength and resourcefulness of Heart, the young heroine of this series, a great role model for young girls. We will definitely buy the rest of the books in this series.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great for reading at bedtime, January 19, 2002

By 

A parent (OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silver Thread (Paperback)

This is a great story (#2 in the series) to read to your kids at bedtime - not too scary and has a few illustrations to keep the kids interested. We're looking forward to the next one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mythical journey that leaves the reader craving more!, September 13, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Silver Thread (Paperback)

Heart Avamir is living on the run ever since she rescued the white unicorn mother, Avamir, and her unicorn colt, Moonsilver. It is her only hope for keeping the three of them alive, and protected from the evil Lord Dunraven's men. With the help of a large, abandoned cave, Heart feels confident that she will be able to keep the three of them safe from prying eyes, at least until the winter comes, when food will most likely become scarce. But when Moonsilver is shot by a hunter's poisoned arrow, Heart knows that the only way to save the young unicorn is to reveal herself to the world, and make her way to Ruth Oakes' (a kind healer) house, in an attempt to cure him of the poison and save his life. However, along the way, Heart's safety is threatened, as she is seen by various people in town, her old master, Simon, being one of them. Now, it is up to Heart to do her best to make it back to the cave, along with Moonsilver and Avamir, as well as a newfound friend in the form of a young pup named Kip, in an attempt to keep Avamir and Moonsilver's secret of being unicorns from slipping out, and to avoid Simon's greedy eyes from claiming the mare and her colt as being his and selling them to the yardsmith for pocket change. Heart worries that she will be unable to protect her newfound family, but with a tiny gift from Ruth Oakes, her thoughts change, and she realizes that with a little heart, bravery, and a lot of love, she can overcome anything, and protect the ones she loves.

Since reading Kathleen Duey's MOONSILVER last year, I have often wondered what would become of Heart Avamir, and her charges Avamir and Moonsilver. I need not have worried, for Heart has continued on in the same direction she was heading when we last met up with her. As in MOONSILVER, Heart's bravery is still going strong. She is an intelligent, kind, lovable young girl, whose interest in keeping her unicorn friends safe is admirable. The character of Ruth Oakes, however, is one of the things that keeps this series going strong, for she is the type of elderly woman everyone wishes to meet at some point in their lifetime. And, with the new character of Kip being introduced to the series, Heart's animal family is quickly growing, making her a Dr. Dolittle of sorts. THE SILVER THREAD, being the second book in Duey's UNICORN'S SECRET series, is even more enjoyable than its predecessor, MOONSILVER, and keeps the reader hungry for more long after the last page has been turned. A mythical journey that leaves the reader craving more!

Erika Sorocco

Freelance Reviewer