Rampant by Diana Peterfreund - ADVISABLE

Peterfreund, Diana Rampant, 416 p. Harper, 2009. Violence: PG-13.

According to Astrid’s mother, unicorns are vicious, man-eating evil beings which, thankfully, are all extinct thanks to Astrid’s sword-wielding ancestress. Oops – maybe not. In order to save the world from the re-emerging species, Astrid must join other descendants – only virgin maiden descendants – of the original huntresses in a cloister in Italy, where they are funded by a pharmaceutical company who wants the secret to the unicorns’ restorative powers.

There are lots of bloody battles in this fast-paced novel and an off-page rape that is only referred to. The twist on the unicorn mythology is kind of fun, but the action can get bloody.

MS – OPTIONAL; HS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library-Teacher.