The Star of Kazan
by Eva Ibbotson
Macmillan Children's
ISBN: 9780330418027

Reviewed by Nabihah, aged 11.

The main characters are Annika, the orphan, Ellie, the maid and Edeltraut von Tannenberg, Annika’s claimed mother. My favourite character is Annika because she is very outspoken and very different to the other characters. She says things that really make you think as a reader, and sometimes laugh. The way Eva Ibbotson tells the story is makes you feel as though you’ve known Annika all your life.

The basic plot is about how Annika dreams of her real mother coming to get her and one day she does! However, the lady who claims to be Annika’s mother is just using her so that she can get through to some jewels left in Annika’s name by an old lady whom Annika used to visit before she died. Annika’s friends were always suspicious of Eldetraut von Tannenberg, and set about trying to prove something. They soon discover the malicious and selfish plot and do all they can to tear Annika away from her so called ‘mother’.

The atmosphere, towards the beginning is quite cheerful and relaxed. However, as you progress through the book, where there used to be calmness tension takes over and you find you have to turn to the next page...

The most exciting moment in the book was when Annika was escaping from the boarding school that her ‘mother’ had put her in. With the help of Ellie, her adopted mother, Sigrid, and the 3 professors whom Annika used to stay with, she manages to escape, leaving a lot of commotion behind.

The best thing about this book was the fact that after all the tension and the moments when the book never left your hands, the author decided that Annika would go back to live with the professors and all her true friends.

The book changed the way I felt about Eldetraut von Tannernberg. At first, she came across as a kind, caring, gentle mother. But through the book, you realised that she only cared for money and the education for her real son.

I think anyone who likes books with cliff hangers, are adventurous and like excitement, than this is the book to read. It provides plenty of each and I'd rate the book 10/10.

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