JANYCE BRAWN Author Website
David and the Midnight Unicorn
Tales of the Teleporting Topsider — Book 3
Twelve-year-old David Gonzales takes another trip to the lands below the drains in order to rescue his best friend Marty and their teacher. After a failed science experiment turns Marty into a unicorn and their teacher into a crowuzzle, both are forced through a painting portal that leads to the magical lands.
Using his old teleporting hat, David goes down the bathtub drain. Instead of landing in Drainovia, rusty pipes send him to the Wuzzle Swamp. Lost and in need of help, David only has three days to find his friends, get them changed back into humans, and return home. If he fails, they could be stuck forever in the Below Lands.
DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN [©2022] Tales of the Teleporting Topsider (Book 3) Written & Illustrated by Janyce Brawn | Juvenile Fantasy / Middle Grade reader (Rated G) 128 pages / 35,000 words (Illustrated) | Available in ebook and print from the DFP Books label of Dragonfly Publishing
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PAPERBACK (Amazon) [EAN 978-1-949187-41-0 | ISBN 1-949187-41-1] 6x9 trim (128 pages) illustrated | Average Price: $9.99
HARDBACK (Amazon) [EAN 978-1-949187-42-7 | ISBN 1-949187-42-X] 6x9 trim (128 pages) illustrated | Average Price: $19.99
PAPERBACK (Barnes & Noble) [EAN 978-1-949187-44-1 | ISBN 1-949187-44-6] 6x9 trim (128 pages) illustrated | Average Price: $9.99
HARDBACK (Barnes & Noble) [EAN 978-1-949187-45-8 | ISBN 1-949187-45-4] 6x9 trim (128 pages) illustrated | Average Price: $17.99
EBOOK [EAN 978-1-949187-43-4 | ISBN 1-949187-43-8] Available in EPUB and Kindle | Average Price: $3.99
Print editions are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. Find ebooks at retailers, lending libraries, and subscription services, including: Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, Blio, Everand, Kobo Books, Open Library, Overdrive, Smashwords, and more.
READ AN EXCERPT
CHAPTER 1:
MY friend, Marty Broomstagle, and I clustered around the sink in the old science lab with the other sixth grade students.
For our project each group needed to pick up a small dish, three tiny bottles of food coloring, and a cotton swab with dish soap dabbed on one end. We shuffled across scarred wooden floors as we jockeyed for supplies. Back at our seats we opened our books for today’s lesson.
The substitute teacher, Mr. Jymfitzle, walked around and poured a couple of tablespoons of milk on each dish. “Add a drop of food coloring into your milk close to the center. Write what you think will happen if you touch the cotton swab with the dish soap into the center.”
Following the directions, we each touched our swabs to the milk and watched as colors burst and moved around the liquid.
Marty tossed a couple pinches of dirt from his pocket onto the milk and food coloring mixture in the dish and swirled it. It gave off a nasty smell and turned the milk a deep purple. “Hey, David! Have a taste of grape milk.”
“Ew. Weird. No way. I prefer plain milk to that junk.” I laughed.
Mr. Jymfitzle sat on a tall stool near Marty and me. “Now that you’ve seen what happens, write a paragraph about it.”
Students wrote quickly and then closed their notebooks. They watched to see if the teacher was looking before a few dipped pencils into their mixtures and jabbed each other.
Mr. Jymfitzle held up his hand. “Stop. If you are finished writing, have one student from each group bring your dishes to the sink. Pour out the milk mixture. Then rinse and stack them on the side. Be very careful when you clean up, class.”
“Hurry up, Marty,” I said, “or we’ll be late for lunch.”
I nudged Marty with my elbow, hitting his hand that was holding the dish. His fingers let go. The dish sailed upward and then tilted as it fell. Dark milk spilled, as Marty’s hands fumbled to catch it. Liquid splashed the science teacher’s neck and white lab coat. The empty container landed beside the teacher.
“Nooo!” The teacher grabbed a handful of paper towels and dabbed at the mess. “Grrr. Worst nightmare....”
I couldn’t hear all of the teacher’s words, but Marty turned white and froze at the sink.
I leaned forward. “Did you say something, Mr. Jymfitzle? I’m sorry about this accident.”
The teacher snorted as he gathered the wet paper towels and dumped them into the wastepaper can.
The bell rang.
“Class dismissed.” The teacher’s eyes blazed as he watched us pick up our books. If it had been possible, I was sure smoke could have come out of his ears in front of his curling gray hair.
I grasped Marty’s arm. “Let’s go.”
“Wait. Shouldn’t we finish cleaning up?” Marty wiped stained hands on a paper towel and tossed it into the nearby can. He looked at the teacher and then at me.
“Go.” The teacher pointed to the door and continued to mutter.
I tilted my head. “Did you say something, Mr. Jymfitzle?”
He glared. “David Gonzales and Marty Broomstagle, you should never fool around when there’s a sub. You can be sure I’ll leave a note for your teacher.” He shook his head and sniffed his lab coat making a face at the smell and the purple stain. “What a mess.”
We ran out of the room and down the hall to our lockers.
“Wow, Mr. Jymfitzle is bonkers. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to bump you.” I crammed my books into the top of my locker, pulled out my lunch bag, and then slammed the door.
Marty had opened his locker and was just staring into it.
“Marty?”
“What?” He shook his head and dropped his books. His foot pawed the floor.
One minute I saw a twelve-year-old boy The next a midnight-blue unicorn stood in his place with books on the floor beneath him.
I fell against my locker in shock. “Holy cow, you’re a unicorn!”
[Copyright ©2023 Janyce Brawn | No unauthorized reproduction or distribution]
READ REVIEWS
"Science experiment goes bad. David and his best friend Marty flub a science experiment and turn their teacher into a Crowuzzle! Then Marty turns into a Unicorn. But don’t worry, David returns to Drainovia to save both. DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is the third book in the Tales of the Teleporting Topsider. The fantastic world of Drainovia continues to inspire the imagination as David continues learning valuable lessons he will need for his entire life. If he gets home, that is. Parents will enjoy sharing the fabulous creatures and citizens of Drainovia and David’s adventures with their children." ~ reviewed by Todd Main for Amazon [FIVE STARS]
"Our hero David Gonzales is up to his neck in trouble again. This time he and his friend Marty are doing a science experiment in class when something goes wrong with Marty’s sample. A few minutes later, Marty is a Midnight Blue unicorn. Worse, their substitute teacher, Mr. Jymfitzel, transforms into something otherworldly — a Crowuzzle! So begins another adventure through the drains into the lands below. David, Marty and their unfortunate teacher are drawn through the wringer into a long-held magical feud. David, as always, goes above and beyond, to not only solve his original mystery, but also to help those involved in the situation as best he can. The boy is a great role model for other children, always doing the right thing by whoever he’s trying to help. Janyce Brawn’s art illustrates the story, as the reader goes along, with colorful representations of all the many characters who David meets on his journey. So come join the adventure, and meet the Mudlumps, Crowuzzles and Smitherpusses — but beware of the deadly Skirlmunk!" ~ reviewed by Suzi Taylor at Smashwords [5-STARS]
"David Gonzales' best friend, Marty, has turned into a unicorn because of a failed Science experiment. To change Marty back to a human, David must travel to the lands below the drains. He only has three days to find a solution to this problem or be trapped forever in this strange world. This is the third book in the Tales of the Teleporting Topsider series. If I'm ever in trouble, I'd want a friend like David to help me! DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is a book with solid values. I think it would be perfect for a teacher to read to a class a little bit each day. The chapters are short and action packed. David and his friends are sure to make anyone smile." ~ reviewed by Faithful Reader at Amazon [5-STARS]
"DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is a fantasy book about a boy named David and his adventures. This is the third book in the series. I did not read the first two books but I enjoyed this one and will go back to read the others. I believe this book can be read as a stand-alone book though. It is very creatively written with imaginary characters like crowuzzles and mudlumps. There is a helpful list at the beginning of the book that gives the names of the characters and the lands that they appear in, such as Drainovia and Wuzzle Swamp. Children that enjoy fantasy stories would find this story fun to read!" ~ reviewed by Kathleen and Timothy Rankin at Amazon [5-STARS]
"DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is a fanciful tale full of imaginative creatures in a alternate world. The characters and plot are very well-done. I'm a grownup and I found myself unable to wait until the next chapter to find out what happened next!" ~ reviewed by Marvelous Marel at Barnes & Noble [5-STARS]
"DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is the latest in Janyce Braun's delightful series that chronicles the exploits of young David Gonzales. David, on the surface, is just like any normal pre-teenaged boy. But there's so much more to David than meets the eye! David has the 'inside track' to many fascinating places. David forms friendships with many colorful creatures who help him navigate their world, David, along with his new friends, use problem solving skills to help them out of trouble. As an adult reader I was drawn into the story and didn't want to walk away from it until the end. With each unfolding chapter I found myself wanting to know what happens next! And that is the mark of a good read. I am sure kids David's age will love this great story! Well-written kid's book. Kudos to Janyce!" ~ reviewed by Cleanfitz at Barnes & Noble [5-STARS]
"I've read the other books by this author and DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is just as good if not better than the others. So imaginative and fun!" ~ reviewed by Sue A. Fairchild at Smashwords [5-STARS]
"David Gonzales has had many adventures in the world of Drainovia, but in DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN he has to save his friend, Marty, and a teacher who were taken to a magical world. He uses his knowledge, experience, and relationships with beings in this world to find and return them safely home before becoming trapped there forever. Kids will love the fun names and abilites of the "people" and be excited by the story as it flows along. Great storytelling and imagination!" ~ reviewed by Colleen Zandbergen at Smashwords [5-STARS]
"DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is the latest in Janyce Brawn's delightful series that chronicles the exploits of young David Gonzales. David, on the surface, is just like any normal pre-teen boy. But there's so much more to David than meets the eye! David has the "Inside track" to many fascinating places. David forms friendships with many colorful creatures who help him navigate their world, David, along with his new friends, use problem solving skills to help them out of trouble. As an adult reader I was drawn into the story and didn't want to walk away from it until the end. With each unfolding chapter I found myself wanting to know what happens next! And that is the mark of a good read. I am sure kids David's age will love this great story! Well-written kid's book. Kudos to Janyce!" ~ reviewed by Colleen Perrine at Barnes & Noble [5-STARS]
"DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is a fantasy book about a boy named David and his adventures. This is the third book in the series. I did not read the first two books but I enjoyed this one and will go back to read the others. I believe this book can be read as a stand-alone book though. It is very creatively written with imaginary characters like crowuzzles and mudlumps. There is a helpful list at the beginning of the book that gives the names of the characters and the lands that they appear in, such as Drainovia and Wuzzle Swamp. Children that enjoy fantasy stories would find this story fun to read!" ~ reviewed by Kathleen Rankin at Amazon [FIVE STARS]
"DAVID AND THE MIDNIGHT UNICORN is a fantasy book about a boy named David and his adventures. This is the third book in the series. I did not read the first two books but I enjoyed this one and will go back to read the others. I believe this book can be read as a stand-alone book though. It is very creatively written with imaginary characters like crowuzzles and mudlumps. There is a helpful list at the beginning of the book that gives the names of the characters and the lands that they appear in, such as Drainovia and Wuzzle Swamp. Children that enjoy fantasy stories would find this story fun to read!" ~ reviewed by Reading2022 at Smashwords [FIVE STARS]
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