Welcome to the Guestbook!
I’m always eager to read your comments about my books and stories, so please feel free to pitch in. Here are a few things for you to know:
1) I answer the messages here personally.
2) No message shows up here until I actually answer it to prevent spam and other inappropriate postings. So there will sometimes be a delay before your message posts, especially if I am traveling.
3) Teachers, a gentle request: Please do not have multiple children send me variants of the same message. A group email is much easier to respond to and not such a drain on my time. My thanks in advance for being alert to this.
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960 entries.
Dear Mr. Coville,
Happy New Year! I haven't seen a guestbook format in a very, very long time but I'm happy I get to even in a small way communicate with you.
Growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s had me spending a lot of time in the library, since I was very introverted and already keenly aware of being "weird" (though not completely since words like "neurodivergent" or "queer" hadn't entered my vocabulary) I ended up reading a lot. I loved fantasy worlds in particular and was drawn towards your Magic Shop books! Jennifer Murdley's Toad meant a lot to me in particular, being the "ugly" girl that one day hoped something would just magically snap into place and make me "beautiful".
I still think about Mr. Elives' words of "most mirrors are mere errors" and the scene of Jennifer looking into the magic mirror. How effectively you portrayed the perspective of a girl dealing with bullying and unrealistic beauty standards stays with me, especially in terms of her self-esteem. It's not often that I saw stories like that where the magical solution wasn't the best and even caused trouble for Jennifer, but instead finding happiness and love within herself for who she is.
So, in all that, I just wanted to say thank you for being a part of some lovely memories I had with reading as a young weird (and obliviously closeted) kid. Hope you have safe travels, dry socks, and a warm bed wherever you go.
Happy New Year! I haven't seen a guestbook format in a very, very long time but I'm happy I get to even in a small way communicate with you.
Growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s had me spending a lot of time in the library, since I was very introverted and already keenly aware of being "weird" (though not completely since words like "neurodivergent" or "queer" hadn't entered my vocabulary) I ended up reading a lot. I loved fantasy worlds in particular and was drawn towards your Magic Shop books! Jennifer Murdley's Toad meant a lot to me in particular, being the "ugly" girl that one day hoped something would just magically snap into place and make me "beautiful".
I still think about Mr. Elives' words of "most mirrors are mere errors" and the scene of Jennifer looking into the magic mirror. How effectively you portrayed the perspective of a girl dealing with bullying and unrealistic beauty standards stays with me, especially in terms of her self-esteem. It's not often that I saw stories like that where the magical solution wasn't the best and even caused trouble for Jennifer, but instead finding happiness and love within herself for who she is.
So, in all that, I just wanted to say thank you for being a part of some lovely memories I had with reading as a young weird (and obliviously closeted) kid. Hope you have safe travels, dry socks, and a warm bed wherever you go.
Dear Mr. Coville,
I hope all is well with you, and I’m happy to say that we’ve met before! According to your signature in my Unicorn Chronicles book (the beautiful hardcover one with the first 2 volumes included), you were at my elementary school in 2007. I’m almost 30 now and I still cherish the memory!
I was thrilled to meet you and hear your presentation! I loved your books and dreamed of becoming an author/illustrator. I haven’t become an author yet, but I am happily living a different dream of being a music lesson teacher!
I wonder if you can guess what instrument a lover of unicorns would play? One of the most magical instruments of all, the harp! But the best part of my job is that I get to spend time with so many wonderful people every day. Some of my students will tell me in great detail about the books they’re reading, which is always a delight!
I gifted your collection “A Glory of Unicorns” to one of my young students earlier this year. I found it at a thrift bookstore and had originally planned to keep it for my own collection. But upon learning that my student was being pressured to grow out of unicorns by her mean nanny, I felt like she needed it much more than I did! I’m so glad I happened to have that book on hand to lift her spirits and reassure her that you don’t have to grow out of unicorns at any age!
I’ve been revisiting books from my childhood and just ordered the box set of The Unicorn Chronicles. I had no idea there were more volumes and I’m looking forward to diving back into it! I also just started reading Jeremy Thatcher again, and only 30 pages in it has already made me smile so much.
Thank you for being an inspiration and sharing so many wonderful stories with the world!
Wishing you all the best,
Caitlin
I hope all is well with you, and I’m happy to say that we’ve met before! According to your signature in my Unicorn Chronicles book (the beautiful hardcover one with the first 2 volumes included), you were at my elementary school in 2007. I’m almost 30 now and I still cherish the memory!
I was thrilled to meet you and hear your presentation! I loved your books and dreamed of becoming an author/illustrator. I haven’t become an author yet, but I am happily living a different dream of being a music lesson teacher!
I wonder if you can guess what instrument a lover of unicorns would play? One of the most magical instruments of all, the harp! But the best part of my job is that I get to spend time with so many wonderful people every day. Some of my students will tell me in great detail about the books they’re reading, which is always a delight!
I gifted your collection “A Glory of Unicorns” to one of my young students earlier this year. I found it at a thrift bookstore and had originally planned to keep it for my own collection. But upon learning that my student was being pressured to grow out of unicorns by her mean nanny, I felt like she needed it much more than I did! I’m so glad I happened to have that book on hand to lift her spirits and reassure her that you don’t have to grow out of unicorns at any age!
I’ve been revisiting books from my childhood and just ordered the box set of The Unicorn Chronicles. I had no idea there were more volumes and I’m looking forward to diving back into it! I also just started reading Jeremy Thatcher again, and only 30 pages in it has already made me smile so much.
Thank you for being an inspiration and sharing so many wonderful stories with the world!
Wishing you all the best,
Caitlin
My name is Kelso.
I have read your Unicorn Chronicles with my older sister since I was a little girl. We loved it so much that the first book and the second book were worn with pages falling out and maybe even chocolate stains or doodles in em. Even my mom read em and loved too.
The books must been read hundreds of times. Literally they were loved and it showed.
I used to dream being in Luster as I’d walk the woods behind our backyard. I was obsessed with unicorns, to that degree, and dragons. My love for fantasy fiction, I’m sure started with you.
I even bought others of your works like Glory of Unicorns whenever my mom and dad would take us to Barnes and Noble saving my allowance.
I’d also keep a look out for the sequel to book 2, but I slowly lost hope as I got older.
I was so excited when as an adult I got Dark Whispers from my mom and I could continue the story that was never complete to me. I was to able to keep the story going.
Over the last many years I would check in Barnes and Noble when my family would go there for holiday shopping for the sequel to Dark Whispers. They never had it on hand and the shipping price was crazy. Books have become a pricier indulgence I very seldom allow myself anymore. My three kids get what we can at the public library which they also don’t have it.
Now I’m 35 years old and your 3 incomplete book series stayed on my bookshelves in my collection of precious reads. Every now then I’d read em but the story was never finished for me. It always bugged me because as I’ve said I adore Luster and unicorns and all the magic and danger and the backstory lore and the hunters with Beloved.
In passing I had mentioned and talked to my partner about your series. Passionately telling him about the story and how long had em but never got your last book.
My birthday was on 19th of December. On Dec 27th I got a belated Birthday package from my partner which he apologized for. Guess what he got me. 😭
It was your fourth book! I think I cried for about a good 5 minutes hugging him and admiring the book’s artwork. In disbelief that I finally FINALLY after all these years get the missing puzzle piece.
Now I’m settled in bed to binge read all books and finish the story that I’ve wanted to hear for so so long.
I already know it’s going to be amazing.
Thank you Bruce for Luster and by far one of favorite books as child and even as an adult. 🩷
I have read your Unicorn Chronicles with my older sister since I was a little girl. We loved it so much that the first book and the second book were worn with pages falling out and maybe even chocolate stains or doodles in em. Even my mom read em and loved too.
The books must been read hundreds of times. Literally they were loved and it showed.
I used to dream being in Luster as I’d walk the woods behind our backyard. I was obsessed with unicorns, to that degree, and dragons. My love for fantasy fiction, I’m sure started with you.
I even bought others of your works like Glory of Unicorns whenever my mom and dad would take us to Barnes and Noble saving my allowance.
I’d also keep a look out for the sequel to book 2, but I slowly lost hope as I got older.
I was so excited when as an adult I got Dark Whispers from my mom and I could continue the story that was never complete to me. I was to able to keep the story going.
Over the last many years I would check in Barnes and Noble when my family would go there for holiday shopping for the sequel to Dark Whispers. They never had it on hand and the shipping price was crazy. Books have become a pricier indulgence I very seldom allow myself anymore. My three kids get what we can at the public library which they also don’t have it.
Now I’m 35 years old and your 3 incomplete book series stayed on my bookshelves in my collection of precious reads. Every now then I’d read em but the story was never finished for me. It always bugged me because as I’ve said I adore Luster and unicorns and all the magic and danger and the backstory lore and the hunters with Beloved.
In passing I had mentioned and talked to my partner about your series. Passionately telling him about the story and how long had em but never got your last book.
My birthday was on 19th of December. On Dec 27th I got a belated Birthday package from my partner which he apologized for. Guess what he got me. 😭
It was your fourth book! I think I cried for about a good 5 minutes hugging him and admiring the book’s artwork. In disbelief that I finally FINALLY after all these years get the missing puzzle piece.
Now I’m settled in bed to binge read all books and finish the story that I’ve wanted to hear for so so long.
I already know it’s going to be amazing.
Thank you Bruce for Luster and by far one of favorite books as child and even as an adult. 🩷
Dead Mr. Coville,
When I was in 7th grade, I read all of your books that my middle school library had copies of. I remember the Magic Shop and My Teacher is an Alien books in particular, along with Odder Than Ever.
Earlier today, I happened across a copy of The Letter Q and read your short piece in it about being bisexual.
This obviously doesn't change how I felt about the books then, or now, but it has made me think about there having been something special happening, without my knowing it, when I was a young gay boy (somewhat cognisant of that fact, but not fully) reading fantasy that I loved by another queer man. Across time and distance, without you knowing me and without me knowing anything about your identity, an older queer man created fantasy that was beloved by a younger one, a joy found within a building and age that was largely unwelcoming.
Apologies for this not necessarily being a full thought, and I obviously don't want to reduce you to a label or imply that the work isn't special on its own terms. There's just something nice about inter-generational queer stories, and I'm happy and thankful for what you did in your career, creating books that me and others could love.
Best,
Eric
When I was in 7th grade, I read all of your books that my middle school library had copies of. I remember the Magic Shop and My Teacher is an Alien books in particular, along with Odder Than Ever.
Earlier today, I happened across a copy of The Letter Q and read your short piece in it about being bisexual.
This obviously doesn't change how I felt about the books then, or now, but it has made me think about there having been something special happening, without my knowing it, when I was a young gay boy (somewhat cognisant of that fact, but not fully) reading fantasy that I loved by another queer man. Across time and distance, without you knowing me and without me knowing anything about your identity, an older queer man created fantasy that was beloved by a younger one, a joy found within a building and age that was largely unwelcoming.
Apologies for this not necessarily being a full thought, and I obviously don't want to reduce you to a label or imply that the work isn't special on its own terms. There's just something nice about inter-generational queer stories, and I'm happy and thankful for what you did in your career, creating books that me and others could love.
Best,
Eric
Dear Mr. Coville,
Our third grade class just finished reading Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher and started The Monster’s Ring. We think both stories are wonderful and imaginative.
Our class was captivated by the beginning of Jeremy Thatcher where Jeremy finds Tiamat at the magic shop. We thought that it was sweet and mysterious.
We loved all the funny parts of the story. For example, we enjoyed the scene where Mary Lou is invited to dinner at Jeremy’s house. We laughed wildly when Tiamat was chasing Jeremy’s cats at the dinner table. It was funny when Jeremy’s dad tried to catch the cats, but accidentally splatted into his mashed potatoes.
We felt a little sad when Tiamat had to leave for her dragon world. However, we liked the plot twist in the Epilogue where she returns into Jeremy’s mind to share beautiful images with him. We were wondering why you had Tiamat leave for her dragon world.
Even though we just started The Monster’s Ring, we are very impressed with Katherine Coville’s illustrations and think they are mind-blowing funny.
We would love another magic shop book where all the characters in Mr. Elive’s Magic Shop appear together. What do you think of this idea? How about a girl running the shop?
Thank you for writing wonderful books. We think that you’re an amazing author.
Happy Halloween!
Best wishes,
Your fans in Ms. B’s third grade class
Our third grade class just finished reading Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher and started The Monster’s Ring. We think both stories are wonderful and imaginative.
Our class was captivated by the beginning of Jeremy Thatcher where Jeremy finds Tiamat at the magic shop. We thought that it was sweet and mysterious.
We loved all the funny parts of the story. For example, we enjoyed the scene where Mary Lou is invited to dinner at Jeremy’s house. We laughed wildly when Tiamat was chasing Jeremy’s cats at the dinner table. It was funny when Jeremy’s dad tried to catch the cats, but accidentally splatted into his mashed potatoes.
We felt a little sad when Tiamat had to leave for her dragon world. However, we liked the plot twist in the Epilogue where she returns into Jeremy’s mind to share beautiful images with him. We were wondering why you had Tiamat leave for her dragon world.
Even though we just started The Monster’s Ring, we are very impressed with Katherine Coville’s illustrations and think they are mind-blowing funny.
We would love another magic shop book where all the characters in Mr. Elive’s Magic Shop appear together. What do you think of this idea? How about a girl running the shop?
Thank you for writing wonderful books. We think that you’re an amazing author.
Happy Halloween!
Best wishes,
Your fans in Ms. B’s third grade class
Dear Mr. Coville,
I read a thing recently where a gay man said that as a kid in the 90s, the first time he learned homosexuality existed, it was in the context of a gay man who had been a very dangerous criminal. It was basically presented that the person being gay and being a dangerous criminal were the same level of bad, and it had a profound impact on his youth.
This made me realize that the first time I learned homosexuality existed was from your book The Skull of Truth in the hilariously awkward Thanksgiving dinner scene, where everyone in the family is magically compelled to tell the truth. The main character’s uncle was being needled about getting a girlfriend, and he said (with perfect truthfulness) that he had a boyfriend, and everyone would be happier if the accepted that. I remember being about 8 and going “neat, didn’t know that was a thing”. The main character’s uncle later tried to say that he couldn’t hang out with his uncle now, but couldn’t (it not being true) and instead said it would feel weird. This element of the minor character wasn’t dwelled on more heavily than any other serious issue in the book, such as cancer, but it stuck with me. The book also taught me that a lot about truth, and how although it is good, it can also be scary, and painful, and even dangerous. It’s rare, especially for kids literature in that era, to find a book that handles such heavy topics and does so with such finesse and respect.
I remember feeling like your books never talked down to kids (and I read many of them), but The Skull of Truth taught me a lot, and I recently realized that it helped me grow up as the well-adjusted person (and gay uncle) that I am now.
I wanted to thank you for that.
I read a thing recently where a gay man said that as a kid in the 90s, the first time he learned homosexuality existed, it was in the context of a gay man who had been a very dangerous criminal. It was basically presented that the person being gay and being a dangerous criminal were the same level of bad, and it had a profound impact on his youth.
This made me realize that the first time I learned homosexuality existed was from your book The Skull of Truth in the hilariously awkward Thanksgiving dinner scene, where everyone in the family is magically compelled to tell the truth. The main character’s uncle was being needled about getting a girlfriend, and he said (with perfect truthfulness) that he had a boyfriend, and everyone would be happier if the accepted that. I remember being about 8 and going “neat, didn’t know that was a thing”. The main character’s uncle later tried to say that he couldn’t hang out with his uncle now, but couldn’t (it not being true) and instead said it would feel weird. This element of the minor character wasn’t dwelled on more heavily than any other serious issue in the book, such as cancer, but it stuck with me. The book also taught me that a lot about truth, and how although it is good, it can also be scary, and painful, and even dangerous. It’s rare, especially for kids literature in that era, to find a book that handles such heavy topics and does so with such finesse and respect.
I remember feeling like your books never talked down to kids (and I read many of them), but The Skull of Truth taught me a lot, and I recently realized that it helped me grow up as the well-adjusted person (and gay uncle) that I am now.
I wanted to thank you for that.
My dearest sir! I hope you are well. We have "met" in the past through our correspondence and you actually video chatted with my class several years ago. I had told you how I had been using your "My Teacher is an Alien" series in my classroom for what has to be 3 decades now. After having to use a godawful reading curriculum set (that we, thankfully have since gotten rid of), I just received permission to use that series in my classroom again as my official reading for the curriculum. I already have 25 of each of the books, but now as I am teaching 2 classes my school is kindly purchasing a second set of each book. I am excited to be using these books again. I had already created materials in the past and now have a whole catalog of necessary resources to support my newest foray into using these books again. Since I teach science as well, much of the science fiction you offer in these novels will give my students food for thought. Even though they were not used as curriculum these past years, I continued to read them and the children enjoyed as much as my past students have and we discussed the science fictions aspect such as the transcendental elevator and the URAT. We've have some fun conversations about those, I have to tell you! I can't wait to start this new journey with my students in September! Thank you for such a wonderful series of thought provoking books!
I am Pastor Paul of Christ Church Orphanage. We urgently need new adopters to provide a loving family. People from all walks of life can adopt children, but in particular we are looking for adoptive parents who will be able to meet a child’s needs. And to those of you looking for a baby to adopt, there are children; twins, boys and girls here. Like all families, adoptive families come in all shapes and sizes. Interested couples looking forward to adopting the babies should please contact us now. So if you’re thinking about starting the adoption process then please contact us now at: christchurchorphanage@gmail.com and you can also give your donations and charity to the orphanage. There is no need for these children to suffer any more so PLEASE HELP by coming to take them for adoption or donating to the orphanage. Help the little children. Thank you very much. God bless you as you come.
Dear Mr. Coville,
I am writing to convey my deep appreciation for the special magic your books have brought into my life, and now into my kids' lives too. I've always found so much to enjoy in the worlds you create. Over the years, I've really enjoyed many of them, including "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher," "Fortune's Journey," and your short story collection, "Oddly Enough."
"The Unicorn Chronicles" holds a particularly special place in my heart and home, largely because my grandmother read it to me, creating memories I really cherish. It was actually after she passed away that I decided to start reading the series to my boys, as a way to share that piece of my childhood and her memory with them. Now, I'm reliving those moments in a new way as I read it to them, and it's a truly special experience to share Cara's journey and the world of Luster with them. They are absolutely captivated by the adventure in Luster, and Squidgim has become a particular favorite of theirs. It's wonderful to see them so engaged with your stories, especially during the many memorable and suspenseful moments in the Unicorn Chronicles series. I get a thrill seeing their faces light up as we explore Luster together. You really are an incredible storyteller. And honestly, while I love rereading the books I know with them, I'm also very excited because I haven't read the seventh book yet and that means we get to discover that part of Cara's story all together!
That feeling of discovering a story together for the first time is a big part of why I'm also so looking forward to reading "Goblins in the Castle" to the boys. I very much enjoyed that book myself, and I haven't read its sequel yet either, so we'll all get to discover that next one together too!
Thank you once again for these wonderful stories. They have meant so much to me personally, and it's a real joy to now be making new memories with my boys as we read your books together. I hope your stories have brought as much joy and wonder to your family as they bring to mine.
Wishing you a long and inspired life with a quick mind and nimble fingers!
Sincerely,
Brandon Coley
I am writing to convey my deep appreciation for the special magic your books have brought into my life, and now into my kids' lives too. I've always found so much to enjoy in the worlds you create. Over the years, I've really enjoyed many of them, including "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher," "Fortune's Journey," and your short story collection, "Oddly Enough."
"The Unicorn Chronicles" holds a particularly special place in my heart and home, largely because my grandmother read it to me, creating memories I really cherish. It was actually after she passed away that I decided to start reading the series to my boys, as a way to share that piece of my childhood and her memory with them. Now, I'm reliving those moments in a new way as I read it to them, and it's a truly special experience to share Cara's journey and the world of Luster with them. They are absolutely captivated by the adventure in Luster, and Squidgim has become a particular favorite of theirs. It's wonderful to see them so engaged with your stories, especially during the many memorable and suspenseful moments in the Unicorn Chronicles series. I get a thrill seeing their faces light up as we explore Luster together. You really are an incredible storyteller. And honestly, while I love rereading the books I know with them, I'm also very excited because I haven't read the seventh book yet and that means we get to discover that part of Cara's story all together!
That feeling of discovering a story together for the first time is a big part of why I'm also so looking forward to reading "Goblins in the Castle" to the boys. I very much enjoyed that book myself, and I haven't read its sequel yet either, so we'll all get to discover that next one together too!
Thank you once again for these wonderful stories. They have meant so much to me personally, and it's a real joy to now be making new memories with my boys as we read your books together. I hope your stories have brought as much joy and wonder to your family as they bring to mine.
Wishing you a long and inspired life with a quick mind and nimble fingers!
Sincerely,
Brandon Coley
Bruce,
You were one of my favorite authors when I was younger - thank you for writing so much wonderful speculative fiction for kids! I found Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher especially emotionally resonant (as a quiet, artistic kid I related a lot to Jeremy and often wished that I could have a dragon of my own), but I also enjoyed the other Magic Shop books, My Teacher is An Alien, and several of your "Bruce Coville's Book of..." short story collections.
Now that I am an adult, it also means a lot to me to learn that you are bisexual (I am too!) and that you are a vocal ally to the queer community. Thank you for all that you do!
You were one of my favorite authors when I was younger - thank you for writing so much wonderful speculative fiction for kids! I found Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher especially emotionally resonant (as a quiet, artistic kid I related a lot to Jeremy and often wished that I could have a dragon of my own), but I also enjoyed the other Magic Shop books, My Teacher is An Alien, and several of your "Bruce Coville's Book of..." short story collections.
Now that I am an adult, it also means a lot to me to learn that you are bisexual (I am too!) and that you are a vocal ally to the queer community. Thank you for all that you do!
