Diving back into the enchanting world of "Unicorn Island" with the second installment, "Secret Beneath the Sand" by Donna Galanti, was an absolute delight. Having eagerly followed Sam's adventures in the first book, I was thrilled to see where the series would lead, and this continuation exceeded my expectations.

This story seamlessly picks up from where the first book left off, weaving a narrative that not only ties up loose ends but introduces new and exciting elements. The unfolding mysteries about the island add layers of intrigue, keeping the reader hooked from start to finish. Donna Galanti masterfully balances continuity with fresh twists, making it a compelling read for both new and returning fans.

The whimsical and fun illustrations, consistent with the first book, continue to bring the magical world of Unicorn Island to life. Each page is a visual treat, perfectly complementing the imaginative storytelling. The vivid depiction of unicorns and other mythical creatures adds a touch of magic that young readers, especially those with a love for animals and unicorns, will find enchanting.

The writing style remains perfectly attuned to the target audience, making it an ideal story for young readers. The themes of friendship, loyalty, and bravery shine through, resonating with the core values of becoming unicorn protectors.

As I eagerly turned the pages, the plot unfolded with determination, courage, and fierce loyalty between Sam and her new friend, Tuck. The revelation of secrets, Aunt Sylvie's disappearance, and Sam's deeper connection to the island add layers of depth to the story, enriching the overall narrative.

With the promise of more adventures to come, I'm now eagerly anticipating the third and final book in this adorable series. "Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand" is a magical continuation that solidifies Donna Galanti's storytelling prowess in creating an engaging, imaginative world that captivates readers of all ages.

I requested this book so that I could read it with my 7 year old, who loves unicorns. She loved this book and has asked me to buy her a physical copy so she can read it again.

After reading the first book in this series I was excited to see where the series may go and was not disappointed with this continuation. I really enjoyed how this story not only picked up some loose ends/questions from the first book, but introduced new elements as well. The illustrations are whimsical and fun, like they were in the first book and the writing style I think this is a perfect story for young readers, especially those who love animals or unicorns.

This review is based off of a NetGalley ARC

The e-arc that I downloaded got corrupted, so I missed a large chunk of the story, but WOW, was I intrigued. I'm so into this story & am planning on buying this one & the first book as soon as I have a job & can buy books again. The plot moves forward quickly, the characters & creatures are fascinating. I definitely want to know more!! I hope the series continues. It reminded me of Robin LaFevers Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist series & Adam Gidwitz's Unicorn Rescue Society series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great middle grade read, and I can see it being a good read aloud book for younger audiences (Pre-K through first grade), too. It is filled with adventure and explores themes of magic, science, friendship, family, and grief. The illustrations help young readers to visualize the story.

Lessons include learning to listen to people and to learn about them before making snap judgments, how to work together to solve problems, working to do what is right and fair, and figuring out when to prioritize another's needs.

I like the educational section included at the end of the book as well.

Any world with unicorns in it is a better one. That’s a given! So of course I wanted to read these books. Overall, I enjoyed the characterization. I probably liked new best friend Tuck and grumpy Uncle Mitch best, but that’s me. I like how Sam and Tuck came together with a complementary friendship.

The exposition of the secrets of Unicorn Island worked well. The first book ends satisfactorily enough, but it was clear that another book was planned.

Book two carries on with Sam and Tuck learning to be unicorn protectors, and Sam is loving it. Of course, life can’t carry on so happily, and there are problems and more revelations to be dealt with. The door is definitely open for this story to continue!

For me, the narrative style skewed toward the younger end of the intended audience, and Sam read younger than 12 to me—a bit innocent and naïve. There’s nothing really trailblazing here in either narrative or plot. That’s not to say it isn’t a good read; it’s just not an exciting read.

The illustrations are a definite plus in these books, helping the reader to visualize the atmospheric setting.

Possible Objectionable Material:
There are fantasy creatures. A single parent must travel for work, so their child has to stay with an unfamiliar uncle. Deception. Perilous situations.

Who Might Like These Books:
Unicorn fans! Those who like a little fantasy in their stories. Those who like friendships and protecting living creatures. Especially readers in the younger end of the suggested range.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing ARCs in exchange for my opinions.

These reviews also at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2022/03/i-love-unicorns.html

This story was brilliant.  This is the second book in the series and we didn't read the first book. This didn't stop our enjoyment of the story one bit, we just loved every minute of it. My 9 year old read this fantastic story to me. She loved it that much she went to bed 90 mins before her bedtime just so she could finish this book and thats saying something. The story-line was thrilling and there was so much enjoyment in the story.  It was so well wrote and very appropriate for the age range of 8-12 years old. The pictures in this book were wonderful and full wonderful colours. This book great hidden messages teaching our children how to work together to solve problems and that sometimes we have to sacrifice what we want to help others in need. I love it when books with a beautiful story teaches our children such wonderful morals. This book would be perfect for any horse loving child and brilliant for schools and libraries. 
Many thanks to the author and publishing team for creating this beautiful story for children to enjoy and learn from . It was a fantastic page turning,  edge of your seat tale.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/unicorn-island-secret-beneath-the-sand-by-donna-galanti-andrew-mcmeel-pub-5-stars
Under either names ladyreading365 lady Reading365 or ladyc reading

Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand is such a well-written story for I would say 8-year-olds and above. The illustrations are nice and the story is every young child's dream come true. Filled with adventure and friendship a great book recommendation. Unicorn Island is picturesque and great for expanding vocabulary.

The very welcome introduction to this series (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4363860110)
showed us a young girl learning that her uncle is a guardian to a permanently mist-enshrouded island, which is home to a herd of unicorns he must protect. This then is the first chance of seeing what a whole book's worth of drama can bring, when the character and setting are all established. And in finding from the get-go that all the unicorns are losing everything – their magic, their horns, their mojo, their status as non-horses – we can be guaranteed the drama levels will be high.

Which might have meant this series was falling apart early on, for the charms previously were of the more gentle, old-school style – not too quaint for the current audience but not as sugar-rushed as other volumes for their age. But you know what? Nothing falls apart. Right from the off we're almost in a different kind of book, yes, but the panache and exuberance of the story here, and the way it's the whole island that is seemingly attacking the magic and the unicorns, are really strong plus-points. So even if we're getting a more current, 2020s vibe, any loss of the more serene old-fashionedness is not really felt. Yes, the story hinges around one (or is it two?) instances of prejudice and a lot hangs on that being a moral, and yes (not to spoil anything) the family-building is cheesy, but this is still all positive.

And I was still left wanting more, still not knowing what kind of beast the third book would be... Four and a half stars, once again...