Title Unicorn Highway Series --- Author David Lee Jones Cover Art Kevin Johnson Publisher Avon - 1992 First Printing Avon - 1992 Category Fantasy Warnings None Main Characters Thaddy Williams, Mr. Tucker Main Elements Unicorns

Young Thaddy Williams believes with all his heart and soul. He believes in wishes and magic...and in old Mr. Tucker's story about seeing a unicorn on his land. And Thaddy knows if he can only capture and ride the magnificent mythological beast all the wrongs in his world will be righted. But accomplishing his goal will require a courage far beyond his tender years. For whenever the unicorn, Infinity, materializes, the Wolf lurks nearby - powerful, malevolent...and hungry. And Thaddy will learn all too quickly that extraordinary dreams attract dark and dangerous nightmares...and the most terrifying evil often gallops close behind the greatest good.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this coming of age tale. The story takes place in 1940's Kansas, not on the top of my list of favorite places for a story to take place but I really enjoyed reading about Thaddy's farm and his way of life (including having to deal with the town bully who liked to steal Thaddy's clothes whenever he went swimming, picturing the boy riding home on his horse Petula in his birthday suit made for an amusing Lady Godiva scene, fortunately Petula was the one with the long thick mane of hair...) And for what it's worth, Thaddy is a bright boy, he's young but has a pretty good grasp of how the world works and he has a good heart...though he's painfully ignorant of what a virgin is, apparently it's someone who has never been bitten by a vampire...

But there is a lot more than just the adventures of a boy on his farm, there is the unicorn and all that it represents. Its not just some rare creature that happens to actually exist...it is far, far more magical than that. It represents dreams, it also represents death. And where the unicorn comes it is followed by the wolf, and the wolf doesn't always have fur and four legs...and he might work for the government and think the unicorn is some kind of alien probe...

Though it is a coming of age story, I wouldn't describe this as a book for children, not even young adults. We may have a child protagonist but the questions raised are quite adult. Everyone can find something to enjoy in this book. A bittersweet tale of having to give up the things you love, of time and loved ones passing, but also of never giving up your dreams. And if you can dream just enough, if you can believe just a little more, a unicorn may come to you and let your ride on his back for a while.

But beware the wolf.