A secret island sanctuary for endangered magical creatures is the backdrop for Eva Ibbotson's quirky middle-grade adventure with a timely message of conservation at its heart - perfect for fans of Impossible Creatures and Roald Dahl . . .Three elderly, eccentric sisters – Aunts Etta, Coral, and Myrtle – run a secret island sanctuary for injured magical creatures, including mermaids, the strange and enormous boobrie bird, selkies, and the helpless baby of the legendary kraken.Realizing they are too old to maintain the mission, the Aunts travel to London and controversially 'kidnap' three children – the resourceful Minette, the well-mannered Fabio, and the spoiled Lambert – to train as their successors.While Minette and Fabio quickly embrace their duties caring for the creatures, Lambert sabotages the operation by contacting his ruthless, money-hungry father, Mr. Sprott, who arrives intending to turn the unique menagerie into a theme park. It is up to the children, the aunts and the 'monsters' to team up and save the island from the real monster . . .'Wildly original and wholly satisfying' - The Guardian
