The Secret of Platform 13

• Publisher:   Dutton Juvenile
• Number Of Pages:   224
• Publication Date:   1998-06-01
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   0525459294
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9780525459293

A hilarious fantasy for fans of Carroll, Nesbit, and Barrie! In the British tradition of comic fantasies, here is a wildly witty caper that would make Lewis Carroll laugh and E. Nesbit snicker. A forgotten door on an abandoned railway platform is the entrance to a magical kingdom--an island where humans live happily with feys, mermaids, ogres, and other wonderful creatures. Carefully hidden from the world, the Island is only accessible when the door opens for nine days every nine years. A lot can go wrong in nine days. When the beastly Mrs. Trottle kidnaps the prince of the Island, it's up to a strange band of rescuers to save him. But can an ogre, a hag, a wizard, and a fey really troop around London unnoticed? In a plot thick with mayhem, mix-ups, and magic, there is something to please all. Fantasy lovers in particular will not want to miss this peek through the door of Platform 13 into the imagination of a deliciously clever writer.

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

I found this an ideal fantasy book for children. It's a simple story, but imaginative and fun in its fairy tale form where good is rewarded and evil punished. Kids that don't fit in can connect to the characters of Odge and Ben. I really like the relationship between Ben and his grandmother, and I hope kids could appreciate their own family relationships. It's perfect for children around 3rd or 4th grade, but I found a lot of subtle humor for adults.

WANTED: Four curious characters for one risky mission! Under Platform 13 in one of London's busiest train stations is an old doorway covered with peeling posters. Behind it, is the entrance to a magical kingdon - an island where humans live happily with mermaids, ogres, and mysterious creatures called mistmakers. When a beastly woman named Mrs. Trottle kidnaps the island's young prince, it's up to a strange band of rescuers to find him, save him, and return him to the King and Queen. But can the rescuers - an ogre, a hag, a wizard, and a fey - troop around London unnoticed? And...what if the Prince doesn't want to go back? A lively fantasy full of fun. This review is off the back of the book, for lack of any other reviews.

I read this book about seven years ago at the age of about ten. I loved it. After reading it, it became my favorite book until Harry Potter popped onto the scene. I read it after I had read another of Ibbotson's amazing books called "Which Witch." She is an amazing children's writer. You should definitely read some
books by her.
thank you for your time,
Loran

I read Ibbotson's "Island of the Aunts" and loved that book, so I picked up "Platform" and eagerly read through it. I was, however, disappointed with the predictable storyline. The only saving point was that the ending didn't happen quite like I thought it would, but the prince was still the prince and everyone lived happily ever after, yadda yadda yadda. Borr-ring. My qualm with Ibbotson is that her characters fall into only two strict polar catagories: good guys who have no faults, and bad guys who everything about them is a fault. That's that. Black and white. With no variation whatsoever. My advice: read Harry Potter, anything by Diana Wynne Jones or Lloyd Alexander. I do not recommend this book.

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