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The Unicorn Tree
Lisa Duncan, a seventeen-year-old high school senior, has an assignment to tour a historic site and write a report about it. She chooses Mirabelle Manor, a large estate overlooking the ocean, built by a nineteenth-century sea captain for his wife. During the tour, she thinks Mirabelle's portrait is watching her. One of the items on display is a diary, open to a passage about going to a place called the unicorn tree to watch for ships. This appeals to Lisa because her brother is currently on a commemorative voyage, sailing across the Atlantic. When news arrives that his ship is lost at sea, Lisa's interest in the diary changes from curiosity to determination in hopes of discovering what happened to her brother.
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245 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Cynthia Collins
2 books78 followersCynthia Collins is from Jefferson City, Missouri. She began piano lessons at the age of five and had every intention of pursuing a music career as a composer. She graduated from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, with a Bachelor of Music, attended summer school at the Salzburg Universitat in Salzburg, Austria, and did her graduate work in composition at the Mannes School of Music in New York.
While working in the music industry, she would spend her spare time watching the ships in New York Harbor. This led to a volunteer position, sail training, and employment at South Street Seaport Museum. Other volunteer experiences with ships followed, including the 2006 NY dockside segment of the Godspeed Sail honoring America's 400th Anniversary.
The Unicorn Tree is Cindy's debut novel. It is for ages 17 and up, and was inspired by her interest in historic house museums and tall ships.
She has written over thirty articles currently online, many of which focus on her native Missouri and maritime history. Two short stories, published by The Storyteller magazine, have received the magazine's People's Choice Award - 1st Place Fiction.
She is a member of the Steering Committee of the Working Harbor Committee of NY/NJ, an organization dedicated to educating the public about maritime history through lectures, films, and sailing.
While working in the music industry, she would spend her spare time watching the ships in New York Harbor. This led to a volunteer position, sail training, and employment at South Street Seaport Museum. Other volunteer experiences with ships followed, including the 2006 NY dockside segment of the Godspeed Sail honoring America's 400th Anniversary.
The Unicorn Tree is Cindy's debut novel. It is for ages 17 and up, and was inspired by her interest in historic house museums and tall ships.
She has written over thirty articles currently online, many of which focus on her native Missouri and maritime history. Two short stories, published by The Storyteller magazine, have received the magazine's People's Choice Award - 1st Place Fiction.
She is a member of the Steering Committee of the Working Harbor Committee of NY/NJ, an organization dedicated to educating the public about maritime history through lectures, films, and sailing.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 9, 2012
The Unicorn Tree takes place on the East Coast of the United States where it is common to see large estates that have been restored and are now open to the public. These places exude history that includes customs, styles, furniture, way of life, jobs, as well as the politics of the day. Just like the main character of 17-year-old Lisa Duncan, many schools assign a class to tour these homes and write reports about them. Just like the book's fictional estate of Mirabelle Manor, many house museums contain items left behind by the original owners. I also wanted to highlight sail training aboard tall ships at various maritime museums.
The ghost story element throughout the book helps Lisa discover secrets about the house and leads her to more information about her brother who is lost at sea. It is my hope that after reading The Unicorn Tree, the reader will come away with a renewed understanding of how old ships, house museums, and historic communities are just as relative today as they were in their own time.
The ghost story element throughout the book helps Lisa discover secrets about the house and leads her to more information about her brother who is lost at sea. It is my hope that after reading The Unicorn Tree, the reader will come away with a renewed understanding of how old ships, house museums, and historic communities are just as relative today as they were in their own time.
July 30, 2012
It is fascinating to me how Cynthia Collins has managed to intertwine a teenager's avid curiosity, family trauma, true life historical characters, and old ships together with such finesse. Drawing the reader immediately into the developing parallel issues of her modern day family and two ancient characters, the author's extremely well-written language also keeps the pages turning. Billed as a young adult book, this is actually a work that ALL ages will enjoy. I highly recommend it.
September 1, 2012
On task to complete a high school assignment of a historical site, Lisa Duncan tours ocean-front Mirabelle Manor. Built by a sea captain, Lisa is drawn to the portrait of the wife he adored, beautiful Mirabelle. It's no wonder, in the painting, Mirabelle is watching her and somehow draws Lisa to look at a diary on display. Lisa reads the page that's open about THE UNICORN TREE, believed to protect ships. Lisa thinks immediately to her brother who is now on a commemorative voyage across the Atlantic. Soon she learns his educational ship is lost! Mirabelle's diary holds important information for Lisa's search. Will she find him?
I highly recommend talented writer Cynthia Collin's book to all ages. THE UNICORN TREE grabbed me from beginning to the wonderful end.
I highly recommend talented writer Cynthia Collin's book to all ages. THE UNICORN TREE grabbed me from beginning to the wonderful end.
August 30, 2012
An old manor, a curious journal, family crisis and suspense - a great plot. A book for teenagers and adults alike. A recommended read.
May 30, 2012
This story is perfect for the middle grade set, nothing offensive or graphic. That being said, this novel is great for when you need a hug. It's a very uplifting story.
*goodreads.com giveaway*
*goodreads.com giveaway*
September 27, 2018
This is the story of Lisa Duncan, a studious teenager and a loyal sister to her older brother Matt who at the beginning of the book is setting out to sail across the Atlantic as a crew member of the historic clipper, Northern Star. Before departure, Matt gives Lisa a journal book for her to write her adventures in while he is away so that when he returns he can read all about them in it. As soon after all this takes place, Lisa and her friends who are her classmates are given an assignment by their teacher Ms. Anderson to “explore their community and write about anything that interests them.” Well, it just so happens that when their adventures get to Mirabelle Manor, the distinct residence of the Hutchings family who came to New Medford, Massachusetts “as shipwrights and later owned their own fleet,” Lisa becomes so enamored with it and its mistress Mirabelle Hutchings that she decides to write about it for the assignment and thus this story unfolds.
Mirabelle Manor is now a museum and there are people who are in charge of its care and any transactions involving it and Lisa befriends one of its tour guides, Betty Parker, who then goes on to give Lisa Mirabelle’s diary to help her with her assignment. I found this book to be reminiscent of stories I read in English class as a teenager in high school. It brought back all memories of being assigned research papers and being with friends who shared the same interests in community landmarks and such that it makes it such an enjoyable read. Even though its language was simple and middle grade level, I found myself drawn to Mirabelle Hutchings and how she would make apparitions to Lisa helping her to write and research her paper as well as showing her the mysterious “unicorn tree” that the rest of the employees of Mirabelle Manor museum had been trying so hard to find but could not. Lisa’s teenage problems that the book talks about just adds to my memories of my teenage yearsl it is all so nostalgic and vivid now it makes me teary eyed. It also makes life near the ocean enchanting and idealistic. I thought the inclusion of church and a pastor in this book was sweet making me deem this book as a work of Christian fiction. It is indeed a story of faith, family, and friendship and it has that feel-good vibe that a Christian would appreciate.
I urge those who are religious to give this book a read because it is heartfelt and magical in the sense that it involves a family and a teenage girl who is not mischievous but is a dear who stays true to her sea-bound brother through it all as she keeps writing in her journal that he gives her at the beginning of the book that she worries about him and that a supernatural woman (a friendly one) and her husband (also a ghost) are working in their own way to ease Lisa and her parents’ worries and provide them both with comfort in a career that can be fatal. I also would like to recommend this book to those who have family members in the military and are praying endlessly for those members to come back safe and alive one day. Buy a copy for yourself now because it is a great story to read while hurricane season is going on at the moment. God bless us all.
Mirabelle Manor is now a museum and there are people who are in charge of its care and any transactions involving it and Lisa befriends one of its tour guides, Betty Parker, who then goes on to give Lisa Mirabelle’s diary to help her with her assignment. I found this book to be reminiscent of stories I read in English class as a teenager in high school. It brought back all memories of being assigned research papers and being with friends who shared the same interests in community landmarks and such that it makes it such an enjoyable read. Even though its language was simple and middle grade level, I found myself drawn to Mirabelle Hutchings and how she would make apparitions to Lisa helping her to write and research her paper as well as showing her the mysterious “unicorn tree” that the rest of the employees of Mirabelle Manor museum had been trying so hard to find but could not. Lisa’s teenage problems that the book talks about just adds to my memories of my teenage yearsl it is all so nostalgic and vivid now it makes me teary eyed. It also makes life near the ocean enchanting and idealistic. I thought the inclusion of church and a pastor in this book was sweet making me deem this book as a work of Christian fiction. It is indeed a story of faith, family, and friendship and it has that feel-good vibe that a Christian would appreciate.
I urge those who are religious to give this book a read because it is heartfelt and magical in the sense that it involves a family and a teenage girl who is not mischievous but is a dear who stays true to her sea-bound brother through it all as she keeps writing in her journal that he gives her at the beginning of the book that she worries about him and that a supernatural woman (a friendly one) and her husband (also a ghost) are working in their own way to ease Lisa and her parents’ worries and provide them both with comfort in a career that can be fatal. I also would like to recommend this book to those who have family members in the military and are praying endlessly for those members to come back safe and alive one day. Buy a copy for yourself now because it is a great story to read while hurricane season is going on at the moment. God bless us all.
September 24, 2018
Cynthia Collins takes on a great perspective writing about the teenager Lisa. This story has a bit of a modern and historic touch, bouncing between Lisa’s story and Mirabelle’s diary.
Collins ties the two together deftly as she sends Lisa on a journey to find the titular tree, a spot just for watching ships come in and out of the area.
The story starts with and is fueled by Lisa’s brother (Matt) getting aboard a historic ship with intent to cross the Atlantic on it. Immediately after we find Lisa with friends at Mirabelle Manor, where the story kicks off on its adventure between the past and present, and the supernatural. Collins takes no time in keeping this story moving. It’s paced well and moves easy.
Throughout the story, there are little neat bits of parallels and foreshadowing (Lisa’s brother commenting on keeping a day-to-day log for the future to read back on, for example) that help add a heap of depth.
This is a great story about the mystery of life, and the love of family…all with a slight supernatural element.
Collins ties the two together deftly as she sends Lisa on a journey to find the titular tree, a spot just for watching ships come in and out of the area.
The story starts with and is fueled by Lisa’s brother (Matt) getting aboard a historic ship with intent to cross the Atlantic on it. Immediately after we find Lisa with friends at Mirabelle Manor, where the story kicks off on its adventure between the past and present, and the supernatural. Collins takes no time in keeping this story moving. It’s paced well and moves easy.
Throughout the story, there are little neat bits of parallels and foreshadowing (Lisa’s brother commenting on keeping a day-to-day log for the future to read back on, for example) that help add a heap of depth.
This is a great story about the mystery of life, and the love of family…all with a slight supernatural element.
October 30, 2018
There is something so appealing about Young Adult fiction, there is an innocence to it that is always so endearing, and this is particularly true about 'The Unicorn Tree' by Cynthia Collins. In this beautifully written love story, two young girls separated by over 100 years are bound together by their eerily similar circumstances. Both have connections to the sea, and when present day Lisa's brother goes missing whilst sailing across the Atlantic, she finds herself more drawn to her historical counterpart and the mysterious Unicorn Tree that she mentions in her diary. Will the Unicorn Tree – believed to protect and watch over ships at sea – be able to solve the mystery of Lisa's lost brother and what other secrets will be revealed in the diary of Mirabelle's diary, the wife of a Ship Captain over 100 years ago?
This was a stunning read with appeal to all ages, with a riveting plot and empathetic characters, I enjoyed it from first to the last page.
This was a stunning read with appeal to all ages, with a riveting plot and empathetic characters, I enjoyed it from first to the last page.
September 6, 2018
A great read.
November 23, 2018
If this you put music on what you read it is better than what you create.
June 22, 2013
Lisa Duncan was with her three friends at Mirabelle Manor. The high school students were deciding on an assignment and had chosen the historic site for their report. They each chose different aspects for their topics, and as seventeen-year-old Lisa’s older brother, Matt had just left in a recently rebuilt clipper for a commemorative journey across the Atlantic; and Mirabelle, over one hundred years earlier would wait for her husband, Captain Hutchings to return from his voyages, the relevance was there, reaching out to her.
Matt had given Lisa a journal before he left, so she could write the happenings in her life while he was away…he didn’t want to miss anything in his family’s lives. Lisa discovered Mirabelle would also write in a diary while her husband was away, and after being given permission to read it on site, Lisa would then commit her feelings into her journal in the evening. The unicorn tree was Mirabelle’s favourite place to sit and watch across the ocean for a sight of the sails, which would signify a ship coming into port. She would sit there daily, but no-one in the current day had been able to find it. But Lisa was sure she could find Mirabelle’s unicorn tree, she was determined to do so.
When the Coast Guard let Lisa and her parents know that Matt’s ship, the Northern Star, was missing at sea, because of a massive hurricane in the area, once again the parallels of Lisa and her family’s journey, and Mirabelle’s was supreme. With the worry and stress of not knowing where Matt and the crew were, if they were indeed even alive, Lisa spent as much time as she could at the Manor, feeling that Mirabelle was beside her, helping her to have the strength to keep going….
I loved this book! The characters are beautifully crafted, and the story remarkable. It was a real page turner, with me reading it in only a few hours. From the very beginning, everything about this book is wonderful. I have no hesitation in recommending it highly.
I won this book in the Goodreads First Reads giveaway:)
Matt had given Lisa a journal before he left, so she could write the happenings in her life while he was away…he didn’t want to miss anything in his family’s lives. Lisa discovered Mirabelle would also write in a diary while her husband was away, and after being given permission to read it on site, Lisa would then commit her feelings into her journal in the evening. The unicorn tree was Mirabelle’s favourite place to sit and watch across the ocean for a sight of the sails, which would signify a ship coming into port. She would sit there daily, but no-one in the current day had been able to find it. But Lisa was sure she could find Mirabelle’s unicorn tree, she was determined to do so.
When the Coast Guard let Lisa and her parents know that Matt’s ship, the Northern Star, was missing at sea, because of a massive hurricane in the area, once again the parallels of Lisa and her family’s journey, and Mirabelle’s was supreme. With the worry and stress of not knowing where Matt and the crew were, if they were indeed even alive, Lisa spent as much time as she could at the Manor, feeling that Mirabelle was beside her, helping her to have the strength to keep going….
I loved this book! The characters are beautifully crafted, and the story remarkable. It was a real page turner, with me reading it in only a few hours. From the very beginning, everything about this book is wonderful. I have no hesitation in recommending it highly.
I won this book in the Goodreads First Reads giveaway:)
June 17, 2015
I needed two ratings for this book. The given one is for the story itself as it is a good one.
Mirabelle Manor belonged to a sea captain and his wife. It is now a museum with their portraits hanging in the parlor.
The school assignment is to write about a local historical place. Four friends including Lisa decide to write about different aspects of the Manor.
The rebuilt clipper North Star with Lisa's brother Matt on board is sailing across the Atlantic and back during the same months the captain's voyage went around the Horn (southern tip of south America) to Chile and back. Both encounter hurricanes on their return trips.
Lisa is writing about how Mirabelle coped when her new husband leaves on this voyage leaving her trying to learn how to be the captain's wife. There is no GPS, no satellite phone, no radar, only occasional meetings with other ships exchanging letter bundles for communication.
The hurricane severs all communication with the rebuilt clipper leaving everyone wondering what has happened to the ship.
Through it all Lisa sees Mirabelle's ghost leading her on and helping her cope with the fear and suspense as she waits for word about Matt and his ship.
The second rating would be a three. Several places in the book brought me up short with words that didn't fit but broke the story chain. Diary entries are scattered through the book. Some of them were introduced with what was going to be written then the entry was there and seemed redundant. The ending was comfortable but too pat with an afterthought feel to it.
It was a relaxing read with lots of interesting bits of information, characters and situations to make you think.
Mirabelle Manor belonged to a sea captain and his wife. It is now a museum with their portraits hanging in the parlor.
The school assignment is to write about a local historical place. Four friends including Lisa decide to write about different aspects of the Manor.
The rebuilt clipper North Star with Lisa's brother Matt on board is sailing across the Atlantic and back during the same months the captain's voyage went around the Horn (southern tip of south America) to Chile and back. Both encounter hurricanes on their return trips.
Lisa is writing about how Mirabelle coped when her new husband leaves on this voyage leaving her trying to learn how to be the captain's wife. There is no GPS, no satellite phone, no radar, only occasional meetings with other ships exchanging letter bundles for communication.
The hurricane severs all communication with the rebuilt clipper leaving everyone wondering what has happened to the ship.
Through it all Lisa sees Mirabelle's ghost leading her on and helping her cope with the fear and suspense as she waits for word about Matt and his ship.
The second rating would be a three. Several places in the book brought me up short with words that didn't fit but broke the story chain. Diary entries are scattered through the book. Some of them were introduced with what was going to be written then the entry was there and seemed redundant. The ending was comfortable but too pat with an afterthought feel to it.
It was a relaxing read with lots of interesting bits of information, characters and situations to make you think.
September 19, 2012
“She could see in the library from the stairs and realized she was looking directly at Mirabelle’s portrait. It wasn’t her imagination. Mirabelle was watching her.
“She stopped suddenly, her legs unable to continue up the stairs. Her hand tightened around the banister as she tried to steady herself. She wanted to turn away, but Mirabelle’s eyes silently held her gaze with an insistence impossible to ignore.”
This is a fascinating book, for high schoolers as well as adults! Cynthia Collins weaves history with both suspense and mystery, skillfully building a story within a story. High school senior Lisa, whose brother has gone to sea on a restored clipper ship, becomes caught up in the intricacies of an old mansion and the lives of the late inhabitants. She is especially entranced in the journal of the mistress of the old house-turned-museum, Mirabelle Hutchings.
Well-written, with beautiful grammar and punctuation, Ms. Collins’ debut novel is a must-read for any high school student. The story flows nicely, with equally realistic prose and dialogue.
“She stopped suddenly, her legs unable to continue up the stairs. Her hand tightened around the banister as she tried to steady herself. She wanted to turn away, but Mirabelle’s eyes silently held her gaze with an insistence impossible to ignore.”
This is a fascinating book, for high schoolers as well as adults! Cynthia Collins weaves history with both suspense and mystery, skillfully building a story within a story. High school senior Lisa, whose brother has gone to sea on a restored clipper ship, becomes caught up in the intricacies of an old mansion and the lives of the late inhabitants. She is especially entranced in the journal of the mistress of the old house-turned-museum, Mirabelle Hutchings.
Well-written, with beautiful grammar and punctuation, Ms. Collins’ debut novel is a must-read for any high school student. The story flows nicely, with equally realistic prose and dialogue.
July 11, 2013
I received this Young Adult book as a Goodreads winner and am thrilled to recommend it for any age group. Lisa Duncan is a young girl doing an assignment for school about a large Estate built by a 19th century sea captain and his wife, the enigmatic Mirabelle. Mirabelle has left a diary which tells of a Unicorn Tree where she would wait for her husbands safe return from his voyages. As we hear that Lisa's brother is missing at sea the story follows her anger and fear and ultimately hope as she and the family await news. The lives of the two girls become beautifully entwined in time.
This book is well written and with plenty of spookiness, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This book is well written and with plenty of spookiness, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 12, 2012
Cindy Collins brings her characters to life in "The Unicorn Tree." Lisa, a high school student has an assignment for school and chooses Mirabell Manor for her project. While working on it, her brother who is sailing on a Clipper Ship is lost at sea. Lisa's project becomes personal when the lady of the manor, Mirabell, comes back to help her. Although this book is classified as Young Adult, it's a great read for all ages. Cindy's writing is impeccable and the flow keeps you turning pages. I highly recommend this book
December 16, 2016
I love a novel that keeps me up reading! Every time I picked up "The Unicorn Tree" I became so involved that the clock was not an issue, I just had to keep reading. The story is enhanced by the knowledge the author has of harbors, boats and sailing. Readers looking for adventure, history, and a bit of suspense will be in for a delightful read.
I wonder is there is going to be a follow up to this story?
I wonder is there is going to be a follow up to this story?
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews