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Unicorn Academy: Where Magic Happens #9
Matilda and Pearl
Imagine a school where you meet your own unicorn and have amazing adventures together! That’s what happens for the girls at Unicorn Academy on beautiful Unicorn Island.
- GenresChildrens
112 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2019
12 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Julie Sykes
228 books36 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Welcome to my website. Come on in and have a look around. You can find out about my books and also about me.
Name:
Julie Sykes
Birthday:
My birthday month is August
Place of birth:
Kingston upon Thames
Places I’ve lived:
My family moved to Australia just after I was born but returned to England in time for me to start school. I was educated in Surrey and lived there until I got married. I now live in the south of England with my husband and our three children. We used to live on a fish farm, which we shared with 300,000 rainbow trout. We share our current home with a few goldfish and a white wolf cunningly disguised as a dog.
Jobs:
I’ve worked in a kennels, shops, pubs and on a mushroom farm. My first full-time job was as a laboratory technician and after that a teacher. I’m now a full time writer.
First book published:
There were two - This and That and I Don’t Want To Go To Bed!
Favourite Things:
Family, friends, Spring (the season not the bouncy sort although bouncing is good, too), cappuccino, Danish pastries, Cornwall, the sea, books, animals, chocolate.
Worst Things:
Litter, vandals, cleaning the house, having NOTHING to read.
Hobbies:
Reading, walking, cooking, hanging out in cafés.
Welcome to my website. Come on in and have a look around. You can find out about my books and also about me.
Name:
Julie Sykes
Birthday:
My birthday month is August
Place of birth:
Kingston upon Thames
Places I’ve lived:
My family moved to Australia just after I was born but returned to England in time for me to start school. I was educated in Surrey and lived there until I got married. I now live in the south of England with my husband and our three children. We used to live on a fish farm, which we shared with 300,000 rainbow trout. We share our current home with a few goldfish and a white wolf cunningly disguised as a dog.
Jobs:
I’ve worked in a kennels, shops, pubs and on a mushroom farm. My first full-time job was as a laboratory technician and after that a teacher. I’m now a full time writer.
First book published:
There were two - This and That and I Don’t Want To Go To Bed!
Favourite Things:
Family, friends, Spring (the season not the bouncy sort although bouncing is good, too), cappuccino, Danish pastries, Cornwall, the sea, books, animals, chocolate.
Worst Things:
Litter, vandals, cleaning the house, having NOTHING to read.
Hobbies:
Reading, walking, cooking, hanging out in cafés.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 21, 2020
Matilda is enjoying her time at Unicorn Academy with her unicorn, Pearl. They are both imaginative and disorganised, and Matilda is sure that they will bond soon.
However, on a camping trip, Matilda and her friends realise that the oldest tree on Unicorn Island is dying. When a dark, cloaked figure appears and seems to do something to the tree, it is up to Matilda, Pearl and their friends to stop them!
Strengths
This series draws many parallels with the Rainbow Magic books, yet has a lot more substance to offer. Each book introduces a new main character and follows a similar plot to previous books. However, unlike the Rainbow Magic books, Unicorn Academy offers real adventure and mystery to engage children.
The books also focus on friendship and deal with many issues that children may encounter. In Matilda and Pearl, Matilda’s friends become annoyed with her because she is disorganised and often distracted. The story explores the feelings that Matilda and her friends have about this and how they resolve the issue. Each book deals with a different issue, such as homesickness, competitiveness and being different to name a few.
Weaknesses
Although each book has a self-contained story, there is a mystery that spans the whole series. For reluctant readers, this may be off-putting as they may not want to commit to reading the whole 12 books.
Summary
Overall, I enjoy the Unicorn Academy series and I know that children will love the magic and adventure contained in the stories. I will be purchasing the whole series for my school library.
However, on a camping trip, Matilda and her friends realise that the oldest tree on Unicorn Island is dying. When a dark, cloaked figure appears and seems to do something to the tree, it is up to Matilda, Pearl and their friends to stop them!
Strengths
This series draws many parallels with the Rainbow Magic books, yet has a lot more substance to offer. Each book introduces a new main character and follows a similar plot to previous books. However, unlike the Rainbow Magic books, Unicorn Academy offers real adventure and mystery to engage children.
The books also focus on friendship and deal with many issues that children may encounter. In Matilda and Pearl, Matilda’s friends become annoyed with her because she is disorganised and often distracted. The story explores the feelings that Matilda and her friends have about this and how they resolve the issue. Each book deals with a different issue, such as homesickness, competitiveness and being different to name a few.
Weaknesses
Although each book has a self-contained story, there is a mystery that spans the whole series. For reluctant readers, this may be off-putting as they may not want to commit to reading the whole 12 books.
Summary
Overall, I enjoy the Unicorn Academy series and I know that children will love the magic and adventure contained in the stories. I will be purchasing the whole series for my school library.
September 16, 2021
4 stars according to my 6yo
On a second reading (because she forgot we’d read it before), my 6yo now says, “5 million one hundred billion stars” 🤷🏻♀️
On a second reading (because she forgot we’d read it before), my 6yo now says, “5 million one hundred billion stars” 🤷🏻♀️
October 9, 2021
Akademia Jednorożców - cóż za świetny pomysł na książeczki dla dziewczynek... bo która by nie chciała mieć jednorożca za towarzysza i uczęszczać do takiej magicznej szkoły? (pytanie retoryczne) "Matylda i Perła" to już 9 tom w tej serii, ale spokojnie, można czytać jak się chce, choć są nawiązania do tego, co działo się w poprzednich częściach. Jednak nie czułam się niekomfortowo i czytało mi się to dobrze... bo to moje pierwsze spotkanie z książeczkami Akademii Jednorożców.
Matylda jest roztrzepaną dziewczynką, która uwielbia rysować i żyje w swoim świecie. Jeszcze nie wytworzyła ze swoim jednorożcem - Perłą - więzi, ale w tym tomie czeka dziewczęta i chłopców ze szkoły biwak, więc wszystko może się zdarzyć. Czy przyjaźń okaże się wystarczająco mocna? Czy Perła i Matylda odkryją w sobie moc? I czy wyjdą cało z niebezpiecznej sytuacji? Przeczytajcie i sami sprawdźcie.
Ujął mnie pomysł na te książki. Myślę, że małe dziewczynki z przyjemnością staną się posiadaczkami tej magicznej serii. Julie Sykes stworzyła miłą, ciekawą opowieść o jednorożcach, która potrafią wiele, ale jeszcze więcej potrafią, gdy mają obok siebie przyjaciółkę - dziecko, które je kocha i w nie wierzy.
"Matylda i Perła" jest pozycją napisaną prostym językiem, bez podtekstów i zawiłości. Lucy Truman zaś bardzo ładnie zilustrowała tę historię i w konsekwencji to naprawdę ładna książka, wygodna w trzymaniu, czytaniu, lekka i miła w dotyku. To nie są drogie rzeczy i myślę, że każdy rodzic może swojej córeczce podarować całą serię Akademii Jednorożców.
przyjaciółki na zawsze
6/10
tom 9
seria Akademia Jednorożców
Wydawnictwo Wilga
Matylda jest roztrzepaną dziewczynką, która uwielbia rysować i żyje w swoim świecie. Jeszcze nie wytworzyła ze swoim jednorożcem - Perłą - więzi, ale w tym tomie czeka dziewczęta i chłopców ze szkoły biwak, więc wszystko może się zdarzyć. Czy przyjaźń okaże się wystarczająco mocna? Czy Perła i Matylda odkryją w sobie moc? I czy wyjdą cało z niebezpiecznej sytuacji? Przeczytajcie i sami sprawdźcie.
Ujął mnie pomysł na te książki. Myślę, że małe dziewczynki z przyjemnością staną się posiadaczkami tej magicznej serii. Julie Sykes stworzyła miłą, ciekawą opowieść o jednorożcach, która potrafią wiele, ale jeszcze więcej potrafią, gdy mają obok siebie przyjaciółkę - dziecko, które je kocha i w nie wierzy.
"Matylda i Perła" jest pozycją napisaną prostym językiem, bez podtekstów i zawiłości. Lucy Truman zaś bardzo ładnie zilustrowała tę historię i w konsekwencji to naprawdę ładna książka, wygodna w trzymaniu, czytaniu, lekka i miła w dotyku. To nie są drogie rzeczy i myślę, że każdy rodzic może swojej córeczce podarować całą serię Akademii Jednorożców.
przyjaciółki na zawsze
6/10
tom 9
seria Akademia Jednorożców
Wydawnictwo Wilga
August 4, 2021
One of the best books in the series. Matilda is pretty cheeky, and loves to draw- that made it interesting. Pearl is nice too, she looks super cute.
I liked it when Pearl discovered her powers. That was the best part!
I liked it when Pearl discovered her powers. That was the best part!
December 16, 2023
Skaičiau dukrai ji buvo labai sužavėta istorija
February 25, 2025
I’ve finished this book finally !can’t wait to read the next one hehehe!🤪
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2025
MAGICAL place every day ✨️ 💛 💖 💕 😍 💓
October 7, 2025
Read this with my 9yo and she gives it 5 stars for the adventure, the fun magic, and the plot.
July 27, 2020
This is a good book
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews