Island of the Aunts
core novel 1999 Island of the Aunts
Record
| First published | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 3.96 (8,835 ratings, collected 2026-10-26) |
| First-edition ISBN | 9780525464846 |
| Internal chronology | 1 |
Synopsis
On a remote island forgotten by most people, three eccentric, kindly aunts, Etta, Coral and Myrtle, tend the injuries of unusual creatures that have been harmed by mankind: gigantic birds, talking seals, mermaids and more. Now that they are getting on in years they need younger, able-bodied helpers to carry on their mission, so they travel to the mainland to kidnap suitable children. Two of the children they take are not sorry to leave home and quickly grow fond of the island and its creatures, but the third, the most spoiled of the three, is intent on returning to the comforts of his mansion, and when the children's whereabouts are discovered, the creatures' privacy and safety are put at risk.
Where it sits
- Universe: Island of the Aunts
- Series: Island of the Aunts core; position 1 of 1 in the series' recorded order
- Author: Eva Ibbotson
Awards (verified)
- Mythopoeic Award (Children's Literature), 2002: finalist
Notes
- First American edition (Dutton, 2000). The UK first edition (Macmillan Children's Books, London, 1999) is confirmed but its ISBN was not found.
- From the series record (Island of the Aunts): Eva Ibbotson's standalone.
Sources
- Reader shelf listing for Eva Ibbotson (Island of the Aunts, published 1999)
- Publishers Weekly: Island of the Aunts review (2000)
- Penguin Random House: Island of the Aunts reader's guide
- Harrison Public Library catalogue: Island of the Aunts (Dutton Children's Books, 2000; originally published in Great Britain 1999 by Macmillan Children's Books)
- Mythopoeic Society (final ballots)
← Island of the Aunts dossier · All universes
Part of the Library. Fields without an identified source are omitted, never guessed.