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cosi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lootgoblin's review against another edition
4.0
My sister-in-law bought a copy of The Secret of Platform 13 and recommended that I give it a try since I like fantasy stories. After reading the book I feel like any younger fantasy reader would really enjoy this book.
The book is meant for children between 9 and 12; however, I think it would be appropriate for even younger children. The story has a very simple plot with a few, easily predictable (for adults anyway) twists along the way. I loved the easy to read writing style and the dialogue between all the characters. There are also many funny parts to the story as well! Throughout the book there is only some minor violence. Someone has a gun and attempts to use it, and another person tries to kill someone with a super sharp knitting needle. However, no one dies, and these parts can be skipped or rewritten if necessary.
My favorite parts of the book were the characters and creatures. I loved how descriptive the author was with her characters and their personalities! Even the creatures had their own personalities! It is easy to fall in love with some of the characters (or just very much dislike them) and any child will be able to imagine what they are like based upon all the detail the author provides. Providing this amount of detail also made it easy for me to distinguish between the many characters in the story, which is a problem that many other children’s books have when there are more than two or three characters. Though there are many of the typical creatures in this story, the author adds some of her own as well, and they were a great addition to the story. The mistmakers are definitely my favorite!
The alternate world in which the prince is from sounds very interesting and I would have liked to know more about it. I wish more time would have been spent there. However, well over half of the story’s setting is in London. Despite this setback it was still a great story.
I’m having a hard time deciding how well I liked this novel. I think because it was incredibly simple and predictable I am having a hard time giving it 4 stars. I have read many other children’s books that are even more entertaining than this one. I liked the book, but I don’t know that I would ever read it again. However, I recommend reading it at least once. It’s a great book to read aloud to children before bed! I know I would have really enjoyed this when I was younger. If anything it is worth reading because of the characters! Loved them!
On another note….a lot of people seem to think this book is a lot like Harry Potter. I can see some similarities including the platform at a train station in London, the young orphan boy, and very minor similarities between some characters, but not much other than that. People say Rowling took tons of ideas from this book to create her Harry Potter series, but I don’t think she took as much as people believe. Only some very minor similarities. I think if younger children want to read Harry Potter and you don’t believe they are ready for that yet, then this would be a great book to give them.
The book is meant for children between 9 and 12; however, I think it would be appropriate for even younger children. The story has a very simple plot with a few, easily predictable (for adults anyway) twists along the way. I loved the easy to read writing style and the dialogue between all the characters. There are also many funny parts to the story as well! Throughout the book there is only some minor violence. Someone has a gun and attempts to use it, and another person tries to kill someone with a super sharp knitting needle. However, no one dies, and these parts can be skipped or rewritten if necessary.
My favorite parts of the book were the characters and creatures. I loved how descriptive the author was with her characters and their personalities! Even the creatures had their own personalities! It is easy to fall in love with some of the characters (or just very much dislike them) and any child will be able to imagine what they are like based upon all the detail the author provides. Providing this amount of detail also made it easy for me to distinguish between the many characters in the story, which is a problem that many other children’s books have when there are more than two or three characters. Though there are many of the typical creatures in this story, the author adds some of her own as well, and they were a great addition to the story. The mistmakers are definitely my favorite!
The alternate world in which the prince is from sounds very interesting and I would have liked to know more about it. I wish more time would have been spent there. However, well over half of the story’s setting is in London. Despite this setback it was still a great story.
I’m having a hard time deciding how well I liked this novel. I think because it was incredibly simple and predictable I am having a hard time giving it 4 stars. I have read many other children’s books that are even more entertaining than this one. I liked the book, but I don’t know that I would ever read it again. However, I recommend reading it at least once. It’s a great book to read aloud to children before bed! I know I would have really enjoyed this when I was younger. If anything it is worth reading because of the characters! Loved them!
On another note….a lot of people seem to think this book is a lot like Harry Potter. I can see some similarities including the platform at a train station in London, the young orphan boy, and very minor similarities between some characters, but not much other than that. People say Rowling took tons of ideas from this book to create her Harry Potter series, but I don’t think she took as much as people believe. Only some very minor similarities. I think if younger children want to read Harry Potter and you don’t believe they are ready for that yet, then this would be a great book to give them.
millies_swedish_journal's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Every nine years a tunnel opens from a secret island to London's King's Cross station. Most of the adults on the island, left the hectic world "above" at one point in their lives. Three nannies, looking after the royal baby Prince, wants to just taste fish and chips one more time. With the baby in a basket, they travel through the tunnel but it ends badly. A rich lady kidnaps the prince. For nine years the royal couple have to wait till they can send rescuers to find their son and bring him home.
I read this aloud to my son each day and it only took a few chapters to guess who the real Prince was and I don't know if this was intentional? It takes a little bit away from the story which is why I gave it 4.75. Also, it would have been good with illustrations of all the strange creatures mentioned that Eva Ibbotson saw in her mind but is difficult to imagine for an autistic child, like my son.
I read this aloud to my son each day and it only took a few chapters to guess who the real Prince was and I don't know if this was intentional? It takes a little bit away from the story which is why I gave it 4.75. Also, it would have been good with illustrations of all the strange creatures mentioned that Eva Ibbotson saw in her mind but is difficult to imagine for an autistic child, like my son.
lastbraincell's review against another edition
4.0
So charming. We know of the identity of the Prince the moment we meet him, but never grow impatient for that moment of the big reveal, because we are willingly distracted by Ibbotson's descriptions of one magical being after the other, and start to enjoy the company of the band of unlikely Rescuers. I've seen this compared to Harry Potter, but it's not strong enough a likeness, and many fantasy books have magical portals and hidden islands. If there weren't HP I'd say this was similar to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (plain but humble and kind child vs. brats, who learns he is the heir to a wonderful kingdom), but still, not close enough. This is its own book, and though it shares many elements with others in the same genre, it's a special blend that can proudly stand alone.
kcwolper's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
travel_in_pages's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
electricjuicebox's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book as a kid, and revisiting it was so comfortingly nostalgic! It's still a delightful read.
harukoreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was a nostalgic reread, and it's definitely one of the more interesting ones I've done. This book, and Eva Ibbotson's work in general, seems to embody both the best and worst of the British children's literature of the period. At its best it's quirky and charming, and at its worst it's needlessly cruel (why does this book hate fat people so much??). That said, I am glad I reread this, and I do think this is one of the more enjoyable rereads I've done this year, even if I wouldn't recommend it to kids now.
littlevix's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5