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  • The Secret Island

  • Secret Stories, Book 1
  • By: Enid Blyton
  • Narrated by: Joshua Higgot
  • Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (146 ratings)
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The Secret Island cover art

The Secret Island

By: Enid Blyton
Narrated by: Joshua Higgot
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Summary

In Enid Blyton's classic Secret Stories, mystery always leads to adventure. 

In Enid Blyton's very first full-length adventure novel, meet siblings Peggy, Mike and Nora. They live with their cruel uncle and aunt and long to escape, so when their friend Jack takes them to a secret, deserted island, they run away to live there. 

But not all is as it seems on the island, and the children soon find their adventures are only just beginning.... 

©1938 Enid Blyton Ltd (P)2018 Hodder Children's Books

What listeners say about The Secret Island

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Devastating

I will try to convey how utterly disappointed I am with this audiobook.

As a child I was a huge Enid Blyton fan, and The Secret Island was my absolute favourite book. I still have the extremely tattered copy I first read, and it is a story that I have introduced to many children over the years. I think the themes of independence and self-sufficiency are incredibly empowering for children, and the imagery conjured up sublime. This is Blyton at her best.

I used to have an abridged version of this book on tape, read by Jan Francis (who perfectly narrated the Famous Five series). Sadly this was eaten by the tape player a long time ago. I had requested this book on Audible, and so I was very excited to learn that it had been recorded. I still cannot quite believe how badly it turned out.

Joshua Higgot is simply not suitable as an audiobook narrator. All of his female voices sound the same, like an ancient pantomime dame! The whole performance lacks emotion, and the wonder and beauty of the story has been lost.

In stark contrast, Blyton's Adventure series was released on Audible at the same time, but recorded by Thomas Judd. Oh my goodness what an incredible narrator! I was never very interested in the Adventure series, but Judd absolutely brings it to life. He is one of those rare performers who allows you to be carried away by a story, without jolting you back to reality with jarring voices or strange pronunciation. I am delighted that he has further recorded the Five Find-Outers series with which he will have you howling with laughter!

My advice is if you love, or want to love The Secret Island, stick with the book. The rest of the Secret series is not great, and I think this book works best as a standalone.

For Blyton audiobooks to enjoy I thoroughly recommend the Famous Five books (read by Jan Francis not Ann Beach) the Secret Seven series (read by Sarah Greene, not Esther Wane) and the Adventure series and Find-Outers series read by Thomas Judd.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

PLEASE UPLOAD THE JAN FRANCIS VERSION

From his sticky saliva to lack of emotion. I can’t even listen to it.

Please upload the Jan Francis audiobook of this wonderful story. It was magical from start to finish. This is just so bad.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely story terrible narration !

This was a lovely children's adventure full of daring do, , but the narrator was so poor it spoilt what could of been a really good listen .Who does quality assure the readers ? It is very Enid Blyton lots of 'top speed ' and constantly hungry kids .If you can get past the narrator kids of all ages will enjoy the romp

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Give that narrator a drink of water!

Classic story, brought me back to my childhood. It’s very difficult to ignore the narrator’s constant swallowing though...

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great read

Typical EB book. Fun, exciting and a happy ending. What's not to like! Can't wait to read the next one.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story Terrible Narration

As a child I loved all of Enid Blyton books and passed this on to my children and Grandchildren. I was really pleased to see Audible had brought out The Secret Island and started listening to it with my Grandson. It was awful. Joshua Higgot is no narrator. The children’s voices were terrible and you never know which one is speaking, unlike Jan Francis narrating the Famous Five. With Jan Francis you know which child is speaking, with Higgot you can’t tell and often it’s difficult to know an adults voice from the boys. He displays very little emotion or excitement in the voices whether it’s his own or him trying to do a child. Even his imitation of Daisy the cow mooing was laughable, the hens clucking was sad. If only they would do this audible book again with a good narrator. If Enid Blyton heard this she would be devastated.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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This is amazing 😉

I love this book it is amazing but the only issue is that you can never put it down so sometimes I either snatch it or listen to it on Audible !!!
I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Enid Blyton
Or ADVENTURES
I LOVE IT 🥰
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

secret island

very good. loved it. so interesting narrator read nicely and was very exciting I recommend

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

it was simply great and exciting and good reader

it was simply great and exciting and good reader, but I don't like jack but good

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Lovely

Lovely! Best story in my life! The voice actor was great! Review by 7 and 8 yr old.

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1 person found this helpful