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53rd out of 94 books
—
4 voters
The Ogre Of Oglefort
by
Eva Ibbotson
When a Hag, an orphan boy and a troll called Ulf get sent to rescue a princess from an ogre, they expect it to be a fairly standard magical mission. But the ogre is depressed, the princess doesn't want to be rescued - and the ogre's dead wife is turning in her grave. The Norns who rule their fates decide to take things in hand - will the Ogre meet a bloody end, or will he...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
by MacMillan UK
(first published February 1st 2011)
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Originally posted here.
I have read a couple (and reviewed one) of Eva Ibbotson's historical romances, but had never read one of her MG fantasies until now. The Ogre of Oglefort was the last fantasy Ibbotson wrote prior to her death in 2010. After reading it I'm very interested in her other such works, particularly as I have a daughter who would gobble them up like chocolate I think. (The copy of Ogre is already in her excited hands.) This book has all kinds of kiddie appeal.
The book starts out w...more
I have read a couple (and reviewed one) of Eva Ibbotson's historical romances, but had never read one of her MG fantasies until now. The Ogre of Oglefort was the last fantasy Ibbotson wrote prior to her death in 2010. After reading it I'm very interested in her other such works, particularly as I have a daughter who would gobble them up like chocolate I think. (The copy of Ogre is already in her excited hands.) This book has all kinds of kiddie appeal.
The book starts out w...more
This romp of a fantasy novel features a couple of likeable humans whose lives intersect a hag, a troll, and a wizard, and a castle belonging to an ogre. When the hag, the troll, and the wizard--plus Ivo, the hag's stand-in familiar--head off to find out their Summer Task, it turns out to be harder than any of them had imagined. Once they journey to the ogre's home, they catch him as he appears to be getting ready to kill Princess Mirella. But all is not as it seems, and the princess had just per...more
From August 2011 SLJ:
Gr 3-5–In post-World War II Britain, as their lands have been taken over by modern industry, hags, trolls, wizards, and other magical beings have been forced to move to the cities and find menial jobs. The one bright spot in an otherwise drab existence is the annual Summer Meeting of Unusual Creatures. The Hag of the Dribble, who runs a boardinghouse in the middle of London, is beside herself when her familiar, a tired old toad, won’t go. Her young neighbor Ivo has an idea–h...more
Gr 3-5–In post-World War II Britain, as their lands have been taken over by modern industry, hags, trolls, wizards, and other magical beings have been forced to move to the cities and find menial jobs. The one bright spot in an otherwise drab existence is the annual Summer Meeting of Unusual Creatures. The Hag of the Dribble, who runs a boardinghouse in the middle of London, is beside herself when her familiar, a tired old toad, won’t go. Her young neighbor Ivo has an idea–h...more
Star parts: A long while ago I read The Secret of Platform 13 1/2 and it left me with this lovely warm fuzzy feeling inside. This was Ibbotson's last book before she died. This one isn't so warm and fuzzy, if anything all the characters are a little dark: the hag, the troll and the Princess! Yes, they are all a little on the dark side. But we do feel for them. We feel for them far more than the Ogre and people who are bothering the Ogre at his castle. They're actually kind of annoying. And the o...more
The Ogre of Oglefort is rarely what you expect when you read the story of a princess and an ogre. And that is one of the reasons I loved it. So did my 8 and 9-year-old, as we read it for one our bedtime story selections.
The story actually begins far away from the Ogre: in London with the Hag and her toad, Gladys. Gladys has become difficult, of late. This small change in the toad's behavior causes the Hag to form an alliance with a young orphan boy--Ivo--whose acquaintance she has made recently....more
The story actually begins far away from the Ogre: in London with the Hag and her toad, Gladys. Gladys has become difficult, of late. This small change in the toad's behavior causes the Hag to form an alliance with a young orphan boy--Ivo--whose acquaintance she has made recently....more
Seorang nenek sihir (Hag) dan teman-teman anehnya di asrama khusus orang “tidak biasa” harus berangkat ke pertemuan orang-orang “tidak biasa” se-London. Karena binatang pendamping Hag mogok, ia mencari-cari pengganti dan akhirnya terpaksa pergi dengan Ivo, anak laki-laki dari panti asuhan yang sering mengobrol dengannya. Di pertemuan, tiga nenek cenayang menyuruh mereka (Hag, Ivo, penyihir bernama Dr. Brian, dan troll bernama Ulf) untuk menyelamatkan seorang putri dari ancaman ogre jahat di kast...more
While this is not a perfect book, it is Eva Ibbotson's last and has her usual cast of fanciful characters and a couple of kind, well intentioned humans who help save the day. And there are lots of twists which add to the fun. A princess who doesn't want to live that life goes off in search of an ogre who will change her into something more acceptable to her values and life style...and when she "goes missing" a group of supernaturals are sent off to rescue her. The ogre has problems of his own an...more
When I read this novel to my class (of 10/11 year old girls), I chose a scene in which the Princess Mirella seems to be cowering in fear at the feet of the horrible Ogre of Oglefort. But in Ibbotson's world, things are often not what they seem; and as it turns out the Princess keeps nagging the Ogre to turn her into another creature so she can escape her princessly fate (wearing dresses, marrying a prince). Poor Ogre; people keep showing up, all wanting to become something else, and he's just do...more
Unexpected turns of events render this story an utter delight. Although its messages about accepting the good that life deals out to you, following your own path and finding that every cloud has a silver lining, etc., are rather obvious, it’s acceptable, given that the writing is clearly aimed for pre-teens.
Turning fairy tale conventions on their heads is nothing new in modern children’s books but Ibbotson rendered this story with flair and wit. The characters are all searching for ways out of t...more
Turning fairy tale conventions on their heads is nothing new in modern children’s books but Ibbotson rendered this story with flair and wit. The characters are all searching for ways out of t...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Fun fantasy for upper elementary. Good for boys and girls. While it doesn't need a sequel (or even end suggesting one), it's a shame we'll never know what's in store for Clarence.
A horrible ogre lives on a far distant isle, hoping for peace and quiet, but he is plagued by humans on the run who want to be changed into animals to escape their troubles. When the misfit Princess Mirella arrives, running away from the dismal fate of an arranged marriage, she causes the ogre to have a nervous breakdown, and a small party of rescuers, sent by the Norn, or fates, find they have their hands full trying to take care of the ogre and figure out what to do with the princess. As usual...more
What can I say? It's Eva Ibbotson. Of course there's a journey, of course it all comes right in the end. Everytime I read a book by a British author now I think of the Olympics opening ceremony. How right they were to include children's literature. And how wonderful for all of us that they have such a tradition of excellence. I wish every child could read every book written by Ibbotson.
As is always the case in a world run by children, they wanted to "turn the place into somewhere where people wo...more
As is always the case in a world run by children, they wanted to "turn the place into somewhere where people wo...more
Another fantastic story! Magical creatures (hags, wizards, trolls, etc.) have assimilated into "normal" British life, but get their chance to shine at the annual summer task. Ivo, a young boy orphaned after WW2, is looking for something better, somewhere to belong. Princess Mirella wants to be freed from the constrained and all-too 'Girly" life of a royal. A terrible ogre wants to live in his remote castle and NOT be interfered with by humans. In perfect Ibbotson style, all stories converge into...more
A fantastical, funny and charming book that I couldn't put down till I read the whole book. All the characters - the Hag, the troll, the orphan boy, princess Mirella and her sisters, the sisters husbands, and even the Hag's familiar, Gladys , were all vividly portrayed and each one had some or the other endearing quality. One cannot help but fall in love with the ogre! The part where he keeps deciding, organising and making elaborate funeral arrangements for himself was truly funny and I re read...more
Jan 05, 2012
The Library Lady
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
childrens-fiction
The only bad thing about this book is that it's the last one from Ibbotson, who is not read as nearly as much as she should be. She was writing terrific fantasies long before Harry P came along and she continued to outdo most of the Rowling wannabees that have come along since the fantasy market exploded.
Reading this on New Year's Eve, I found the very last lines especially moving. They may have been the last lines Ibbotson wrote:
“Anyone who has an egg to watch over has a stake in the future, an...more
Reading this on New Year's Eve, I found the very last lines especially moving. They may have been the last lines Ibbotson wrote:
“Anyone who has an egg to watch over has a stake in the future, an...more
This is the first book that I read of Eva Ibbotson. She is a wonderful writer. Its ashamed that she passed away before she retired from writing children's books. The Ogre of Oglefort was a wonderful adventure for a orphan named Ivo Bell. He meets a Hag from Dribble named Hilda Garbuttle. She and her friends - a troll, a wizard and Ivo set out to save Princess Mirella from the horrible Ogre of Oglefort.
Its a great book that has humor, adventure, magic and animals. I would recommend it.
Its a great book that has humor, adventure, magic and animals. I would recommend it.
The Ogre of Oglefort is a very funny and creative story. It definitely follows the pattern of the majority of Eva Ibbotson's children's books: The main characters are not within the mold of your average heroes! Instead of princesses or princes or knights being the main concentration, they're ghosts or hags or ogres or strange animals. But it works! She has a way of making the gross and nasty things that revolve around the existence of those creatures seem like part of every day life and, more of...more
What do you do when you have:
a) A fine and upstanding troll with a good heart.
b) A hag is who is kind and cheery in the tradition of the best old-fashioned grandmothers.
c) A mother-pecked wizard who brews nothing more that odious smells with dastardly results.
d) An orphan who prefers a madcap adventure with the aforementioned trio rather than facing one more monotonous day at the dreary orphanage.
You sit tight as they get sent on the much loved and severely clichéd quest of them all: *RESCUE A P...more
a) A fine and upstanding troll with a good heart.
b) A hag is who is kind and cheery in the tradition of the best old-fashioned grandmothers.
c) A mother-pecked wizard who brews nothing more that odious smells with dastardly results.
d) An orphan who prefers a madcap adventure with the aforementioned trio rather than facing one more monotonous day at the dreary orphanage.
You sit tight as they get sent on the much loved and severely clichéd quest of them all: *RESCUE A P...more
Eva Ibbotson is a popular British middle grade author that I had not yet gotten around to reading when she died last October. I had always been aware of her as a writer (most notably with "Which Witch"), so when I received an early copy of her book "The Ogre of Oglefort" I was very excited to have the opportunity to read it.
I would have loved this story as a kid. Talking animals are always a plus and a little girl who wanted to be turned into a bird? I could relate to that.
The story begins with...more
I would have loved this story as a kid. Talking animals are always a plus and a little girl who wanted to be turned into a bird? I could relate to that.
The story begins with...more
A group including a hag, a young boy, a wizard and a troll are sent on a mission to rescue a princess from a terrifying ogre. But all is not as it seems.
It's similar in a lot of ways to The Secret of Platform 13 which I'd just read and I enjoyed it just as much. Probably even more. I love Eva Ibbotson's writing and I read it all in one night.
It's similar in a lot of ways to The Secret of Platform 13 which I'd just read and I enjoyed it just as much. Probably even more. I love Eva Ibbotson's writing and I read it all in one night.
This is the last of Eva Ibbotson's books (I'm guessing, given her death last year) and it's a wonderful one. We start in post-war London, where there's a boarding house with Unusual People: a Hag, a troll, a wizard, an enchantress, a couple of hankies and a very normal human. Oh, and Gladys, the Hag's familiar. Gladys decides she's too tired to continue on, and so the Hag must find another familiar before heading to the Meeting, at which all London's Unusual People will learn the Summer Task. Of...more
Eva Ibbotson has once again created a captivating book with characters that draw you in and a creative plot with interesting twists and turns. When a troll, a hag, a wizard, and an orphan are charged with rescuing a young princess from the dreaded ogre of Oglefort, they know they are in over their heads, but things don't turn out to be uite what they expect.
A cast of magical characters, a Hag, a troll, and a wizard, are sent on a mission to free a Princess from the Ogre of Oglefort. What ensues is a story so clever, well written, and funny that I sat and read it all in one sitting. Ibbotson is one of my favorite children's novelists, and I think this is her best. Grades 3 and up.
It's a charming enough book - typical setup of adventure by a group of misfits with an interesting enough twist at the start. Likeable characters but the story never gets to a suspenseful height where you would say: Now they are really in trouble - and when that happens, it was wrapped up way too fast. But still, an enjoyable read all in all.
This book has everything you love about Eva Ibbotson's children's books -- humor and magic, expectations turned on their heads, children who are different and wonderful and powerful. Not everything is what it appears or what you expect, and good always triumphs in the end.
Jul 02, 2012
Katie Lawrence
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
potential-library-books,
children-s-books
Such a fun, light read about a motley crew of fantasy characters and and ordinary boy who band together to rescue a princess. I could see kids really loving this. It reminded me a lot of Shrek too, many disgusting tidbits about the ogre that kids would enjoy for sure.
I absolutely love Eva Ibbotson's books. I can't believe this is the last one she'll ever published. I was devastated when I found out that she had died last year, but now it's really over. She was an amazing author, and the world will sorely miss her.
So I read this for my aunt for my cousin. I thought the beginning was slow until it got to the boy. After that, it was pretty interesting. A nice tale for younger readers about friendship and a reasonable attitude.
This is pitch-perfect Eva Ibbotson. There's a curious cast of characters, an unusual ending, and logic that is so logical it defies logic. I loved how the entire book is a commentary on our current economic crisis.
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Eva Ibbotson (born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner, 1925, Vienna, Austria) was a British novelist specializing in romance and children's fantasy. Eva Ibbotson was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler came into power, Ibbotson's family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, from which she graduat...more
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“Anyone who has an egg to watch over has a stake in the future, and the future--they were sure of it--was going to be good.”
—
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