Journey to the River Sea
by Eva Ibbotson
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 10+
Published by Macmillan Children's Books, 2014
About this book
This satisfyingly old-fashioned story is set in the early 1900s. Orphan Maia is thrilled to learn she is to live with relatives in South America. She cannot wait to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Amazon and is particularly looking forward to meeting her twin cousins.
When Maia arrives, however, the family is far from welcoming and she is saddened to see that they have blocked out all evidence of the rainforest from their stuffy home. Maia turns to her strict yet kindly governess, Miss Minton, for company, and strikes up some unusual and rewarding friendships.
This enchanting story has all the trademarks of Eva Ibbotson's writing. Maia is a wonderful heroine, and Ibbotson weaves a charming, compelling and warm-hearted tale of friendship, our responsibility to those around us, and the importance of the natural world. As well as being an exciting adventure story, this award-winning contemporary classic will leave readers with plenty to think about.
About the author
More books like this
-
One Dog and His Boy
by Eva Ibbotson, illustrated by Sharon Rentta
5 to 14 years
-
The Abominables
by Eva Ibbotson
5 to 14 years
-
The Star of Kazan
by Eva Ibbotson
5 to 14 years
-
The Secret of Platform 13
by Eva Ibbotson
5 to 14 years
Lists of recommended reads
-
Adventure books 9-12
From an ape getting involved in a murder case to schoolgirl cat burglars and mysteries taking place across the world, there are some brilliant capers out there just waiting to be devoured.
-
Seven brilliant books featuring different cultures
Llama on a Mission author Annabelle Sami loved reading about different cultures as a child, and writes about British Pakistani culture in her children's books. She shares her favourite books looking at different cultures, and explains how diversity in books is vital to building empathy in young readers.