Title: The Secret of Platform 13

Author: Ibbotson, Eva

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Platform 13 is different than any other platform, it is not in use. The left luggage office is locked, and inside is a moldy umbrella. Below the station is a gump, a grassy bump in the earth with a hidden door that opens every 9 years for 9 days. Behind the door lies another world. In that world is an island ruled by a royal family. The royal family is not greedy, rich, or mean. The Queen assigns three twin sisters to look over her baby son—Rose, Lily, and Violet. When the gump reopened, the girls asked the queen if they could take the baby to the other world.  The queen agreed. When they got to the upper world, the smell of fish and chips overwhelmed them.  While Rose and Violet went to get some food, Lily watched the baby. Lily suddenly blacked out, and the baby was stolen. Who stole the baby and why? Will they find the baby prince?

Rating:

This book has great descriptions because it describes. Every word with perfect detail. For example, Mrs. Trottle is rich, fat, ugly, and rude. Her son, Raymond, is fat greedy, disrespectful, spoiled, and has no manners. I like how the author described Mrs. Trottle, and Raymond. You loved to hate them. Ben and Odge you had to love. The events in the book were described in a way that sometimes made me laugh or gasp.

The intro to this book is kind of confusing and hard to follow. I read the first chapter more than once to get a clear picture of what was happening. I think the author could have arranged the first chapter in a way that described London, the other world, and the tunnel between them (the gump) in a way that gives the person reading a clear picture of two places.

The events in this book were decent. Some were silly, like when Odge "ill wished" and ice cream sundae to flip onto Raymond’s head. Some events were exciting, like when the gump was about to close again and everyone from the underworld had to get back down.

Each main character was in the first three chapters. Some were unusual like the mist makers. Others were more predictable, like Mrs. Trottle and Raymond. I got to know the characters as the book went on.

In the end, it is a surprise who the real prince is. And the rush to get down the gump is exciting because it does not open for nine years. I liked the mystery of finding out who the real prince is. [Emily]