Eva Ibbotson Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: Debbie SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"Under Platform 13 in one of London's busiest trains stations is an old, forgotten doorway covered with peeling posters. Little do the Londoners know that behind that door is the entrance to a magical kingdom - an island where humans live in harmony and happiness with mermaids, ogres, hags, mistmakers, etc. The door opens once every 9 years for 9 days and allows magical creatures to revisit old haunts in London and for other creatures to leave London for the island. The baby princes' nannies cannot resist the opportunity to taste fish and chips once again and take just a short visit to London. They run across a beastly woman named Mrs. Trottle who kidnaps the young prince and runs away with him just as the doorway closes for another 9 years. The whole island despairs and waits in mourning for the 9 years to pass for an opportunity to rescue the prince...
After the nine years is over, four unlikely rescuers: an invisible ogre (except for his eye), a hag (well, she will be one when she is older), a wizard (who is a little older than he should be) and a fey (who cannot understand why Londoners don't wear beetroots in their hats) pass through the doorway to try and rescue the prince. They quickly proceed to the Trottles' house to try and persuade Raymond Trottle to return to the island with them. However, they quickly discover that Raymond is a terribly fat, spoiled and in every way rotten, mean little boy. Who wants to live on island where he is the king? If only the prince could be more like Ben, the kitchen boy...
This is a classic Cinderella type tale where every adult (and most children) will immediately realize what the ending of the book will be. However, the fun part is trying to get to the ending. Eva Ibbotson has packed the book with hilarious characters and little surprises to make this book a fun read for everyone from 5 to 50 years old. "
Debbie, Resident Eva Ibbotson Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy story on current Earth
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- ruler
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- rescue mission/escape from confinement
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Kid's book (ages 7-14)
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a teen
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- homemaker
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Dumb
Physique
- quite fatty
Setting
Earth setting:
- current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
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