Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collections
Publication
Zonderkidz (2014), 192 pages
Description
James, an earl's son and bothersome child, may hold the key to saving Cranford Abbey, a dilapidated school where he is sent to be educated, that newly-appointed Abbot Aelian thinks can be saved if he can make cider from the golden apples now being eaten by ravenous unicorns.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
This story reminded me a lot of fairy-tale inspired books that I read as a child. It's clever, not at all condescending, and has an old-fashioned charm - mixed with a few modern twists.
The monks of a certain monastery have long been resigned to the fact that once every year, they're visited by a
However, when a new abbot arrives, with a special recipe for making cider from golden apples, he's determined that things will change. Heroic (literally) efforts are expended toward saving the apples from the pesky unicorns - all in vain.
Meanwhile an annoyingly curious young ducal heir has used up nearly all the patience the residents of his family's castle have to spare. His older sister, Alexandria, is the only one who still bothers to answer his incessant questions. When he's sent to study at the monastery, a solution to the plague of unicorns may finally present itself...
The short novel is a quick read. It's aimed at middle-grade readers, but I felt that the writing style and the humor is such that it will be enjoyed equally by fantasy and fairy tale fans of all ages.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Zonderkids for the opportunity to read this book. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
The monks of a certain monastery have long been resigned to the fact that once every year, they're visited by a
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migrating herd of unicorns that ravenously chomp up all their golden apples. After all, they've got plenty of red and green apples to use for snacking and baking.However, when a new abbot arrives, with a special recipe for making cider from golden apples, he's determined that things will change. Heroic (literally) efforts are expended toward saving the apples from the pesky unicorns - all in vain.
Meanwhile an annoyingly curious young ducal heir has used up nearly all the patience the residents of his family's castle have to spare. His older sister, Alexandria, is the only one who still bothers to answer his incessant questions. When he's sent to study at the monastery, a solution to the plague of unicorns may finally present itself...
The short novel is a quick read. It's aimed at middle-grade readers, but I felt that the writing style and the humor is such that it will be enjoyed equally by fantasy and fairy tale fans of all ages.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Zonderkids for the opportunity to read this book. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
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LibraryThing member Dmtcer
I loved the magic, mystery, and innocence of this book. I was a little confused at the background story in the beginning, but once I met Young James and his family further in, I understood the timeline and the reason for it. As an adult I would have loved to learn more about the unicorns and more
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about how the "plague" was tamed (and the Unicorn-tamer, too), yet I liked the mystery around that particular character. IN all, I think this is a good read for children who enjoy fantasy. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookbrig
A sweet story that reads like a fairytale. It's charming and funny, with lovely characters and great illustrations. BUT. I would have liked it even more, I think, if it were a bit longer and gave us more of the older sister's story.
This is my entry for "book written by someone when they were over
This is my entry for "book written by someone when they were over
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the age of 65" for the Read Harder challenge. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
192 p.; 5.75 inches
ISBN
0310746485 / 9780310746485
UPC
025986746483
Local notes
Young James, an earl's son, is a bit bothersome and always asking the oddest questions. In despair--the last of James' tutors having quit--his mother sends him off to be educated at Cranford Abbey. But Cranford Abbey has its own problems. The newly appointed Abbot Aelian takes it upon himself to save the abbey with the use of his secret weapon: a recipe for golden apple cider passed down in his family for many generations. One obstacle stands in his way, unicorns that happen to feast specifically on the golden apples.