The Star of Kazan

Written by Eva Ibbotson

Narrated by Patricia Connolly

In early 20th-century Vienna, Annika is raised by Ellie and Sigrid, a cook and housemaid for a household of three professors. Abandoned when she was a baby, Annika dreams of the day her mother will come back to claim her. Then one day, it happens. A glamorous woman arrives and sweeps Annika away to a crumbling castle in Germany. But there is much more to this new woman than meets the eye - and none of it is good.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. F. Howes Audio
• Release date: Jan 2, 2008
• ISBN: 9781407416267

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.

Reviews for The Star of Kazan

[austrianprincess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great adventure-Defintely recommend it!

[kat12may · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Love the story!

[jennybeast · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's a very Eva Ibbotson book -- very Vienna focused, very idyllic childhood (poor but happy), very idealized main character (so saintly, that girl). The audio book is well read, so I enjoyed it. If it was the first Eva Ibbotson book I had read, I would have probably loved it's fairy-tale predictability and idealistic world view. As it is, I found it dragged in detail and plot. You know it's all going to turn out for the best, but first we must agonize through all the hoops of sorrow and stress.

However, the characters are wonderful (well, Annika is a little too saintly), but the people in the square where she grows up are a hilarious cast of eccentrics. On the whole, good times, but doesn't have enough to it to re-read with pleasure.

[robertalea-223265 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I do enjoy a good foundling/rags to riches story -- but the title really didn't go well with the book's story.

[bookwren · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book! It makes me want to visit Vienna and Austria, even though I realize much has changed since this book was set in 1908. Still, I want to see the Lipizzaner horses perform in the Spanish Riding School and eat luscious Austrian pastries, walk in the Alps amid the flowers, and watch for birds. Annika and her family and friends are inspiring in their work ethic and kindness. This is my (at least) second reading of this novel and I love it even more. Includes a map of the German Empire and Austria-Hungary in 1908.

[katie1802 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Best of a bad lot, I'm not even bothered reviewing it, how sad is that?

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson is a children’s story about a young orphan who, abandoned at birth, goes through a series of adventures in order to find out where she truly belongs. I am a fan of this author and this book has become one of my favorites by her.Set in Vienna, the city is an important part of the story and the author obviously knows and loves this city as it is brought to life through her descriptions. Annika, the abandoned baby, grows up in the care of a cook and housekeeper, but her family also includes the three professors that the servants work for, and indeed, many of the surrounding neighbours. Although a very happy child, she nevertheless dreams of her mother coming to find her. Her life takes a drastic turn when one day a regal looking woman comes knocking and claims Annika is her long lost daughter.This is a timeless story that would appeal to the young at heart of all ages with it’s clever plot revolving around Annika’s heritage. Being a children’s story, all ends are neatly tied up by the end of the book but with it’s pre-WWI setting of Vienna and engaging characters, The Star of Kazan is a satisfying, feel good story for all ages.

[wrightja2000 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first quarter is a bit slow and the mystery was predictable. But a good read for advanced elementary readers with no violence or bad language, or mature subject matter.
(For those who are selective about content for their kids, an old lady at the beginning talks about going to live with a man and doesn't marry him but that one sentence is all it says about it.)

[charlie68_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good for kids of all ages. About a foundling who is adopted by some professors only to have her mother appear again under mysterious circumstances.

[bduke_15 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I do love my Eva Ibbotson! This book was very much in her mold. It is one of her children's books, but reminded me a lot of her books for adults, being set in Vienna with a heroine who is so good and loyal. You definitely cheer for Annika and her loved ones, and want to get even with her enemies. The plot isn't very surprising, you'll guess what is going on quite early, but the way the author gets us there is fun. The characters are all well formed and the settings and descriptions are vintage Ibbotson. This is probably my second favorite of her children's books. It will be hard for anything to beat Journey to the River Sea.

[m.akter.tonima · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

read it through...reading it made me depressed due to its characters lack of humanity.even though made me re realize how inhuman human can be.
finishing the novel on the other hand made me feel fine eventually.

[ccagney_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Annika was found by two ladies named Ellie and Sigrid. The star of Kazan is a jewel that an old lady left her in her will.

[beth123_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anika has always dreamed of having a real mother, but when a rich aristercrat clams to be her mother Anika thinks everything will be ok but then mysteries of the past unfold and Anika finds herself in danger!

[scherervms · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book.I felt the person who had written this book had a lot of imagination.I bet a lot of people liked it.Its about a girl who dreams what she draws with a special pencil.But she is not the only one.

[booksweremyfirstlove · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story on an orphan girl in Vienna in the 1940's. A great description on the city and the zeitgeist. Reminds me of such older girlie books as Ann of Green Gables or Emily of New moon.

[bookenthusiast100 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story on an orphan girl in Vienna in the 1940's. A great description on the city and the zeitgeist. Reminds me of such older girlie books as Ann of Green Gables or Emily of New moon.

[thesmellofbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a lively, alive, wonderful book!

[sokkr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The genius inside of Eva Ibbotson is unimaginable. She livens the story by a mile

[abbylibrarian_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Annika has never celebrated a birthday. Instead, she celebrates her Found Day, which is the day she was found by Ellie and Sigrid and taken to live in the professors' house in Vienna. All her life, Annika has dreamed that her mother would come and find her and in her dreams, her mother is a fine lady. When Annika's mother actually shows up, she does not disappoint. She's dressed in the finest clothes and takes Annika out to a meal at the finest restaurant in town. Then she takes Annika with her back to Spittal, her ancestral home. From the moment Annika arrives, she senses that things are not quite right. There are paintings missing from the walls, the house is freezing, and the expensive vase that was in her room one day is gone the next. Then one happy day her mother comes back from a trip to Switzerland with the news that her godfather has passed away and left her a fortune. Annika thinks that Spittal is saved... but there's much she has yet to find out and it just might cost her everything to figure out the truth. I think I loved this book because of the characters. Annika is a great character, very spunky and likeable, and she is supported by a varied cast of friends (and enemies). However, you can never truly be sure of who to trust. Things twist around and the story takes many turns. If you're looking for a great, sprawling story with a twisty plot and great characters, I recommend The Star of Kazan.

[ewyatt_16 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this book and enjoyed the story of Annika. I knew something was fishy about her "mother."

[nevilshute · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened to this one on tape. Very well done. Probably would not have finished it if I were reading it. Improbable, but fun.

[laurencita_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

a different genre for ibbotson. loved it.