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The Abominables
Renowned literary great Eva Ibbotson delivers a final novel in her classic, much-loved style. A previously unpublished work from this favorite author, The Abominables follows a family of yetis who are forced, by tourism, to leave their home in the Himalayas and make their way across Europe to a possible new home. Siblings Con and Ellen shepherd the yetis along their eventful journey, with the help of Perry, a good-natured truck driver. Through a mountain rescue in the Alps and a bullfight in Spain, the yetis at last find their way to an ancestral estate in England—only to come upon a club of voracious hunters who have set their sights on the most exotic prey of all: the Abominable Snowmen.
Briskly funny and full of incident, The Abominables is vintage Ibbotson. With unforgettable characters and thoughtful messages about the environment and advocacy, it’s a generous last gift to her many devoted fans.
Praise for The Abominables
STARRED REVIEWS
"A satiric farewell from a favorite author."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A memorable finale to a treasured body of work."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The novel is full of whimsy, charm, and sly humor. The yetis will tug at readers’ heartstrings and make them laugh. The writing is lean, witty, and subtle. Ibbotson manages to touch on ethical messages of human rights, advocacy, and environmentalism without being obvious."
--School Library Journal
"The writing is skillful, precise, and frequently funny, and it offers an effective counterbalance to some of the story’s more serious social criticism..."
--Bulletin of The Center for Children’s Books
"Readers will enjoy Ibbotson's final book."
--Library Media Connection
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2012
About the author
Eva Ibbotson
62 books2,305 followersEva Ibbotson (born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner) was a British novelist specializing in romance and children's fantasy.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler came into power, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, from which she graduated with a diploma in education in 1965. Ibbotson had intended to be a physiologist, but was put off by the amount of animal testing that she would have to do. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. Ibbotson was widowed with three sons and a daughter.
Ibottson began writing with the television drama 'Linda Came Today', in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, The Great Ghost Rescue. Ibbotson has written numerous books including The Secret of Platform 13, Journey to the River Sea, Which Witch?, Island of the Aunts, and Dial-a-Ghost. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for Journey to the River Sea, and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous, and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite the fact that she disliked thinking about the supernatural, and created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly Journey to the River Sea, also reflect Ibbotson's love of nature. Ibbotson wrote this book in honor of her husband (who had died just before she wrote it), a former naturalist. The book had been in her head for years before she actually wrote it.
Ibbotson said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of "Platform 9 3/4" in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books to Ibbotson's The Secret of Platform 13, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as The Star Of Kazan and A Song For Summer. These books, set primarily in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for nature and all things natural.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1925. When Hitler came into power, her family moved to England. She attended Bedford College, graduating in 1945; Cambridge University from 1946-47; and the University of Durham, from which she graduated with a diploma in education in 1965. Ibbotson had intended to be a physiologist, but was put off by the amount of animal testing that she would have to do. Instead, she married and raised a family, returning to school to become a teacher in the 1960s. Ibbotson was widowed with three sons and a daughter.
Ibottson began writing with the television drama 'Linda Came Today', in 1965. Ten years later, she published her first novel, The Great Ghost Rescue. Ibbotson has written numerous books including The Secret of Platform 13, Journey to the River Sea, Which Witch?, Island of the Aunts, and Dial-a-Ghost. She won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for Journey to the River Sea, and has been a runner up for many of major awards for British children's literature.
Her books are imaginative and humorous, and most of them feature magical creatures and places, despite the fact that she disliked thinking about the supernatural, and created the characters because she wanted to decrease her readers' fear of such things.
Some of the books, particularly Journey to the River Sea, also reflect Ibbotson's love of nature. Ibbotson wrote this book in honor of her husband (who had died just before she wrote it), a former naturalist. The book had been in her head for years before she actually wrote it.
Ibbotson said she dislikes "financial greed and a lust for power" and often creates antagonists in her books who have these characteristics. Some have been struck by the similarity of "Platform 9 3/4" in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books to Ibbotson's The Secret of Platform 13, which came out three years before the first Harry Potter book.
Her love of Austria is evident in works such as The Star Of Kazan and A Song For Summer. These books, set primarily in the Austrian countryside, display the author's love for nature and all things natural.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
November 14, 2012
Eva Ibbotson's novels always make my heart sing. No matter what they're about, there's always some indefinable quality of loveliness -- hope and friendship and courage and integrity and beauty. Yes, okay, the bit where is kind of silly, but I guess it's no less silly than a yeti plaiting the hair on its stomach in order to look pretty.
I was determined not to cry when I read this, even if it was the last book Eva Ibbotson ever wrote. But then I got to that bit at the end where and it just seemed so achingly apt that I had to shed a quiet tear or two.
I was determined not to cry when I read this, even if it was the last book Eva Ibbotson ever wrote. But then I got to that bit at the end where and it just seemed so achingly apt that I had to shed a quiet tear or two.
April 28, 2018
Listened to this audiobook with the kids in the car on the way to school. Lesson learned from this particular book - choose much shorter books! The kids lost interest in this around the halfway point, although they started off quite interested. I think 2 to 3 hours for the car is the maximum for audio in the car since we only have 20 minutes each day.
September 15, 2013
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.
This review is based off of a digital ARC. My opinions are my own.
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.
This review is based off of a digital ARC. My opinions are my own.
July 16, 2014
There really are yetis, and they need to be saved, because people are encroaching into their territory. So, of course, two clever and resourceful children find a way to save them.
If you liked Dial-a-Ghost, then you'll probably like this, too. It shares not only the broad storyline, but that contemporary-yet-somehow-Edwardian feel. I love that: when the kids in the story seem to have few impositions on their time, no team sports, or lessons, just plenty of time to come up with both problems and solutions on their own.
Well, done. I shall miss new works from Ibbotson. (The feet thing kind of bugged me though, in a minor, niggling way.)
Library copy
If you liked Dial-a-Ghost, then you'll probably like this, too. It shares not only the broad storyline, but that contemporary-yet-somehow-Edwardian feel. I love that: when the kids in the story seem to have few impositions on their time, no team sports, or lessons, just plenty of time to come up with both problems and solutions on their own.
Well, done. I shall miss new works from Ibbotson. (The feet thing kind of bugged me though, in a minor, niggling way.)
Library copy
December 12, 2018
I get the impression that this was not quite ready for publication. In fact, if I'd known it was published posthumously when I spotted it at the library, I would not have chosen it. It's not terrible, but it's rough and not up to par.... Still, it's easy enough to forgive the overly earnest messages, forgive the fantastic implausibilities, and enjoy the yetis, the children, and the adventures. And Perry, Hubert, Aggie, and the rest.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 3, 2015It pains me to say that I did not enjoy this. So much so that I didn't even finish it. I can only review what I've read, but even that makes me rather sad.
Whenever I find out that a book has been published posthumously, I feel rather sad. Unless the manuscript was completely prepped and ready to go with a bow on top, what you are reading is not the purest vision of the author. It's probably been filled in here and there by somebody else.
Huh, I just started thinking about that Nickelodeon show Ghostwriter, which I was not allowed to watch as a kid. Did I miss much?
Anyway, when I was younger, I picked up The Secret of Platform 13 at a book sale, and Ibbotson charmed me with the wizard who grows turf on his head and the not so-hag-like hag and their merry misfit friends. She had a sly sense of humor but also a sort of sweetness about her writing that made it very palatable.
The Abominables features a family of very friendly and polite yetis. However, the didacticism, preachiness, and othering of the yetis really turned me off. It's clear that Ibbotson was Not A Fan of rich people prancing all over the world and ruining natural sites with the need to have resorts and tours and so forth. She condemns the wearing of fur and the taking of animal trophies (again, I agree with both sentiments). However, it's all done in a very obvious way. There's no subtlety here. I wonder if, given editing time, Ibbotson would have smoothed over this rough anger and written more of a story than a screed.
The peaceful yeti live in a sort of yeti Shangri-La. They are vegetarians, not human-eaters, but Father Yeti, out of the blue, decides to steal the young Lady Agatha as she wanders away from her father's campsite in the Himalayas. This is never explained, and the kidnapping of a young girl just so she could be a surrogate mother to baby yetis is more of a tee-hee-hee thing than a problematic situation.
Anyway, young Aggie simply can't resist the cute baby yetis, so she decides to stay in their valley and teach them to be proper and civilized. The yetis learn English, and also "their sums and their alphabet and how to sing hymns." Agatha also explains that one must always apologize and the yetis go a bit far, apologizing to the grass they walk on and the fruit that they eat. This becomes rather irritating, as you can imagine. Thankfully, Agatha comes up with a solution: teach them how to say grace and thank God for their meal!
At this point in the book--so very early on--all I could think was "White Man's Burden" which is not a theme I want to find in a book published in 2013.
Time passes and Agatha grows to be very old, while the yetis are still quite frisky and young (they live an exceedingly long time). On the other side of their valley, the Evil Materialistic Humans build an ostentatiously ornate resort. By chance, one of the yeti's footprints is discovered, and the Wicked Opportunistic Greedy Humans decide to capitalize on that and have yeti tours!
The head chef of the restaurant brought along both of his children, Con and Ellen, and Con helps out with the tours. One day, he decides to warn the yetis about the humans, discovers their valleys, and comes up with a slightly wild plan to transport them to England in a refrigerated semi-truck. Or lorry. As you will. Because ... Lady Agatha is going to die and she's absolutely sure the yetis will be safe back at her home estate.
What kind of herbs was she on while in that valley? The country where people hunt foxes is not a good place to bring yetis.
Con manages to find a sympathetic lorry driver whose only dream has been to own a pig farm and gives him gold to truck the yetis across Asia and Europe. This is pretty much where I gave up, but I guess they get to England and find that Lady Agatha's house is, naturally, inhabited by a bunch of hunters.
Nothing about this was engaging or excessively clever. Whatever charm the yetis had was completely obscured by the SAVE THE EARTH message. This was closely backed up with the message that HUMANS ARE AWFUL (which, while being generally true, does not allow for the good things that people do. We have to focus on that if we are to have hope--not pin our wishes on mythical vegan yetis).
What really got me, though, was the whole "civilization of the yetis" concept. Obviously, the yetis had been doing just fine on their own. They had survived. They lived in a sort of paradise. How is that improved by singing hymns? They sing hymns a lot, by the way. What right has Agatha to impose herself upon the yetis? Clearly, they need her Very White Anglo-Saxon Ways of Doing Things. Except they don't. I don't know how many kids reading this will pick up on this theme, but that's the most insidious kind of teaching: the one that people absorb without even realizing it.
People keep going on about how just utterly charming this was and tra-la-la-la-la, but I found the writing to be flat and rather draggy. I wasn't particularly interested in the story, and the thematic elements gave me all the reason I wanted to close the book and move on.
Whenever I find out that a book has been published posthumously, I feel rather sad. Unless the manuscript was completely prepped and ready to go with a bow on top, what you are reading is not the purest vision of the author. It's probably been filled in here and there by somebody else.
Huh, I just started thinking about that Nickelodeon show Ghostwriter, which I was not allowed to watch as a kid. Did I miss much?
Anyway, when I was younger, I picked up The Secret of Platform 13 at a book sale, and Ibbotson charmed me with the wizard who grows turf on his head and the not so-hag-like hag and their merry misfit friends. She had a sly sense of humor but also a sort of sweetness about her writing that made it very palatable.
The Abominables features a family of very friendly and polite yetis. However, the didacticism, preachiness, and othering of the yetis really turned me off. It's clear that Ibbotson was Not A Fan of rich people prancing all over the world and ruining natural sites with the need to have resorts and tours and so forth. She condemns the wearing of fur and the taking of animal trophies (again, I agree with both sentiments). However, it's all done in a very obvious way. There's no subtlety here. I wonder if, given editing time, Ibbotson would have smoothed over this rough anger and written more of a story than a screed.
The peaceful yeti live in a sort of yeti Shangri-La. They are vegetarians, not human-eaters, but Father Yeti, out of the blue, decides to steal the young Lady Agatha as she wanders away from her father's campsite in the Himalayas. This is never explained, and the kidnapping of a young girl just so she could be a surrogate mother to baby yetis is more of a tee-hee-hee thing than a problematic situation.
Anyway, young Aggie simply can't resist the cute baby yetis, so she decides to stay in their valley and teach them to be proper and civilized. The yetis learn English, and also "their sums and their alphabet and how to sing hymns." Agatha also explains that one must always apologize and the yetis go a bit far, apologizing to the grass they walk on and the fruit that they eat. This becomes rather irritating, as you can imagine. Thankfully, Agatha comes up with a solution: teach them how to say grace and thank God for their meal!
At this point in the book--so very early on--all I could think was "White Man's Burden" which is not a theme I want to find in a book published in 2013.
Time passes and Agatha grows to be very old, while the yetis are still quite frisky and young (they live an exceedingly long time). On the other side of their valley, the Evil Materialistic Humans build an ostentatiously ornate resort. By chance, one of the yeti's footprints is discovered, and the Wicked Opportunistic Greedy Humans decide to capitalize on that and have yeti tours!
The head chef of the restaurant brought along both of his children, Con and Ellen, and Con helps out with the tours. One day, he decides to warn the yetis about the humans, discovers their valleys, and comes up with a slightly wild plan to transport them to England in a refrigerated semi-truck. Or lorry. As you will. Because ... Lady Agatha is going to die and she's absolutely sure the yetis will be safe back at her home estate.
What kind of herbs was she on while in that valley? The country where people hunt foxes is not a good place to bring yetis.
Con manages to find a sympathetic lorry driver whose only dream has been to own a pig farm and gives him gold to truck the yetis across Asia and Europe. This is pretty much where I gave up, but I guess they get to England and find that Lady Agatha's house is, naturally, inhabited by a bunch of hunters.
Nothing about this was engaging or excessively clever. Whatever charm the yetis had was completely obscured by the SAVE THE EARTH message. This was closely backed up with the message that HUMANS ARE AWFUL (which, while being generally true, does not allow for the good things that people do. We have to focus on that if we are to have hope--not pin our wishes on mythical vegan yetis).
What really got me, though, was the whole "civilization of the yetis" concept. Obviously, the yetis had been doing just fine on their own. They had survived. They lived in a sort of paradise. How is that improved by singing hymns? They sing hymns a lot, by the way. What right has Agatha to impose herself upon the yetis? Clearly, they need her Very White Anglo-Saxon Ways of Doing Things. Except they don't. I don't know how many kids reading this will pick up on this theme, but that's the most insidious kind of teaching: the one that people absorb without even realizing it.
People keep going on about how just utterly charming this was and tra-la-la-la-la, but I found the writing to be flat and rather draggy. I wasn't particularly interested in the story, and the thematic elements gave me all the reason I wanted to close the book and move on.
June 11, 2014
Sasquatches are so cool.
This is a quirky take on the Bigfoot/AbominableSnowpeople/Yeti/Sasquatch stories, with a very British sensibility.
In this case, the Abominables are adorable and guileless and sweet and totally harmless when you get to know them. But human hunters are cruel and terrible and just want to hurt them! So, it's up to a small band of humans to rescue the sweet creatures.
Read it in less than a day (on vacation) and took it out to local elementary schools for the SRP. Bigfoots are always a great hook, and the kids loved noticing the backwards feet on this cover.
A great little hooky literary title. Not what I'd call essential, but definitely serviceable. Plus, there's a great road trip.
This is a quirky take on the Bigfoot/AbominableSnowpeople/Yeti/Sasquatch stories, with a very British sensibility.
In this case, the Abominables are adorable and guileless and sweet and totally harmless when you get to know them. But human hunters are cruel and terrible and just want to hurt them! So, it's up to a small band of humans to rescue the sweet creatures.
Read it in less than a day (on vacation) and took it out to local elementary schools for the SRP. Bigfoots are always a great hook, and the kids loved noticing the backwards feet on this cover.
A great little hooky literary title. Not what I'd call essential, but definitely serviceable. Plus, there's a great road trip.
January 29, 2020
Read aloud to my 8 and almost 10 year olds. It sounds like a fun journey story with yetis. It took a few unexpected turns and was VERY preachy about hunting. I am not pro-hunting by any means but the sheer volume of detail with describing heads, skins, and violence towards animals was troubling for my sensitive kid and unnecessary. Moral messages in stories should be subtle, in my opinion. The ones in this book slapped you in the face.
My other beef with this story is that it was unexpectedly religious in nature. We are a secular family and don’t typically read books with a religious bent. You wouldn’t expect a book about yetis to be religious, but these are very devout yetis. They sing hymns every night and quote biblical teaching. Just a heads up. If you are Christian, that probably won’t bother you. But if you aren’t, just know it’s there.
My other beef with this story is that it was unexpectedly religious in nature. We are a secular family and don’t typically read books with a religious bent. You wouldn’t expect a book about yetis to be religious, but these are very devout yetis. They sing hymns every night and quote biblical teaching. Just a heads up. If you are Christian, that probably won’t bother you. But if you aren’t, just know it’s there.
March 28, 2020
I love Eva Ibbotson. I'm sad this is her last book but I really enjoyed it. It is a cute adventure that teaches you about goodness (and of course everything coming out all right).
The Abominable Snow family (or Yetis) need to find somewhere safe to live. Their human caretaker Lady Edith sends them to her home in England (she cannot go because she is too old to make the journey). They are taken by two children and a truck driver, they see the world and of course they get into trouble.
A fun book a quick read (if you sit down and read it...)
The Abominable Snow family (or Yetis) need to find somewhere safe to live. Their human caretaker Lady Edith sends them to her home in England (she cannot go because she is too old to make the journey). They are taken by two children and a truck driver, they see the world and of course they get into trouble.
A fun book a quick read (if you sit down and read it...)
November 18, 2021
This is an absolutely delightful read that follows an adorable yeti family living in the Himalayas that inadvertently kidnap a young girl who goes on to teach them proper manners and morals. Sadly other humans start appearing on the horizon and they are forced to leave their serene valley and seek shelter elsewhere, risky exposure to the unkind modern world. Ibbotson has a beautiful way of writing and of telling stories and that comes through in spades with this book, which is marvelously supported and brought to life by Rentta's illustrations.
January 27, 2020
3.5 stars rounded down. Read aloud with my 12 year old for our kids book club. This was a sweet story, and we loved the yetis and their charming character traits. But the story felt like it was missing something. I’m not sure what that something was, but it just felt like it was a good story that could’ve been a better story.
December 26, 2020
A lovely, cosy story ❄️
January 16, 2014
The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson is a children’s chapter book. This is a previously unpublished work from a well known author, following a family of yetis who are forced to leave their home in the Himalayas and make their way across Europe to a possible new home. Siblings Con and Ellen shepherd the yetis along their eventful journey, with the help of Perry, a good-natured truck driver. Through a mountain rescue in the Alps and a bullfight in Spain, the yetis at last find their way to an ancestral estate in England—only to come upon a club of voracious hunters who have set their sights on the most exotic prey of all: the Abominable Snowmen.
The Abominables is a fun story full of crazy incidents that keep the reader turning pages. As a child, Abigail is stolen from her father’s tent while on an expedition. Her kidnapper means no harm, only needs some help raising his young adominables. This introduction to the world of the adominables brings readers to a place where what most consider imaginary monsters, to be very much like man. Abigail teaches the adominables that she lives with to read, speak, and have good manners. When tourism threatens their home, Abigail sends her ‘family’ to her original home in search of safety. The journey is much more exciting than the travelers were prepared for. Just think about a long trip in the back of a truck with four adominables and a very confused yak. The illustrations scattered throughout the book from Fiona Robinson add a level of humor and aid the imagination perfectly, without overwhelming the reader.
I would highly recommend The Abominables to readers that are fans of the late, great Eva Ibbotson. Readers that enjoy animal stories, humor, and adventure will greatly enjoy the story. I am a little unsure on my age recommendations as I think readers around 8 and older would be my best guess. However, there is quite a bit about animal rights and cruelty so some of the youngest set might be upset by. However, (spoiler) every character gets their happy ending so that might be enough to make the mild upset worth the big happy that is sure to follow. I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.
- Reviewed by Sharon http://cheshirelibraryblog.wordpress....
The Abominables is a fun story full of crazy incidents that keep the reader turning pages. As a child, Abigail is stolen from her father’s tent while on an expedition. Her kidnapper means no harm, only needs some help raising his young adominables. This introduction to the world of the adominables brings readers to a place where what most consider imaginary monsters, to be very much like man. Abigail teaches the adominables that she lives with to read, speak, and have good manners. When tourism threatens their home, Abigail sends her ‘family’ to her original home in search of safety. The journey is much more exciting than the travelers were prepared for. Just think about a long trip in the back of a truck with four adominables and a very confused yak. The illustrations scattered throughout the book from Fiona Robinson add a level of humor and aid the imagination perfectly, without overwhelming the reader.
I would highly recommend The Abominables to readers that are fans of the late, great Eva Ibbotson. Readers that enjoy animal stories, humor, and adventure will greatly enjoy the story. I am a little unsure on my age recommendations as I think readers around 8 and older would be my best guess. However, there is quite a bit about animal rights and cruelty so some of the youngest set might be upset by. However, (spoiler) every character gets their happy ending so that might be enough to make the mild upset worth the big happy that is sure to follow. I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.
- Reviewed by Sharon http://cheshirelibraryblog.wordpress....
October 11, 2013
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.
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.
March 20, 2020
I grabbed this book on impulse at the library several days ago. As I read through it, I strongly suspected that it was a posthumous publication, and a subsequent search confirms this; this is probably why the book is a little odd to read. The story feels overstuffed and overdeveloped at some points and frustratingly bare bones at others. A little of Eva Ibbotson's trademark charm peeks through in certain spots, but not as often as I'd hoped.
Developing ensemble casts satisfactorily was never Ibbotson's strong point, in my opinion, but this weakness is particularly notable in The Abominables. Probably several characters would have been cut or merged if she'd had the opportunity to edit the manuscript more thoroughly, giving necessary space to the characters with more interesting arcs.
It is a sweet little story, but definitely my least favorite Ibbotson book thus far.
Developing ensemble casts satisfactorily was never Ibbotson's strong point, in my opinion, but this weakness is particularly notable in The Abominables. Probably several characters would have been cut or merged if she'd had the opportunity to edit the manuscript more thoroughly, giving necessary space to the characters with more interesting arcs.
It is a sweet little story, but definitely my least favorite Ibbotson book thus far.
October 16, 2013
Absolutely delightful little book with surprisingly deep and poignant themes, in the vein of Roald Dahl (albeit without the adulty undercurrent of snark and cynicism present in many of his works). Eva Ibbotson was an extraordinary lady and very lamentably underrated author of children's fiction. I am so pleased that this final work of hers was able to be completed (by Ibbotson's son, who does a beautiful job of capturing his late mother's literary voice and keeping to the spirit of her storytelling) and published for the enjoyment of her fans. The illustrations by Fiona Robinson are a charming addition, and perfectly match the tone of the tale.
December 3, 2013
Loved it! Ibbotson still remains one of my favorite authors and this book, though published posthumously, had all the charm and wit of her other novels. I also loved the topic of being kind to all creatures and that hunting for sport is quite disgusting. I wish I had a yeti friend or maybe just a simple-minded yak.
February 13, 2014
So random, and yet it works. Adorable yetis with a weird, clumsy goat pet, an around-the-world adventure, an evil secret hunting club, and kids saving the day.
July 26, 2014
Started awesomely strong, I lost enthusiasm.
November 26, 2018
What a fun adventure! I've read Ibbotson's YA novels, but most of her career was built off of her juvenile fiction works. While I've read 1 of those (Platform 9 3/4. The book people claimed JK Rowling plagiarized for Harry Potter. I could see some of the claims...), this has started my journey into the rest of her works, and boy, are they fun!
This story, about abominable snowmen and some kids who help them, was tender, funny, and enjoyable to read outloud to my son. While there were certainly parts that dragged (hence by 4 stars), I loved the creativity and the language. It was an imaginative journey I was glad we could go on!
One other impressive Ibbotson tidbit I learned in this book? There was an interview with the author in the back, who has since passed, and she indicated that she doesn't have other people read through her stories. She critiques and revises herself, for all of her books. Her publishers see pretty much a finished product when she sends the manuscript. Talk about a skilled writer!
This story, about abominable snowmen and some kids who help them, was tender, funny, and enjoyable to read outloud to my son. While there were certainly parts that dragged (hence by 4 stars), I loved the creativity and the language. It was an imaginative journey I was glad we could go on!
One other impressive Ibbotson tidbit I learned in this book? There was an interview with the author in the back, who has since passed, and she indicated that she doesn't have other people read through her stories. She critiques and revises herself, for all of her books. Her publishers see pretty much a finished product when she sends the manuscript. Talk about a skilled writer!
July 18, 2018
I have yet to read a book by Eva Ibbotson that I enjoy. Is it me? It must be me. This book started out great. The narration was fun and quirky. The premise was totally implausible, but I was taken with Agatha and her band of Yetis right from the start.
Agatha, while vacationing in the Himalayas, is kidnapped by a yeti. Instead of freaking out, like I would do, she falls in love with the yeti's children and decides to stay and be their mother. This part of the story is heaven for me. Cute. Fun. Everything I want in a book. Then one of the yeti kids leaves tracks in the snow, which leads to a boy named Con finding them. Agatha decides they are no longer safe from tourists and she elicits Con's help to get them to her home in England. She can’t go because she is too old. Without Agatha the story loses its way. The narration isn't quite as interesting. The details are a bit lacking. In short, it gets boring.
If only the yetis had stayed put…
Agatha, while vacationing in the Himalayas, is kidnapped by a yeti. Instead of freaking out, like I would do, she falls in love with the yeti's children and decides to stay and be their mother. This part of the story is heaven for me. Cute. Fun. Everything I want in a book. Then one of the yeti kids leaves tracks in the snow, which leads to a boy named Con finding them. Agatha decides they are no longer safe from tourists and she elicits Con's help to get them to her home in England. She can’t go because she is too old. Without Agatha the story loses its way. The narration isn't quite as interesting. The details are a bit lacking. In short, it gets boring.
If only the yetis had stayed put…
April 17, 2023
A century ago, while accompanying her father on an expedition in the Himalayas, a very young Lady Agatha Farlingham was kidnapped. Just as the porters claimed, the kidnapper was a yeti who needed a nanny for his motherless brood. Intrepid Lady Agatha takes up the challenge, providing the yeti with a comprehensive education English upper class education including manners. Over time, the yeti's idyllic life is threatened by the influx of tourists into the Himalayas. Lady Agatha decides it is time for the yeti to leave for her family estate in England with the help of two children and a kindly but intrepid truck driver. So begins a consummate road trip filled with mishap, humor, and charm. The illustrations add depth to the story.
Ibbotson demonstrates why she is considered a preeminent children's author. This was published after her death in 2012.
Ibbotson demonstrates why she is considered a preeminent children's author. This was published after her death in 2012.
June 24, 2024
A century ago, while accompanying her father on an expedition in the Himalayas, a very young Lady Agatha Farlingham was kidnapped. Just as the porters claimed, the kidnapper was a yeti who needed a nanny for his motherless brood. Intrepid Lady Agatha takes up the challenge, providing the yeti with a comprehensive English upper class education including manners. Over time, the yeti's idyllic life is threatened by the influx of tourists into the Himalayas. Lady Agatha decides it is time for the yeti to leave for her family estate in England with the help of two children and a kindly but intrepid truck driver. So begins a consummate road trip filled with mishap, humor, and charm. The illustrations add depth to the story.
Ibbotson demonstrates why she is considered a preeminent children's author. This was published after her death in 2012.
- Reviewed by Shelley F.
Ibbotson demonstrates why she is considered a preeminent children's author. This was published after her death in 2012.
- Reviewed by Shelley F.
March 19, 2020
Oh my god
This is the worst book I have ever read in my life, this is so fictional even a 3 year ould wouldn't believe it is real, they say books help your imagination but this thing did the exact opposite like I dont understand 2kids and one teenager are going on a magical journey to save couple of yetis, 2 KIDS! AND ONE TEEn and dont even get me started on the chapters, each chapter is a different journey, it's like Im participating in some kind of scam that gives me 12 dollars each time I put in and also the storyline of when always has a twist, first its Agatha being captured then its the yetis going away, it's like my brain is turning into a black hole, to be honest, I dont even know how this book was published.
This is the worst book I have ever read in my life, this is so fictional even a 3 year ould wouldn't believe it is real, they say books help your imagination but this thing did the exact opposite like I dont understand 2kids and one teenager are going on a magical journey to save couple of yetis, 2 KIDS! AND ONE TEEn and dont even get me started on the chapters, each chapter is a different journey, it's like Im participating in some kind of scam that gives me 12 dollars each time I put in and also the storyline of when always has a twist, first its Agatha being captured then its the yetis going away, it's like my brain is turning into a black hole, to be honest, I dont even know how this book was published.
June 10, 2020
Unfortunately a troublesome read, with themes of imperialism and the white man’s burden and surprisingly published in 2013! While Ibbotson is a classic author and much beloved this book was an unfinished posthumous manuscript, that has some rough edges. There is a weird preachiness about showing the yetis the bible and teaching them hymns, while making pretty inelegant statements about how bad rich people are and how they will exploit nature and animals, while not being off-base there’s just an odd saviorism of the distinguished British lady civilizing the too kindly and innocent yetis. While it is funny, imaginative, and endearing in many ways, it is pretty problematic!
June 6, 2021
This tale about a family of yetis was a fun read, although I wouldn't have known it was an Eva Ibbotson story if her name wasn't on the cover. After being familiar with her characters being witches and talking ghosts, I guess yetis weren't too unusual, but the characters did feel a bit thin. My favourite character was Hubert the yak, whom I feel was the only character that showed development (ironic, as he doesn't talk).
This story had a bit of a Roald Dahl feel to it with some odd exaggeration. Once again, it felt like she wasn't quite done with tying up all the characters, but the plot was more or less coherent and fun. I did enjoy
This story had a bit of a Roald Dahl feel to it with some odd exaggeration. Once again, it felt like she wasn't quite done with tying up all the characters, but the plot was more or less coherent and fun. I did enjoy
June 13, 2023
I loved Eva Ibbotson as a kid (Dial-A-Ghost was one of my absolute favorites) but this one didn’t quite do it for me as much. I guess I just prefer ghosts to yetis.
I do think it was probably ahead of its time (it’s assumed to have been written in 1994) in terms of its environmentalism, but it was certainly outdated in terms of its discussions of people—or yetis—with disabilities. Still, it was a pretty cute story and not a terrible read. I understand why she didn’t publish, it though, as it just isn’t her best.
I do think it was probably ahead of its time (it’s assumed to have been written in 1994) in terms of its environmentalism, but it was certainly outdated in terms of its discussions of people—or yetis—with disabilities. Still, it was a pretty cute story and not a terrible read. I understand why she didn’t publish, it though, as it just isn’t her best.
July 18, 2017
I love Eva ibbotson. I love the humanity and care in her books. And such great messages for the intended audience of young people. Good always triumphs over evil in her books, and who doesn't love that?! A rollicking tale with heroic children as the main characters. And of course very personable and magical Yetis as the stars. I read her books over and over as they are so rewarding and comforting.
March 31, 2020
Eva Ibbotson's posthumous novel, has the charm and whimsy of her earlier children's books but rough around the edges and a bit more piecemeal than her best work. Having said that the chapter with the five St Bernard's each with their own issues (one is an alcoholic) that make them unsuitable for mountain rescues made me smile. Overall though it's not one her better books and I would only recommend it to people who already are fans.
May 10, 2021
“It was good. I found it surprising that their rescue plot actually worked because in real life I don’t think they’d get the queen’s attention.” - 7 yo review. A realist (cynicist?) already.
I would caution reading to / with particularly sensitive kids. As a grown up, I found parts quite emotionally wrenching and anxiety-inducing. If, however, your kid is a total pragmatist “yetis don’t even exist so I was never worried.” Then it’s a recommended read.
I would caution reading to / with particularly sensitive kids. As a grown up, I found parts quite emotionally wrenching and anxiety-inducing. If, however, your kid is a total pragmatist “yetis don’t even exist so I was never worried.” Then it’s a recommended read.
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