Secret of Platform 13
by Eva IbbotsonSign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
| topics | replies | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JK rowling stealing ideas! | 6 | 32 | 07/30/2008 07:46AM |
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 744)
Read in July, 2008
My foray into the crazy world of Eva Ibbotson continues!
Platform 13 at London Station has remained shut since a very long time. But any attempts to make renovations always....always get botched up. The reason being that Platform 13 hides a "gump" : an opening to a secret, utopian island. It is a blissful place, ruled by a well-loved King and Queen and plays home to all kinds of humans, animals and magical creatures. However the gump opens once in nine years for nine hours only. So ...more
Platform 13 at London Station has remained shut since a very long time. But any attempts to make renovations always....always get botched up. The reason being that Platform 13 hides a "gump" : an opening to a secret, utopian island. It is a blissful place, ruled by a well-loved King and Queen and plays home to all kinds of humans, animals and magical creatures. However the gump opens once in nine years for nine hours only. So ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2007
I like almost all the books of the author Eva Ibbotson because I like how she describes so well the characters and the problem they are passing in the story. But this book didn’t surprise so much as the other books that I read, because all the characters and their problems are not so exiting, but in the other hand I think that the drama of the book is good. I’m not trying to say that I didn’t like the book but if you ask me Eva didn’t too much time writing and thinking of it. If I ha...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
In London, under Platform 13 in King's Cross Railway Station is a gump--a doorway to a mystical land. It's a doorway that opens only for nine days every nine years. Nine years ago the infant prince of this mystical land was taken to the World Above (our world, that is) and was snatched from his poor nanny. So now, nine years later, the king of the realm is sending out an undercover rescue team: an old wizard, a gentle fey, an invisible ogre and a young hag. Can they rescue the prince? Is the pri...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Grades: 4 to 6 Genre: Fantasy
Readers familiar with the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will find some similarities between Harry and Ben, both are mostly servants in the home where they are raised and have the indignity of living in a cupboard under the stairs. While Harry is firmly the main character in his story, Ben is often in the sidelines, often outstaged by the young master of the house, Raymond. But the real star of the show is the young hag Odge who is the first to realize ...more
Readers familiar with the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will find some similarities between Harry and Ben, both are mostly servants in the home where they are raised and have the indignity of living in a cupboard under the stairs. While Harry is firmly the main character in his story, Ben is often in the sidelines, often outstaged by the young master of the house, Raymond. But the real star of the show is the young hag Odge who is the first to realize ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
I love a book that I can read in an afternoon while relaxing in my hammock... completely predictable but thoroughly enjoyable.
Favorite quote from the book:
"But it was the other bodyguard that was the most feared and famous one in London. Doreen Trout was Bruce's sister, but she couldn't have been more different. She was small and mousy with a bun of gray hair and weak blue eyes behind round spectacles. Doreen wore lumpy tweed skirts and thick stockings--and more than anything, she l...more
Favorite quote from the book:
"But it was the other bodyguard that was the most feared and famous one in London. Doreen Trout was Bruce's sister, but she couldn't have been more different. She was small and mousy with a bun of gray hair and weak blue eyes behind round spectacles. Doreen wore lumpy tweed skirts and thick stockings--and more than anything, she l...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
January [[2:]] 2008
When I was little my "sister" and I would exchange books all the time.
She always ended up with books more often than I did, and I had a list of books that she owned which I wanted to read.
This one was like THE FIRST one in her stacks to catch my eye but I never go to read it.
Now I am... and so far, I must say, I do like it.
Although I may have to read it again.
It's not so much that's it's hard to understand because it's not at all. However, I feel the nee...more
When I was little my "sister" and I would exchange books all the time.
She always ended up with books more often than I did, and I had a list of books that she owned which I wanted to read.
This one was like THE FIRST one in her stacks to catch my eye but I never go to read it.
Now I am... and so far, I must say, I do like it.
Although I may have to read it again.
It's not so much that's it's hard to understand because it's not at all. However, I feel the nee...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Another fun one by Ibbotson. The style was a little too complex for Gordon and Lily (esp. Lily) to follow. Whereas Which Witch? was very linear, this changed perspective with every chapter and had a thread that I got but completely went over the kids' heads. In fact, they really didn't get the ending and I had to explain it to them. Not that it was too complex for a slightly older kid.
Anyway, the thing I enjoy about this author and plan to emulate is her plotting. She keeps things happening...more
Anyway, the thing I enjoy about this author and plan to emulate is her plotting. She keeps things happening...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2006
by the author of dial-a-ghost, which i thought was adorable. this one was cute as well, although i thought the rescuers were unbelievably thickheaded. i like this author's style of leaving things hanging at a crucial moment though, then looking back after the dust has settled. makes it interesting, although i think i might get tired of it after awhile though.
My copy was taken from the youth room at Our Lady of Sorrows in Hamilton, NJ, and is en route to Ellen's son Noah via PaperBackSwap!
...more
My copy was taken from the youth room at Our Lady of Sorrows in Hamilton, NJ, and is en route to Ellen's son Noah via PaperBackSwap!
...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This isn't the best of Eva Ibbotson's books, but is still a relatively charming story about magical creatures from another world searching for a lost prince in our world. I like most of Ibbotson's books. My only issue with her writing is that every single one of her books includes some problem involving bratty children, and this book is no exception. If you've read some of her better books, such as Which Witch? and Island of the Aunts, this one probably won't impress you as much.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
About five years ago, I was asked to speak at a middle school literature week and my friend (the school librarian) asked me to read and highlight this book. It was during the thick of the Harry Potter craze and I LOVED IT. Actually, there are a lot of similarities to the Harry Potter story (it was written first, so I wonder if JK Rowling was inspired a bit by this?? who knows.). An easy read that kids love and has plenty of the fantasy/magical to satisfy any Harry fan.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2004
SIMULTANEOUSLY BAD/GOOD.
The good:
the plot
the characters (for the most part)
the clever/cute writing
The bad:
the condescending/preachy tone
the oh-so-obvious plot twist
the characters (occasionally)
the rigid division between good and evil
I could type up more stuff, but I'm lazy and cannot currently think of anything else. This also applies to the other book by this author. I aint copying it there, though.
The good:
the plot
the characters (for the most part)
the clever/cute writing
The bad:
the condescending/preachy tone
the oh-so-obvious plot twist
the characters (occasionally)
the rigid division between good and evil
I could type up more stuff, but I'm lazy and cannot currently think of anything else. This also applies to the other book by this author. I aint copying it there, though.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2005
recommends it for:
Someone who wants a quick, magical, fantastic read
I randomly picked this up as an impromptu decision, and was shocked by how much I actually enjoyed it. Not only is it British, but it creates such a unique magical world that pulls you in. I finished it in merely a few hours. In a world of everything similar to either Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, creativity amongst fantasy books is hard to come across. This one is worth checking out.
Like this review?
yes
3 comments
Read in May, 2008
An imaginative fantasy read. It was a very light, fast read. Certainly for a younger group, but still entertaining. It is the story of a "gateway" to a magical island that only opens every 9 years for 9 days. The prince gets kidnapped and lives the first 9 years of his life away from his home, after which a "rescue" team is sent to find him. Only he's not quite what they expected . . .
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Who said ghosts can't be friends with humans? with this story, everything can become true. When a prince is stolen, a whole kingdom begins to die. And when four rescuers are sent to save the prince, they confuse him! The prince, being an old, fat, ugly, misbehaved, and bad kid, is confused with a nice, loving, sensitive kid! Who knows, they might be right or wrong!!!!!!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
adolescents
A well done treatment of an overdone story line. A prince is lost as a baby and raised as a "cinderella" boy. This story takes us along as an odd assortment of wizards, hags, and other creatures affect a rescue.
This story is so over done that you will know exactly how the story turns out within the first few pages, but will enjoy it anyway.
This story is so over done that you will know exactly how the story turns out within the first few pages, but will enjoy it anyway.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2002
recommends it for:
kids,fantasy lover
i think this is the first book of ibbotson that i read. Her book is about fantasy,ghost, withces, monster, castle, exiting adventure, and it always one thing, which is the funny thing!!
It alwalys look the scary things that usually frightened children from the funny side, so it will entertain u, and i think this is good for children also.
It alwalys look the scary things that usually frightened children from the funny side, so it will entertain u, and i think this is good for children also.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2007
Portal called a gump (only open every nine years for nine days) to a magical island. Rescuers from the island must travel Up Here to save their prince, who was kidnapped as an infant. Good stuff. In case you're wondering, Platform 13 with its magical train platform precedes that other author.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
i had to read this after my mentor told me she read/heard somewhere that the infamous wizard series (you know which one) had some similar qualities to this book. she was right! this book is much more british than the other one and i loved the characters. :)
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I read this book every year as a read aloud to my 4th grade class. It was a great book to open up their imaginations, and also to help them try to make predictions based on the context clues given. It is a very fun book for all ages. One of my favorites.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2007
This was a fun read but totally predictable. I guess it would have been exciting if I were 8. I'll check out her other books to see if they are any better. But I would not class her with Rowling as the book shops do. She is not even close...
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.94 (591 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.85 (491 ratings) number of reviews: 67
popular shelves
other editions
quote
"She spoke to the King, hoping he would forbid his son to go, but he said: "Well, dear, it's true that adventures are good for people even when they are very young. Adventures can get into a person's blood even if he doesn't remember having them." "
more quotes »
