Beyond the Portal by Donna Galanti, illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe

 I was eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the Unicorn Island trilogy, but as so often happens to me with anticipated books, I didn't get around to reading it for quite a while! When I finally did, it was a satisfying finale.

In her first adventure, Sam leaves her mom in New York and goes to live with her uncle in a small town. There she discovers the existence of Unicorn Island and makes a friend in the local vet's son, Tuck. Her second adventure reveals more about her own past, including the identity of her biological mother, and that Mitch is actually her father. Sam comes to see Unicorn Island as home and forge the beginning of a relationship with her sometimes difficult father. The book ends on a dramatic note with the revelation of a portal to the unicorns' original home.

In their third and final adventure, Sam and Tuck, in typical heedless tween style, ignore the warnings of their parents and set off to go through the portal and see if they can find Sam's bio mom Sylvie - and if there are any surviving unicorns in their original land. Tuck does try to warn Sam, but she blunders ahead and they find themselves potentially trapped on the other side of the portal, just like Sylvie was so many years ago. They also find Sylvie, but she's not at all what they had expected. Her loss and imprisonment, as well as her loyalty to the local village and the people who took her in when she was stranded, have led her to make decisions that seem terrible to Tuck and Sam and they are both shocked and angry that she is no longer protecting the unicorns; instead, she is leading them to near extinction and she immediately tries to do the same to the young unicorn who came through the portal with them.

Sam regrets her actions, but is determined to save the day and with the help of Tuck and her own indomitable courage, she discovers not only a cure that will save the unicorns, she redeems her bio mom and brings her back to reunite with their family. Sylvie acknowledges that her sister, who raised Sam, is truly her mother but is eager to try and build a new relationship with her daughter, just as Mitch is trying as well. The unicorns are safe, and there's a happy ending for all after so many years apart.

Admittedly, the ending, and the writing in general, is somewhat trite, but one doesn't expect (or want) a highly literary book - it's a great story, includes some thoughtful moments, and is a perfect length for young tweens looking for chapter books. It's also nice to see a blended family that doesn't revert to traditional ways of thinking - Mitch and Sylvie both know they have a lot of work ahead to build a relationship with Sam and she will always think of her aunt as her "real" mother, since she raised her.

Verdict: If you haven't purchased the previous two volumes, now is the time to do it. A strong addition to young middle grade fantasy and sure to be a hit with young unicorn and fantasy fans. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781524878702; Published April 2023 by Andrews McMeel; Review copy provided by publisher; Purchased for the library