Melowy: Dreams come true by Danielle Star
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781338151749
(Ages 6-8) Theme: Fantasy. Short and quick to read. Magical Pegasi
go to a school for magical horses.
Aura, a 'magical land' that's 'in a distant galaxy' has four Island
realms (Winter, Spring, Day and Night) that are populated by Pegasi.
Some Pegasi are Melowies, marked with a hidden symbol on their wings
that indicate magical abilities. Melowies are summoned to school at
the 'Castle of Destiny' in the clouds. Frontmatter details these
realms, provides a map of the castle, and provides short profiles on
the five main characters.
The story opens on the day the new Melowies arrive - which also
happens to be the anniversary of Cleo's arrival day (the day she was
found mysteriously at the castle, origins unknown and no melowy
mark). The story centres on Cleo and Maya, a shy Pegasus from
Spring. During the entrance test, Cleo enters mistakenly, and Maya
asks her to stay and help, and she unsurprisingly ends up assisting
all the main characters.
The brightly coloured Pegasi have unicorn horns, highly decorative
wings, heavy eye make-up, and long flowing manes. There is not a
hint of subtlety about them. The epilogue's twist foreshadows a
threat to Aura.
Donna Isgar