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Summary
Summary
From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Chris d'Lacey comes a brand-new action-adventure series!When Michael Malone discovers his supernatural ability to alter reality, he is recruited by an organization dedicated to investigating strange and paranormal phenomena. He joins in hopes of finding his father, who mysteriously vanished three years earlier. Michael's first task is to solve the mystery of a dog he rescued from a precarious clifftop -- a mystery that leads him to a strange and sickly classmate and a young girl who was killed in a devastating accident. Stakes are high as Michael learns to harness his newfound ability and uncover the deadly truth about his father's disappearance. A bold and thrilling tale of alternate realities, paranormal mystery, and extraordinary adventure.
Author Notes
Chris d'Lacey was born December 16, 1954 in Valetta, Malta and grew up in Leicester and Bolton, England. He received a biology degree from the University of York and later returned to Leicester, working in the Pre-Clinical Sciences department of the University of Leicester.
Chris d'Lacey began writing fiction in his early thirties. Fly, Cherokee, Fly, his first children's novel, was published in 1998 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. In 2002, his book, The Fire Within, won the Rotherham Children's Book Award. He has written over twenty children's books including the best-selling, award-winning The Last Dragon Chronicles.
In 2002, the University of Leicester awarded d'Lacey with an honorary doctorate. He currently works for the university while continuing to write.
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
D'Lacey (the Last Dragon Chronicles) launches the UFiles series with a fast-paced yet convoluted offering. When teenager Michael Malone rescues a stray dog, it sets off a chain of events in which he learns he can alter reality under emotional duress, such as changing history so his sister has always played the flute. He is subsequently recruited by an enigmatic agency known as UNICORNE, which may know what happened to Michael's missing father. However, UNICORNE's leader, Amadeus Klimt, doesn't necessarily have Michael's best interests at heart, constantly forcing him to expand and explore his powers in new ways. In investigating the ties between the dog, a new classmate, and a girl who died several years earlier, Michael is swept up in a strange adventure that's part murder mystery, part reality-twisting trial by fire. The premise has plenty of potential, but the storytelling suffers from too many disparate elements and a lack of focus. Some twists are unclear, others ask a lot of readers, and the ending leaves many questions unanswered. Ages 8-12. Agency: Johnson & Alcock Literary Agency. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
After Michael discovers he has paranormal abilities, he's inducted (somewhat reluctantly on his part) into a mysterious group of others like him dedicated to investigating unexplained supernatural phenomena. Leveraging UNICORNE to help, Michael tries to harness his powers to search for his missing father. Humor is interjected into the dramatic and thrilling plot, serving to lighten a story overwhelmed with clichis. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
When Michael discovers he can alter reality, he catches the attention of the secret society UNICORNE. Its representative, Mr. Klimt, claims to have information about the disappearance of Michael's father. He offers to share information in exchange for Michael's help, but Michael soon discovers a deadly secret lurking in his own town. From ghosts to mental powers to dragons to androids, best-selling author d'Lacey throws a lot of things into this first volume of the UFiles series. The plethora of ingredients means that no one element, including the characters, is explored in very much detail, but the story moves along quickly and keeps readers guessing. Though Michael spends much of this volume confused as he trips over one bizarre twist after another, and he and his sister occasionally seem too adult for their years, they are likable and readers will have no trouble rooting for them. Fans of d'Lacey's fantasy-heavy Last Dragon Chronicles series may be caught off guard by the sci-fi focus, but with tantalizing adventures yet to come, it's likely they will stick around for future installments. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: D'Lacey has a built-in audience after his Last Dragon Chronicles series hit the New York Times best-seller list. Don't be surprised if they turn out for this series, too.--Wildsmith, Snow Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6-8-"It was the day Mom took the coast road to school. The day I tried to save a suicidal husky. One day before I would begin to wonder if my father was still alive." So begins Michael Malone's journey and this first installment in the "UNICORNE Files." Michael's father disappeared three years ago without a trace. Lately, Michael's been experiencing lightheadedness and shortness of breath, which the doctors diagnose as asthma. Even more strangely, Michael begins to notice after these episodes is that his reality has changed-his sister, who never played the instrument before, is a violinist, and an au pair is suddenly part of the family but his mother and sister act as if she's always been there. Baffled, Michael soon meets Amadeus Klimt, the leading member of a covert organization called UNICORNE. Klimt tells Michael that his father may still be alive, but in order to find out for sure, Michael must agree to take on an assignment for the secret agency. This book will hook readers from page one and won't let up until the dramatic conclusion. D'Lacey manages to make the implausible seem possible. While many questions are left unanswered, they are likely to be answered in the next installment. Fans of action-packed adventure will devour this new series.-Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Excerpts
From UNICORNE FILES #1: A DARK INHERITANCE "What about Dad?" "What about him, Michael?" "There must be some way to bring him back. You said I could find him. What do I do?" "Nothing," he said. "You do nothing about your father, unless we request it. UNICORNE will continue the search for now." So why was I even in the car? "I need to know where he is, Mr. Klimt. You have to let me help you. You have to. Please." "And how do you propose I go about this?" "Do tests. Whatever. Like you did with Dad. Let me be a part of your organization. Make me a member of UNICORNE." He looked down into his lap and smiled. "You would be a boy in an unsafe world. You have no idea what dangers could await you." "I don't care. I'll do anything to get Dad home. Let me prove myself to you. Give me a job. There must be something I can do." The car rolled to a halt. "Please, Mr. Klimt." His eyes looked up to a gap in the screen; a signal to the driver not to open the door yet. "Very well," he said. "I will give you a task. But there are rules, Michael. Serious rules. If you break them you will put yourself in jeopardy, and all chance of finding your father will be gone. There are people out there, other organizations, who would stop at nothing to access your abilities. This episode with the dog will not have gone unnoticed." I gulped and gave a quick nod. "Rule number one. You do not speak about UNICORNE to anyone, not even to your family, and certainly not to your friends. Anything you find, you share only with me, Chantelle, or Mulrooney. Do I have your word on this?" "Yes. Where do I start?" "Find out about the dog." Excerpted from A Dark Inheritance by Chris d'Lacey All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
