The Star of Kazan

Who doesn’t love village life, where you have friends and family, freedom and time to relax? When life feels at its best, there’s only one thing that could make it even more fulfilling – seeing your biggest dream come true.

Meet Ellie and Sigrid, two best friends who have been working as servants for three professors, who are siblings. On their day off on Sunday, they always hike up a mountain to enjoy the beautiful views of Vienna. But on one of these days, Sigrid and Ellie find a miracle – a wonder. They find an infant, Annika.

Over the next twelve years, Annika means everything to them and to the professors, who love her with all their hearts. But Annika secretly has a wish to meet her birth mother. One day, when her wish comes true and her birth mother is standing on the porch of her house, Annika is whisked away to a faraway magical place. Although at first it seems grand and exotic, all is not as it seems. Annika finds herself in deep danger.

Will Annika discover the truth in time, or will she be too late?

My favourite part of this book is when Annika and one of the friends, Zed, go to watch gypsies play their instruments and sing songs. It is the first real fun she has since arriving at her new home.

My favourite character is Ellie because she is very caring and quickly senses that something is wrong. She never gives up trying to find Annika.

Overall I liked this book for the way Eva Ibbotson describes the characters, but otherwise it wasn’t really for me. However, it might be for you, so I recommend it to people who enjoy action and mystery stories.