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Secret of Platform 13 / Island of the Aunts
2 books in Island of the Aunts and Secret of Platform 13 -- both childrens' books.
511 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2002
About the author
Eva Ibbotson
89 books2,396 followersEva Ibbotson (Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner) was a novelist specializing in romance and children's fantasy.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler appeared, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, graduating with a diploma in education in 1965. Eva had intended to be a physiologist but was put off by animal testing. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. They have three sons and a daughter.
Eva began writing with the television drama “Linda Came Today” in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, “The Great Ghost Rescue”. Eva has written numerous books including “The Secret Of Platform 13”, “Journey To The River Sea”, “Which Witch?”, “Island Of The Aunts”, and “Dial-A-Ghost”. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for “Journey To The River Sea” and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite that she disliked thinking about them. She created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly “Journey To The River Sea”, reflect Eva's love of nature. Eva wrote this book in honour of her husband (who had died before), a naturalist. The book had been in her head for years.
Eva said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of “Platform 9 3/4” in J.K. Rowling's books to Eva's “The Secret Of Platform 13”, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as “The Star Of Kazan” and “A Song For Summer”. These books, set in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for all things natural.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler appeared, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, graduating with a diploma in education in 1965. Eva had intended to be a physiologist but was put off by animal testing. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. They have three sons and a daughter.
Eva began writing with the television drama “Linda Came Today” in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, “The Great Ghost Rescue”. Eva has written numerous books including “The Secret Of Platform 13”, “Journey To The River Sea”, “Which Witch?”, “Island Of The Aunts”, and “Dial-A-Ghost”. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for “Journey To The River Sea” and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite that she disliked thinking about them. She created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly “Journey To The River Sea”, reflect Eva's love of nature. Eva wrote this book in honour of her husband (who had died before), a naturalist. The book had been in her head for years.
Eva said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of “Platform 9 3/4” in J.K. Rowling's books to Eva's “The Secret Of Platform 13”, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as “The Star Of Kazan” and “A Song For Summer”. These books, set in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for all things natural.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 1, 2024
Listened to on Libby. Good story but some of it could not understand.
September 20, 2024
One million stars
August 29, 2012
Just changed my three star count to five stars. It's two great stories in one book. Actually anything and everything by Eva Ibbotson is wonderful. Island of the Aunt is my favorit to read for craft building - quick character development, firm since of place, strong storyline....The first sentence says it all.
April 12, 2008
both of these book are really good one is about a queens from a diferent realm's son getting stuck in our world and the other is about 3 "aunts" kidnapping a boy and girl to an uncharted island with magical creatures bacause they r getting old & need someone to take care of the island
November 27, 2007
seruu..kayak kisah dongeng-dongeng gitu deh..Waktu itu gw lagi tergila-gila sama yang namanya penyihir dan dunia sihir..
March 26, 2008
Excellent children's book with imaginitive detail and description. Appropriate for adults as well.
April 11, 2008
Although her books are all very similar, I enjoyed these two the most...maybe also because they were the first two I read.
May 25, 2008
If you loved Island of the Aunts, then you'll love this book!
March 14, 2009
good book, kinda young, but ok
March 25, 2009
i like this book because it has good juicy words and the book is very interesting.
May 20, 2009
so hilarious and great! anyone that loves the Percy Jackson series would LOVE this book!
April 10, 2010
This was a lot like Island of the Aunts. I enjoy this sort of fantasy, even if it is not very deep. The train platform that leads to another world may have come before Harry Potter's.
August 17, 2010
This was a really fun read. Any kid would love this.
November 12, 2010
good book
November 17, 2010
This is a heart-warming book full of pleasant surprises!
December 18, 2010
Awesomest book in the world.
January 4, 2011
great love her books
Currently Reading
January 19, 2011i still havent read this book. i have only read about a page but from the blurb it seems that it will be good.
February 27, 2011
I read it in fifth grade....I didn't like it very much
September 12, 2016
This book was a lifesaver while waiting for new Harry Potter books to come out. If you finished that, miss it, then I highly recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews