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Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
In The Unicorn Tree by Cynthia Collins, 17-year-old Lisa Duncan misses her older brother, Matt, who’s one of the crew of the clipper ship Northern Star, embarking on a voyage across the Atlantic. She and her friends visit a 19th-century estate known as Mirabelle Manor, built by a 19th-century sea captain for his wife. Lisa is captivated by Mirabelle’s portrait－the eyes seem alive, following her every move. Lisa also experiences several weird events during her tour. She has the opportunity to read a copy of Mirabelle’s diary and feels the connection to her as Mirabelle coped with her husband’s absence when he was at sea. Lisa’s also determined to find Mirabelle’s unicorn tree where one can watch for ships.
The Unicorn Tree is a charming story. It’s a slightly different YA read－the teenage angst is definitely there but it's combined with mystery, suspense, and even some mystical elements, giving the story a solid depth. With a clean and articulate narrative, the plot has a very nice flow from start to finish. Characterization as a whole is nicely done. When we’re introduced to Lisa, it’s apparent that her summer will be interesting the moment she sees the mysterious young woman on the day her brother went off to sea. As the story progresses, Lisa’s reality and Mirabelle's days in the past start becoming more parallel and the anticipation of what’s to come is enthralling, particularly when there’s troubling news about the Northern Star. On the whole, this is a great read from Cynthia Collins that reaches readers of all ages.
