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aly_camia's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
A fun and magical story but I didn’t like the whole mistaken identity stuff and how that was handled.
I was curious about this book, also because I just LOVED the cover. The blurb also sounds interesting and so I picked it up, along with book 2 which I plan to read this week (as I didn’t have time to do so during my vacation).
Let’s start with the good: I do love the idea of a magical island. Of a magical entrance to that island. That is accessible once every x years and that everyone can get into, no matter what. If you know about it you are allowed to come. Of magic and ghosts that just wander around us. Odge was adorable and a fun character and one of the few who actually was questioning things and wondering if maybe it wasn’t someone else. I loved her different eyes, I loved how sweet she was. There was Nanny and her plotline just had me sad for her and for how it would end. Because we know how it ends. I loved seeing all the magical creatures. The mistmakers were just ADORABLE and I would love one. The illustrations were fab (as I thought it would be). The story was fun written and in a way that just made you WANT to read and read and read and read.
I am deducing one star for the ridiculous and stupidly written mistaken identity stuff. It would have been fun if it didn’t TAKE THE WHOLE BOOK. Now it was blatantly obvious to the reader that Ben was the prince (I don’t see this as a spoiler, especially since he is on the cover and not to mention all the other things) and that Raymond was just Dudley only less fat and with more money. Come on. Raymond LOOKS like his mother. Raymond is scared of magic. Raymond doesn’t care about magic. Ben can whistle. Ben can take care of magical creatures. Ben doesn’t look like Mrs Trottle. Ben has NO parents. Ben can see ghosts. Ben has memories. But does anyone actually look? No. They just go by the, well she stole a boy and then don’t give a hoot about the rest. It was just annoying and frustrating and definitely spoiled my reading experience.
So there is a lot to love.. if only the mistaken identity was done better this would have been 5+. But for now it is 4 stars.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was curious about this book, also because I just LOVED the cover. The blurb also sounds interesting and so I picked it up, along with book 2 which I plan to read this week (as I didn’t have time to do so during my vacation).
Let’s start with the good: I do love the idea of a magical island. Of a magical entrance to that island. That is accessible once every x years and that everyone can get into, no matter what. If you know about it you are allowed to come. Of magic and ghosts that just wander around us. Odge was adorable and a fun character and one of the few who actually was questioning things and wondering if maybe it wasn’t someone else. I loved her different eyes, I loved how sweet she was. There was Nanny and her plotline just had me sad for her and for how it would end. Because we know how it ends. I loved seeing all the magical creatures. The mistmakers were just ADORABLE and I would love one. The illustrations were fab (as I thought it would be). The story was fun written and in a way that just made you WANT to read and read and read and read.
I am deducing one star for the ridiculous and stupidly written mistaken identity stuff. It would have been fun if it didn’t TAKE THE WHOLE BOOK. Now it was blatantly obvious to the reader that Ben was the prince (I don’t see this as a spoiler, especially since he is on the cover and not to mention all the other things) and that Raymond was just Dudley only less fat and with more money. Come on. Raymond LOOKS like his mother. Raymond is scared of magic. Raymond doesn’t care about magic. Ben can whistle. Ben can take care of magical creatures. Ben doesn’t look like Mrs Trottle. Ben has NO parents. Ben can see ghosts. Ben has memories. But does anyone actually look? No. They just go by the, well she stole a boy and then don’t give a hoot about the rest. It was just annoying and frustrating and definitely spoiled my reading experience.
So there is a lot to love.. if only the mistaken identity was done better this would have been 5+. But for now it is 4 stars.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
anna_almut's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
rachelcdm's review against another edition
4.0
I love Eva Ibbotson's books.
I loved them as a child, loved them during secondary school and I love them still.
I re-read this book (along with Which Witch?) a few weeks back and I seriously think that maybe JK Rowling may have been slightly inspired by this novel! The Secret of Platform 13 is set at Kings Cross Station England and once every nine years a gump is opened, leading to a magical world.
Now I'm not insulting JK, because every author is inspired somewhere, but give it a read and you'll see the similarities there...mind you, that more or less is the only similarity (aside from a bratty child that I guess - at a stretch - you could compare to Dudley.)
Like all of Ibbotson's work it's filled with humour and barmy ideas and lovable characters, when you're finished you're left feeling happy and almost nostalgic! It's a quick read that doesn't challenge you, perfect for a lazy afternoon...
Enjoy :)
I loved them as a child, loved them during secondary school and I love them still.
I re-read this book (along with Which Witch?) a few weeks back and I seriously think that maybe JK Rowling may have been slightly inspired by this novel! The Secret of Platform 13 is set at Kings Cross Station England and once every nine years a gump is opened, leading to a magical world.
Now I'm not insulting JK, because every author is inspired somewhere, but give it a read and you'll see the similarities there...mind you, that more or less is the only similarity (aside from a bratty child that I guess - at a stretch - you could compare to Dudley.)
Like all of Ibbotson's work it's filled with humour and barmy ideas and lovable characters, when you're finished you're left feeling happy and almost nostalgic! It's a quick read that doesn't challenge you, perfect for a lazy afternoon...
Enjoy :)
t0msm0m's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book when I was in middle school, I could be wrong. I am now an adult in my mid-20s and this was my first introduction to fantasy as a kid and my imagination ran wild.
sparkly44's review against another edition
4.0
Magic and kidnapping and a prince...oh my!
Such an unexpected pleasure! Astounding detail, and Odge, what a fabulous character! If you've thought about reading this, do it. You won't regret it! The Trottles give the Dursleys a run for the worst family in magical literature!
Such an unexpected pleasure! Astounding detail, and Odge, what a fabulous character! If you've thought about reading this, do it. You won't regret it! The Trottles give the Dursleys a run for the worst family in magical literature!
clareobrien92's review against another edition
5.0
My heart aches a little remembering how completely I loved this book on many rereads.
jason_pym's review against another edition
4.0
We were about half way through reading this, and I was thinking this is a very enjoyable Harry Potter rip-off, when I found out this came out a few years before Harry Potter and was actually one of J.K. Rowling's inspirations (I should probably put inspiration in quotes, but I like her too much).
This is really a lot of fun, great to read aloud to children, and we're definitely hunting down more books by her.
This is really a lot of fun, great to read aloud to children, and we're definitely hunting down more books by her.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
4.0
A fun little romp about a magical island and a prince gone missing. A good fantasy adventure for upper elementary kids.
kylastearns's review against another edition
3.0
I wouldn't have picked this out on my own, but I feel like it would be a great read for young kids or a bedtime story for littles.