Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
Growing up, Eva Ibbotson was one of my favourite authors. She has written so many books, and I read and enjoyed them all. However, my favourite by a long stretch has always been Journey to the River Sea. Maybe because it was the first Eva Ibbotson book I read, or maybe it was simply the best - but either way it was unlike anything I had read previously, and that really excited me.
Set in 1910, English orphan Maia is sent to live with her distant relatives, on a rubber plant in Manus, Brazil. Maia cannot wait, dreaming of the bright colours, and all the animals she will encounter, despite warnings from her classmates of man-eating alligators and wild, murderous Indians. But when she arrives in Manus, she is taken aback by the unwelcoming nature of her cousins and forbidden to leave their compound, begins to have her own adventures.
Over the course of the book, Maia meets a mysterious "Indian" with an inheritance, an up-and-coming actor dreading growing up, and embarks on a remarkable journey along the Amazon in search of a giant sloth.
This book will appeal to children of a range of ages, and although it would probably be best enjoyed by 9-13 year olds, it is accessible to everyone, and would probably make a fun bedtime reading book with a parent for a slightly younger child!
I really recommend this book, it is so enjoyable, with constant twists and turns, and never a dull moment. It is sure to be a fun read, that you won't be able to put down!
FictionFan1 Rating: 10/10
If you liked this author you might like: Adam Silvera, E B White
About the author: Eva Ibbotson was an Austrian-born British novelist, best known for her work in romance and children's fantasy. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2010, having written over a dozen successful children's books.
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