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Platform 13 of King's Cross Railway Station has a doorway that leads to a magical island harmoniously inhabited by a diverse assortment of beings, including humans, hags, feys, mermaids, and furry little creatures called mistmakers. The kingdom's prince was kidnapped as an infant during a visit to London. Nine years later, when the portal between worlds reopens, four rescuers -- Cornelius, an elderly wizard who used to be a university professor in our world; Odge, a young and remarkably unhaglike hag; Gurkintrude, a fey who is sort of a goddess of agricultural plenty; and Hans, a kindly one-eyed ogre from the Alps who yodels and tends goats -- are sent by the king and queen to bring him home. The story is full of eccentric characters, mostly likable, a few definitely not: sundry ghosts who help the rescuers; Melisande, a water nymph who wants it known that she has feet and is not a mermaid; the hilariously obnoxious Mrs. Trottle and her equally unpleasant son; some horrifically amusing and ghastly harpies who have permanent waves and carry handbags; and Ben, a delightful kitchen boy of unknown parentage. The whole thing is very humorous, lively and imaginative, and fans of Diana Wynne Jones and J.K. Rowling most likely will enjoy it immensely. Also well worth reading are Ms. Ibbotson's extremely funny ghost books, obtainable in British paperback editions.

At first glance, readers might think the secret Island is perfect; blue water, brilliant sun, it's got it all. Except... a prince. As the rescuers from the secret Island pass through the entrance called the gump, they are determined to bring back the prince who has been stolen for nine years. This novel is extremely delightful to read, and the characters in this book are completely made from imagination.
In The Secret of Platform 13, there is not only one main character, but many. There is one character who seems to stand out. Odge Gribble is a hag, who has unusual and unique features. She has a blue tooth, and one eye is brown, the other green. When describing the characters, I could distinctly tell what each character looked like, and the personality of the character. Certain parts of the book were hysterical because certain characters said funny things. In this book, Ibbotson's created a whole new and exciting world, with extraordinary animals with special talents.
Teamwork and courage is clearly a theme in The Secret of Platform Thirteen. When all the rescuers come up with a plan to capture the prince, they all work together. I think it took courage for Odge to join the group of rescuers at such a young age, and for the servant boy Ben to try to rescue the mist maker from the Island. By making such a strong and recognizable theme to her book, Ibbotson really made the story more entertaining.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read fantasy. If you like action-packed and thrilling books, this may not be the book for you. In The Secret of Platform 13, Ibbotson really takes fantasy to its highest level.

In one of the busiest train stations in London, under Platform 13, is a forgotten old doorway covered with various peeling posters. Behind this door is an entrance to a secret island where humans, mistmakers, mermaids, ogres, and more, live together in harmony. However, the door between the world of human beings, and the island only opens every nine years, for exactly nine days. In the year 1983, tragedy struck the island, for in the last moments before the door was closed, an evil, rich woman named Mrs. Trottle stole the young prince of the island from his three nannies. Every since that fateful day, the king and queen of the island have planned his rescue. And now, nine years later, as the door is about to open once again, four magical creatures of the island have been chosen as the rescue team. Gurkie, an agricultural fairy (fey); Odge, a determined young hag; Hans, a one-eyed giant; and Cor, an old wizard. It is now up to these four islanders to find the prince, and get him back to the island before the nine days have passed, otherwise, it will be another long nine-years before an attempt to save the prince can be made.

THE SECRET OF PLATFORM 13 is an exciting, magical journey through two separate lands. One where humans live among other humans, and one where humans live among magical beings and creatures. The characters are intriguing, while at the same time enjoyable and entertaining, and the plot is well-crafted. Readers will enjoy the descriptions of various magical creatures, and find themselves searching for more mention of the very seal-inspired magical mistmakers, who emit fog from their mouths when they hear soothing music. Overall this is a wonderful effort from Eva Ibbotson that will be loved by children young and old.

Erika Sorocco