Monster Mission
Written by Eva Ibbotson
Narrated by Susan Jameson
4/5
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About this audiobook
Eva Ibbotson
Eva Ibbotson was born in Vienna in 1925 and moved to England with her father when the Nazis came into power. Ibbotson wrote more than twenty books for children and young adults, many of which garnered nominations for major awards for children's literature in the UK, including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the Whitbread Prize. Eva's critically acclaimed Journey to the River Sea won the Smarties Gold Medal in 2001. Set in the Amazon, it was written in honour of her deceased husband Alan, a former naturalist. Imaginative and humorous, Eva's books often convey her love of nature, in particular the Austrian countryside, which is evident in works such as The Star Of Kazan and A Song For Summer. Eva passed away at her home in Newcastle on October 20th 2010. Her final book, One Dog and His Boy, was published in May 2011.
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The Secret of Platform 13 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Which Witch? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Journey to the River Sea Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Secret Countess Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Platform 13 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Not Just a Witch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Great Ghost Rescue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Star of Kazan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Abominables Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dial a Ghost Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Secret of Platform 13 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Haunting of Hiram Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Star of Kazan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Company of Swans Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Beasts of Clawstone Castle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Magic Flutes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Morning Gift Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ogre of Oglefort Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One Dog and His Boy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Song for Summer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMonster Mission Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Not Just a Witch Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for Monster Mission
270 ratings13 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A very fun middle grade fantasy reminiscent of older works.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a book about three old aunts living on a secret island, who take care of the sea creatures who wash up on the shore. But they need helpers, so they find two children, Fabio and Minette. But there is a tiny little problem boy named Lewbert, and his father, who almost kills them.I liked this book because it really focused on helping others. Also, the story is partly about animals. You have to read the book to learn about the more unusual island residents. It is a very good book, and that's why I gave it five stars!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Interesting book. This is an easy read and Ibbotson's writing is very well done. The only hesitation I have about this book is its premise kind of gives me the creeps. It is about a group of women who kidnap children to help them take care of the animals on an island. The children end up enjoying their time on the island and don't want to women to get in trouble for kidnapping them. The whole time I was reading it, I kept getting tripped up by Stockholm Syndrome vibes. The premise was kind of creepy so I don't know if I enjoyed the book to its full extent. Again, Ibbotson writes fantastically so if you can get over the weird capture-bonding thing going on, then I would recommend this book.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5So far this is the 3rd story I’ve read by Eva Ibbotson, but unfortunately it’s my least favorite. It starts charmingly enough with the Aunts explaining that kidnapping is bad, but in this case it needs to be done. They need someone who will continue on with their legacy of caring for the magical and regular creatures that come seeking help to their far off island. Since neither of the three has children kidnapping is the only way. I know some reviewers had a problem with the kidnapping part, but I thought it was handled rather well and it did not bother me. What did bother me were some of the unexpected adult themes that were thrown in.
Looking at the book and from the description I was expecting a charming, fairy tale like story with maybe an environmental theme. The 3 quirky aunts, a mermaid and giant bird are featured on the cover, there are some funny illustrations inside and it’s what I know Ibbotson produces from reading some of her previous books. But to my surprise she threw in a mermaid with an abusive, cheating husband, another mermaid who was manhandled and possibly sexually assaulted by a Lord, villains who are strapping some serious guns and are implied to do drug runs and carry whores on their yacht and a bratty kid who smiles while “thinking about: all the people he hated lying dead in their own blood” (p. 61).
Not at all what I expected.
I don’t know what age group this is geared towards, but these themes didn’t seem appropriate for children’s literature especially one that won a literary award. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me being an “adult” or a “prude” even though I normally don’t let things like this bother me it did with this book. I felt like it could’ve been a better book if Ibbotson hadn’t thrown those things in and had concentrated more on the environmental theme of the book. Maybe children reading it will glaze over those details and get distracted by the funny illustrations, but for me I just found it jarring.
I did enjoy parts of the story though. The aunts for the most part were hilarious and quirky. I liked the illustrations. This one in particular had me laughing:
I also enjoyed the magical creatures…even the mermaids. I loved that the kraken makes an appearance and it’s not the typical mythological creature we are used to seeing. Overall, it is a creative story and I think any child or adult, for that matter, would love to visit the magical island. I’m only marking it two stars because the adult themes bothered and distracted me from the story. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mermaids, selkies, the kracken (not the awful beast from Pirates--just a myth)--this book has it all.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What do you do when you are getting older and have no relatives to take over your life's work? Why kidnap some children, of course! So begins this fantastic tale of Dickensian children living in a Roald Dahl world. Three eccentric aunts live on a secret island and nurture the unusual creatures that come to them for refuge: a family of Mermaids living in sinks and tubs, a giant nesting Boobrie who must be kept fed, and an enormous hypochondriac worm who mopes about the place. When the aunts realize they won't be able to continue on alone much longer, they hatch a scheme to kidnap some children to help them in their work. Their plan succeeds, and the ocean's balance is maintained with the help of the grand Kraken. That is, until one boy's father reluctantly decides to rescue his son and make a fortune exploiting the creatures of the island.
This is the second Ibbotson book which my daughter and I have read aloud, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. The aunts are wacky but loving, the creatures of the island are human-like in their cares, and the kidnapped children enjoy an adventure of magical proportions. For children who love animals and are concerned about the health of the environment, this book will particularly resonate and entertain. If you like [James and the Giant Peach], you will enjoy this story as well. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A British publication means some expressions are odd to Americans. A fascinating story of kidnap and mythical creatures. The story centers around Minette and Fabio, the kidnapped children who learn to care for the creatures, and unfortunately the relationship between them and the Aunts is underdeveloped. As the story concludes, the action is implied more than described, but still a wonderful,whimsical experience. I would recommend to anyone with imagination.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The story follows the two children who are kidnapped by three sisters to help them take care of their island. Their captors, however, turn out to be kind and quirky women, the island full of amazing and magical creatures, and their lives there much better than those they lived with their families back at home.This was one of my favorite books from around 6th grade or so, and I still reread it from time to time now. Eva Ibbotson can always be counted on for fun and interesting fantasy stories, and "Island of the Aunts" is no exception.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really liked the funny characters in this book and their adventures. There are tons of enjoyable fantasy characters too.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One of those weird occurrences when you're browsing through the library trying to find something to check out so you don't get in trouble and it turns out to actually be pretty good. I just love the plot of the book, it's so hilarious if you think about it carefully, but it's still very good. You could probably go through life without reading though, so don't waste your time if you're not a reading addict who has to read anything within grasp, it's something that you read on a chance encounter and you'll probably eventually forget you ever read it, I had to wrack my brains to remember the title. But it's worth reading, so, don't forget to grab it if you ever see it on your local library's shelf.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book is about 3 aunts who own a small island that is yet to be discovered by the government. They need help taking care of their island so they decide to kidnap kids to help. 2 of the kids enjoy working with the creatures and respect the island but the other one is the exact opposite.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sisters Etta, Cora, and Myrtle are getting older and they know that they're going to need some help taking care of the creatures that reside on their island. What they need are a couple of strong, open-minded children. Children nobody seems to want. Children who will grow up on the island and learn to love and care for the creatures that come there for help. There doesn't seem to be any other way to get such children except to kidnap them. So that's what the sisters decide to do. When Minette and Fabio first come to the island, they don't love it instantly... but once they find out the special creatures they will be taking care of, they grow to love it. But what will happen when the future of the island is threatened? Another hit by Ibbotson. She tells the story with wit and humor. It's funny and touching with a dash of adventure. Highly recommended for fantasy fans.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Children chosen to take care of an island full of mystical creatures! What could be more exciting!