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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Furry and Fun, With Real Heart
By TeacherReader
When a family of yetis, raised by an English girl, is nearly discovered by tourists in the Himalayas, they must move to safety all the way in England. But the journey through Europe isn't the only adventure in store for these yetis, who find that a hunting club is very interested in their arrival.Eva Ibbotson passed away in 2010, but this novel is being published posthumously by her estate. The Abominables is the first book of hers that I've ever read. And I didn't just read this novel, I became totally attached to the characters.Ultimately, that's what this book is all about - a whole slew of deliciously quirky characters. Some of my favorites:* Hubert - A yak obsessed with finding his mother* Uncle Otto - A yeti who only really cares about reading, but has read nothing but the Bible for 100 years* Clarence - A young yeti who hit his head while out exploring and hasn't been quite right since then* Lucy - The sister yeti who loves to eat, but also sleep walksand the star of the show-* Ambrose the Abominable - The youngest yeti. Ambrose is the sensitive type who loves humans and is very curious.Yes, this novel is all about fabulous characters. But here's the sneaky thing... The Abominables has a great plot, too. The plot kind of sneaks up on you without the reader even realizing it. As these quirky characters traipse across Eurasia, things start to happen... and before you know it, you've reached a major conflict in the tale. So you cheer for the characters, and worry about them, as the climax approaches, and...Yeah, well... it's like that. Eventually you end up standing in front of Buckingham Palace chanting with a crowd of demonstrators!The only reason that I'm not giving The Abominables a full 5-star rating is because I thought the plot got to be a little transparent with it's animal rights messaging. I'm all for animal rights, but does the anti-hunting message have to be quite so obviously presented? It made an otherwise entertaining story into a bit of a morality tale. Still, this book is highly recommended!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.A charming posthumous release
By Liviania
Eva Ibbotson was one of my favorite authors as I child. I first discovered her through a reprint of WHICH WITCH? and quickly devoured all of her other books currently in print. She was like a gentler Roald Dahl, imaginative and funny. She played with the elements of traditional fantasy in a way that made them her own.Now, a posthumous novel THE ABOMINABLES is being released with artwork by Fiona Robinson. Robinson's illustrations are a great match for Ibbotson's words and really express the good-natured silliness of the yetis that star in this cross-country adventure. THE ABOMINABLES was completed by Ibbotson's son and editor, but there is no noticeable difference from Ibbotson's usual voice.A family of yetis lived happily in the Himalayas for centuries, taught slightly skewed manners by Englishwoman Lady Agatha who was kidnapped in order to raise them. But now, tourists are on the verge of discovering the yetis, which would be disastrous. A plan is hatched to transport the yetis to Agatha's home in England under the care of two young siblings, Con and Ellen.The long journey allows the yetis to come across a variety of strange customs and characters, and unfortunately see the worst that humanity has to offer. (Well, some of the worst. THE ABOMINABLES always remains appropriate for children.) At the same time, Con, Ellen, and the truck driver they enlist are all wonderful people, as are the others who eventually help the yetis. There's good to balance the bad.THE ABOMINABLES is a delightful, imaginative tale with a strong moral center. There are some laughs about the yetis, who sometimes take it to far (such as apologizing to a cake they're about to eat), but the earnestness of this novel is charming. The darker moments keep THE ABOMINABLES from becoming saccharine.I didn't quite enjoy THE ABOMINABLES as much as I did the Ibbotson novels I read in childhood. Of course, I am not a child any longer and sometimes it's hard to tap into the old magic. For instance, I never quite stopped feeling sorry for Lady Agatha's father, who never learned that his daughter lived a long, happy life.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Fell in love with it---classic
By Ionia Martin
I really don't think there is any way to read this book and not fall completely in love with it. From the very first page my children and I were already laughing and loving the girl who becomes a surrogate yeti mum.This story is so creative. The reasoning the author gives behind why we can't ever track down a yeti is hilarious. For the children, the favourite character here was Hubert the Yak. I can't say as I blame them any, but personally, I loved Ambrose. These are the type of characters that warm your heart and excite the minds of little ones. The world that Eva Ibbotson has described is our own planet, but somehow she makes it all seem very magical.I loved the way this story included glimpses of history, various places across Europe and taught children values at the same time. Honestly, I finished the book before the kids and I read it together, just so I could see what happened next.If you have been looking for a perfect chapter book for a relatively new reader, this would be a wonderful choice. The illustrations are great, but the story stole my heart.
