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A review by renuked
The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson
4.0
That was lovely. Ibbotson writes the prettiest stories, with flowers, and dancing and happiness everywhere. But sometimes it can get repetitive. I have read countless stories with a talented, kind, heroine who meets wonderful friends and brave new people and have wonderful adventures. It's like rainbows, ponies and sparkles everywhere. I think after a while, some of her books begin to blur together and the ones that stick out are the ones you read first.
That being said, if I had read this book before her other books, I would have fallen into complete and utter love. As it is, I enjoyed the light storyline, and the adventure. Tally, the daring, benevolent protagonist, goes to a boarding school names Delderton, where of course, she meets many interesting and wonderful people. (If you hadn't noticed, wonderful things often happen in Ibbotson's books.) She then manages to convince the school to go on a field trip to the beautiful country of Bergania. Again she meets the kind, caring Prince of Bergania, Karil. Finally, the real action begins, a series of events involving Hitler occurs, some events that are not so wonderful happen, and they are all forced to go on the run. It's exciting, and a whirlwind of fun and friendship.
Again, maybe it gets a little too sweet. The repetitiveness of noble royals, brave girls, kind friends, Europe's natural beauty, and especially the arts - it gets a little boring at times. Sometimes the story moved too slowly, and not enough happened. I suppose that sometimes, it worked out, and the book really felt like a calming escape. But sometimes, the overlong descriptions and the cloying "prettiness" was a little syrupy. Ibbotson will always be a great children's writer, but she didn't often write different books, they all follow a similar plot or have a similar happy feeling.
I think you can't read too many of her books in a row or you will get exhausted of the repetition. But that being said, I really enjoyed the story. I love historical writing, and the way Ibbotson writes transports me back into the past. The thing that sets her books out are always the messages and characters - love, friendship, caring, and bravery are abundant in her novels. The reader decides whether it is too much euphoria or just the right amount.
That being said, if I had read this book before her other books, I would have fallen into complete and utter love. As it is, I enjoyed the light storyline, and the adventure. Tally, the daring, benevolent protagonist, goes to a boarding school names Delderton, where of course, she meets many interesting and wonderful people. (If you hadn't noticed, wonderful things often happen in Ibbotson's books.) She then manages to convince the school to go on a field trip to the beautiful country of Bergania. Again she meets the kind, caring Prince of Bergania, Karil. Finally, the real action begins, a series of events involving Hitler occurs, some events that are not so wonderful happen, and they are all forced to go on the run. It's exciting, and a whirlwind of fun and friendship.
Again, maybe it gets a little too sweet. The repetitiveness of noble royals, brave girls, kind friends, Europe's natural beauty, and especially the arts - it gets a little boring at times. Sometimes the story moved too slowly, and not enough happened. I suppose that sometimes, it worked out, and the book really felt like a calming escape. But sometimes, the overlong descriptions and the cloying "prettiness" was a little syrupy. Ibbotson will always be a great children's writer, but she didn't often write different books, they all follow a similar plot or have a similar happy feeling.
I think you can't read too many of her books in a row or you will get exhausted of the repetition. But that being said, I really enjoyed the story. I love historical writing, and the way Ibbotson writes transports me back into the past. The thing that sets her books out are always the messages and characters - love, friendship, caring, and bravery are abundant in her novels. The reader decides whether it is too much euphoria or just the right amount.