Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4193 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-06
• Binding: Paperback
• 388 pages

Books for Keeps, November 2004
A magnificent piece of storytelling, which positively luxuriates in the extraordinary twists and turns of the plot.

The Times, 10 November 2004
...Involve[s] difficulties surmounted, and do[es] not patronize but won't give a child nightmares.

Synopsis
In 1896, in a pilgrim church in the Alps, an abandoned baby girl is found by a cook and a housemaid. They take her home, and Annika grows up in the servants' quarters of a house belonging to three eccentric Viennese professors. She is happy there but dreams of the day when her real mother will come to find her. And sure enough, one day a glamorous stranger arrives at the door. After years of guilt and searching, Annika's mother has come to claim her daughter, who is in fact a Prussian aristocrat and whose true home is a great castle. But at crumbling, spooky Spittal Annika discovers that all is not as it seems in the lives of her new-found family. Eva Ibbotson's hugely entertaining story is a timeless classic for readers young and old.

Customer Reviews

Amazing......
This is probably the best book I have ever read. I read Journey to the River Sea and loved it and then this one was recommended to me and I thought it was amazing. The book is all about this girl called Annika who lives in Vienna with her foster mum Ellie, Ellie's best friend Sigrid and three professors. However as a baby Annika was left in a church and Ellie took her in. One day Annika's mother comes to fetch her and Annika is swept on an adventure of discovery and unexpected danger. I would recommend this book to anyone aged 10-12 particularly as I think this is the age the book is really good for. However older or younger readers may also enjoy this story. It suits pretty much everyone from the ages of 10-12. It has an historical part to it, good characters, adventure and the growing up of a teenage girl. This book was a real page turner and really addicting, do read it and Journey to the River Sea as well.

GREAT READ!!!!!!!
I would definitely recommend The Star of Kazan. I have read it twice and it lost none of its original thrill the second time round. readers should not be put off by its length. The descriptions are excellent but by no means boring. One can really feel each characters emotions and the plot is well thought out and full of surprises. A MUST!!!!!!!!!!

A Book For Every One
This Is One Amazing Book.

I Have Read It And I Think It Is Very Good.

I Would Recomend Buying It For People Who Like Quite A Long Read.

With Adventure In It.

It Is Very Exciting!

Sez Baybee xxx