This is my first Eva Ibbotson book, but it will not be my last. This is a very cute, endearing fantasy full of memorable characters. Although the "plot twist" was obvious to me from the beginning, I still enjoyed the story. ( )

Eva Ibbotson is a children's writer based in Britain, whose work reminds me a bit of Diana Wynne Jones. The Secret of Platform 13 (for ages 9-12) could just as easily be considered the basis for some of J.K. Rowling's stories, including the hidden train station platform that opens to take one into another world, a world full of magic and magical creatures. In this case, the otherworld is the Island, and the entrance to it (called the gump) only appears once every 9 years and is only open for 9 days, but during that time people from our world can cross over to the Island and vice versa. When the human triplet nurses of the 3-month-old Prince of the Island become nostalgic for their old world, they decide to go through the gump for a brief visit; being very responsible, they take the Prince with them rather than leaving him behind with strangers. Unfortunately, they come across the dreadful, and horribly rich, Mrs. Trottle, who yearns for a child of her own and who sees nothing wrong with stealing one for herself when the opportunity arises. Alas, the gump closes before he can be rescued, and the Island's people must wait 9 long years for the chance to get him back. When that time comes, an ancient wizard, a kindly giant made invisible, an earth-goddess fey and a young and not-yet-fearsome hag are sent through the gump to find him. Only when they do, they learn that he has become as horrid and appalling as his purported mother, and he doesn't have any interest in going home....Loads of fun, I read it in about 2 hours, and although it was immediately obvious what was really going on, that knowledge didn't detract from wanting to find out how the author resolved the tale. Recommended! ( )

The Secret of Platform 13 is the book everyone reads once they've finished Harry Potter and are dying for more. I first read it in a 4th grade book club, complete with brownies and all, in which I thought it was a good read, but entirely too forgettable. I still do think that Which Witch? is Ibbotson's best work by far, but this story is an engaging one as well. I could go on and on with the plentiful and slightly obvious Harry Potter parallels, so I'll spare you for now. I recommend this quirky read for children, but with slight caution. The description gets heavy at times. There is almost no in-depth characterization, with a large cast of characters that can get confusing. Worst of all, though, is the extreme predictability. The other things are minor aspects, they are obstacles that are easy to get past. It's just slightly disappointing to see that what you thought would happen from the very begin, does end up happening, no twists or anything to make it even the slightest bit more interesting than you thought it would be. This isn't to say that it's not a good read, or a boring one, just that there are minor things that might get irritating.

Rating: 3.5/5 ( )

http://amiralace.blogspot.com/2007/12... ( )

A world exists beyond ours and every nine years a portal opens under Platform 13 at Kings Cross Station. The last time it opened the prince was lost and now a wizard, an ogre, a fey and a young hag journey through to find him. Only when they find him he's horrible and they're not sure that they want to take him back.

It's sweet and fun and completely predictable, but still it's not a bad read. I absolutely adored the knitting-needle wielding bodyguard. Sweet. ( )