Mermaids vs. Unicorns

Gr 2-5–The magical land of Rundalyn calls Pacey, little sister Mina, and their unicorn friend Slasher (Mina’s stuffed toy, who in the first book revealed he was in fact a resident of Rundalyn) back into action just in time for Pacey to escape friendship woes on Earth. The mogs, friendly troll-like creatures who are unable to swim, ask the trio to retrieve the severed horn of the evil unicorn, Arkane, from the mermaids’ domain. The story branches from Pacey’s group rafting through subterranean waters, to Arkane’s search for his horn, to the mogs attempting to assist from afar. Slasher’s sarcasm provides plenty of humor, while his bias against mermaids foreshadows dangers to come. Pacey’s hurt feelings over being unpopular are projected onto the mermaids, who have justified grievances with unicorns. Exposition delivered while traveling shows off Rundalyn, as well as Phillipps’s purple-tinted art. Pacey and Mina are light-skinned and dark-haired.