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Eva Ibbotson
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The Secret of Platform 13 Paperback – October 25, 1999

by Eva Ibbotson (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 774 ratings
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A forgotten door on an abandoned railway platform is the entrance to a magical kingdom--an island where humans live happily with 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. When the beastly Mrs. Trottle kidnaps the Island's young prince, it's up to a strange band of rescuers to save him. But can the rescuers--an ogre, a hag, a wizard, and a fey--sneak around London unnoticed? Fans of Roald Dahl, Lewis Carroll, and E. Nesbit will delight in this comic fantasy.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    231 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    4 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    910L
  6. Dimensions
    7.78 x 5.07 x 0.69 inches
  7. Publisher
    Viking Books for Young Readers
  8. Publication date
    October 25, 1999
  9. ISBN-10
    0141302860
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0141302867
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW called this tale about four dwellers of a magical island who travel to London in search of their kidnapped prince "lightweight entertainment for fantasy buffs." Ages 8-12. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Eva Ibbotson, born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner (1925–2010), was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her children's books. Some of her novels for adults have been successfully reissued for the young adult market in recent years. For the historical novel Journey to the River Sea (Macmillan, 2001), she won the Smarties Prize in category 9–11 years, garnered unusual commendation as runner-up for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, and made the Carnegie Medal, Whitbread Award, and Blue Peter Book Award shortlists. She was a finalist for the 2010 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize at the time of her death. Her last book, The Abominables, was one of eight books on the longlist for the same award in 2012.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (October 25, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 231 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0141302860
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141302867
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 910L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.78 x 5.07 x 0.69 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 774 ratings

About the author

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Eva Ibbotson

Eva Ibbotson

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Eva Ibbotson, born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner (21 January 1925 20 October 2010), was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her children's books. Some of her novels for adults have been successfully reissued for the young adult market in recent years. For the historical novel Journey to the River Sea (Macmillan, 2001), she won the Smarties Prize in category 9 11 years, garnered unusual commendation as runner up for the Guardian Prize, and made the Carnegie, Whitbread, and Blue Peter shortlists. She was a finalist for the 2010 Guardian Prize at the time of her death. Her last book, The Abominables, was one of eight books on the longlist for the same award in 2012.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
774 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sheila L. Beaumont
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, lively and imaginative
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2000
Verified Purchase
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.
28 people found this helpful
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Me-Myself-I
5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe she read this book and liked the ideas
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is a pleasant kid's book. The first few chapters will remind you of Harry Potter and his awful foster parents. Kings Cross railway station contains a portal to a magic island which is always shrouded in mist so that the ordinary people never see it. A rescue party must retrieve the you prince who was stolen from his cradle during an outing. The young prince is now about eleven years old or whatever. JK Rowling has said she rewrote the first few chapters of her first book many times. Maybe she read this book and liked the ideas. She's not as original as her fans think she is. But then, Robert Louis Stevenson had several sources of inspiration for his Treasure Island book. But Stevenson had the good graces to admit those inspirations.
3 people found this helpful
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Kimmie_17sportsman
4.0 out of 5 stars Arrived Quickly
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2023
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This book is a whole memory from my fourth grade year. Had to buy!!!
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Psyche
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2014
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The funny thing is that I'm an adult and read this just for fun, and i found it quite entertaining. it was nostalgic of me, bc i read her other novel Which witch when i was young, and it's nice to see that her style wasn't just something i enjoyed because i was a kid, but something i loved because it was good. Very good book for ur children, so give it to them!
7 people found this helpful
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Laurel
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for kids and adults
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2016
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I love this book. I read it as a child and purchased it as an adult after reading a slightly disturbing novel. It was a great light hearted pick me up and that I desperately needed. I plan on reading it to my nephew in a few years. Wonderful characters and creatures.
4 people found this helpful
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Steph
5.0 out of 5 stars Still As Good As I Remembered
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2020
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A delightfully nostalgic read of whimsy and magic—I wish there was a whole series. Instantly was transported back to the first time I read the book—still as good as it was when I was eight.
2 people found this helpful
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Linda
5.0 out of 5 stars Super fun
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2020
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I read this with my 9yo. My daughter couldn’t put it down for hours. We both enjoyed it very much.
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Holly
4.0 out of 5 stars Really cute!
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2019
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Very cute story. The ending was a bit abrupt but I still enjoyed it. This would make a good children’s movie too.
One person found this helpful
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Violet Preston
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful cast of characters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
Great read for children of all ages and entertaining for adults too. Eva Ibbotson has a brilliant sense of humour. She introduces us to a world of witches, wizards, hags, harpies and ghosts. All living amongst us and working together to restore a lost prince to his rightful kingdom on a magical island.
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Gabriel Miralles
5.0 out of 5 stars Really engaging
Reviewed in Spain on January 30, 2021
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My son loves Eva Ibbotson books. Masterpiece.
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars Kitsch aber nicht
Reviewed in Germany on December 30, 2020
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poetische und nur auf den ersten Blick banale Geschichte.
das bemerkenswerte: ist vor Harry Potter erschienen !
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Mercredi Addams
5.0 out of 5 stars Facile à lire
Reviewed in France on December 26, 2018
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Une jolie histoire de sorcières et autres êtres fantastiques sur fond de monde réel (Londres). Rapide à lire, bien écrit, agréable et bien mené. Ca se lit tout seul et l'anglais y est facile.
One person found this helpful
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Emily
5.0 out of 5 stars My son liked this book
Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
My son liked this book, and so did my daughter, who is a huge Eva Ibbotson fan. However she says that Eva Ibbotson's non-fantasy books are better than this one.
One person found this helpful
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