The Journey Home

The Unicorn's Secret #8

by Kathleen Duey

Heart is convinced that the old man from Castle Avamir can help her find her family -- the only people she dares to trust with the Unicorn's secret. But the old man has been taken prisoner by Lord Dunraven. Heart's search for the truth is leading her into the most dangerous place of all: the depths of Dunraven's heavily guarded castle. Heart's quest is nearing its end -- and what awaits her is beyond her wildest imaginings....

Genres: Fantasy, Unicorns, Chapter Books, Fiction, Middle Grade, Magic, Horses

80 pages, Library Binding

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Kathleen Duey grew up in Colorado. She loved riding her horses, hiking, being in the mountains. Reading was always important to her. Writing became a fascination early in her life. In the fourth grade, Kathleen began writing stories and told everyone who would listen that she was going to be an author. Then she did nothing about it until she was 35 years old. Writing was her passion and her dream-come-true.

from: fantasticfiction.co.uk

Kathleen died of cardiac arrest at her home in Fallbrook, California. She was 69. She had struggled with dementia in her latter years which prevented her from completing her Skin Hunger trilogy.

https://web.archive.org/web/202101052...

Reviews

[Anthonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful tale for children that i enjoyed reading. A must read for children.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Journey Home has a few details that make it stand out as a finale for The Unicorn’s Secret series. A little bit more suspense than before added something special to it. The fact that the main antagonist (Lord Dunraven) got a few lines and was interacted with (slightly) made a difference too.

Overall, the book was one of the best in the series and ended nicely, though predictably. As a whole the series is good as well. I would recommend this to any young reader that has an interest in unicorns or a interest in fantasy as a good point to start.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Тайната на еднорога“ е поредица от 8 илюстровани детски романа, които се четат на един дъх. Сюжетът разказва за малката Харт Авамир, сираче, отгледано от Саймън Прат – груб селянин, който я е открил преди години край реката. Харт няма никакви спомени преди този ден. При все, че е дал подслон на момичето, Саймън съвсем не е обичлива бащинска фигура. Харт е помощник, полезна работна ръка, но не и дъщеря. Отначало Саймън дори не е дал име на детето. Нарича я просто „момиче“, докато местната лечителка, Рут Оукс, не й дава име. Харт мечтае за семейство, да разбере кои са родителите й… Единственото, което знае за тях е, че преди да я оставят край реката те са я повили в красиво одеяло със избродирани сребърни еднорози. Уви, Саймън отдавна го е продал… Прочетете повече на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...

[Josh Bizeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a Half Stars. An appropriately optimistic conclusion to the series as Heart's courage and compassion earn a magical twist which, while requiring light suspension of disbelief, feels conceivable relative to her journey as a whole: Relationships cultivated, relics and mysteries obtained or pondered, circumstances of fate providing plausible opportunities at appropriate intervals. In all, The Unicorn's Secret is a charming, pleasantly restrained middle grade series which girls should find worthwhile should they see it through to the end.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL! This was a very satisfying ending to a charming series of books. Reading level is about the same as the Magic Treehouse series, but I really enjoyed reading them aloud. My 10 year old boy and 7 year old girl were both enthralled by the characters and the story, and the twist at the end took me by surprise and brought me to tears. Highly recommend for elementary students (and their parents!)

[Guinevere · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing ending to a beautiful series. I'm so glad I've gone back and read these as an adult, this series was my first favorite book series as a child. Heart and her journey, her friends and everything, are written with so much care and love, I could certainly feel it especially within the last chapter. Thank you Kathleen Duey for this book series that has had such a wonderful impact on my life, I hope you rest in peace and find yourself with your own unicorns!

[Sarah Nestler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded down because it is NOT a five star I’m just nostalgic lol

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a beautiful ending to this series!

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute regarding ending. Who doesn’t wish they were secretly a unicorn tbh

[Melanie, Aaron, Annie, and Mary Project · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read by: Melanie
Genre: Fantasy
Author: Kathleen Duey Illustrator: Omar Rayyan
Interest Level: 3
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.7
DRA: 28
Lexile: 510L

Heart journies into the layer of the enemy and ends up in the gallows of Dunraven castle on her search to find her family. With cunning she is able to escape the gallows and resumes her search to find the key to free her family. She is trying to save the unicorns along with finding her family, but will she succeed at both of her feats or none? Various options for book topics can help you find a story that can interest any student in reading.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

No. Just no. My daughter browsed the library stacks and pulled a few horse books out for me, knowing that I loved to read horse books as a pre-teen. This was in her pile. Maybe it would have seemed better if I had started with book one. But I was lost, didn't care about the characters, and the story was unbelievable.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really not much of a book crier and didn't expect this of all things to make me sentimental, but I sure did get a little teary at revisiting this series' sweet and lovely ending that I loved so much at age six.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ayri really enjoyed this book. She loved the ending.

[kassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely finale to a lovely children's series.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girls loved this series. It was fun to read with them.