The Secret of Platform 13 facts for kids
The Secret of Platform 13 is a fun children's book written by Eva Ibbotson. It was first published in 1994 and has lovely pictures by Sue Porter.
Many readers feel this book is quite similar to the famous Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. The first Harry Potter book came out in 1997, three years after The Secret of Platform 13. Both stories feature a special platform at King's Cross Station in London that leads to a hidden, magical world. Eva Ibbotson herself has said she doesn't mind the similarities. She believes writers often get ideas from each other.
Contents
Discovering Platform 13's Secret
Platform 13 at King's Cross Station in London has been closed for a very long time. People always wondered why it never worked right. The secret is that this platform hides a special opening called a "gump." This gump is like a magical door that opens only once every nine years. It stays open for nine days.
The Magical Island Beyond the Gump
The gump leads to a wonderful place called the Island. This Island is a mythical paradise. It's full of both regular animals and amazing magical creatures. You can find giants, mermaids, water nymphs, wizards, witches, and even hags there. It sounds like a truly enchanting place!
The Missing Prince of the Island
Just before the gump was set to open, the Queen of the Island gave birth to a baby boy. He was a prince! Three nurses who cared for the baby prince missed their old home in London. They asked for permission to visit London when the gump opened again. They were allowed to go and even took the baby prince with them.
A Baby Prince Goes Missing
On the ninth and final day the gump was open, the nurses went to a fish and chip shop. They decided not to take the baby prince inside. One nurse stayed outside with him while the others bought food. Nearby, a woman named Mrs. Trottle was sitting in her car. She really wanted a child of her own. The nurse fell asleep on the bench. Mrs. Trottle quickly took the baby prince. She left a china doll in his place and drove away. The baby was gone!
Life with the Trottles
Mrs. Trottle named the stolen baby "Raymond." She went to Switzerland for a year. She pretended she had given birth to him there. Mrs. Trottle was incredibly rich and didn't need to work. She lived a very fancy life.
The Island's Search for Their Prince
Back on the Island, the nurses realized the prince was gone. But it was too late! The gump had closed. The King and Queen were heartbroken. For the next nine years, the Island was very sad. To find their lost prince, the King and Queen planned a rescue mission. They would send a special group to London the next time the gump opened.
Meet the Rescue Team
The rescue team was made up of four unique characters:
- Hans: A giant who was made invisible so he wouldn't stand out in London.
- Gurkintrude: A slightly strange but kind fey creature.
- Cornelius (Cor): A wise wizard.
- Odge: A young hag who was the same age as the prince. She felt a special connection to him.
Odge's Unique Qualities
Odge was a young hag who felt a bit different from her family. Her sisters were very impressive hags. They had striped feet, long fingernails, and black hair like piano wires coming from their ears. They even had blue teeth! Odge was the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, which was supposed to be very special. But Odge was almost like a normal person. Her mother was a little disappointed. Odge did have one blue molar tooth hidden in the back of her mouth. She also had a tiny bump on one foot. Odge really wanted to do something important to make her parents proud.
The Rescue Mission in London
When the gump opened again, ghosts from Platform 13 helped guide the rescuers to the Trottle house. There, they met Raymond Trottle. He had grown into a spoiled, lazy boy. He loved watching TV, playing computer games, and using his remote control cars. The rescuers also met Ben, a kind boy who worked for the Trottles. Ben was the opposite of Raymond. He quickly became friends with the rescue group, especially Odge.
A Plan to Bring Raymond Home
The group watched Raymond for a while. Then, they arranged for him to meet them in a park. They put on a magical show for him with different creatures. Raymond wasn't very impressed by the magic. But he was excited to learn he was really a prince! He agreed to go back to the Island. Odge tried to convince Ben to come too, but Ben couldn't leave. His nanny was very sick in the hospital.
A Twist in the Tale
The next day, Raymond mysteriously disappeared. The group found out he had told Mrs. Trottle about the plan. Mrs. Trottle thought strangers were trying to kidnap her child. She took Raymond to a fancy hotel with bodyguards. The rescue team made a new plan to get Raymond back. But things went wrong. Ben was hurt by a bodyguard. The group had to choose: save Raymond or save Ben. They chose to save Ben.
Later, the King and Queen sent a swarm of harpies to get Raymond. He was successfully brought to the Island.
The True Prince is Revealed
Meanwhile, Ben's nanny passed away. She left a letter that told a big secret. The letter said that Ben was actually the stolen baby prince! Raymond was Mrs. Trottle's own son, born in Switzerland.
Ben arrived through the gump with Odge shortly after Raymond. His real parents, the King and Queen, recognized him right away. He was finally home and hailed as the true prince! Raymond was quickly sent back through the gump to his own home.
