52 pages 1 hour read

Eva Ibbotson

Journey to the River Sea

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2001

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Journey to the River Sea is a historical children’s fiction novel set in the early 1900s, following Maia, an orphan sent to live with distant relatives in Brazil. Maia, along with her governess Miss Minton, navigates her new life on the Carters' rubber plantation, befriends a boy named Clovis, and embarks on adventures in the Amazon while dealing with the Carters' exploitative behavior. The book contains outdated and offensive terms for Indigenous cultures and depictions of colonial stereotypes and racist attitudes.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson has been praised for its richly evocative descriptions of the Amazon and its vivid, engaging characters. Reviewers commend the book's sense of adventure and strong moral lessons. However, some found the plot predictable and the pacing uneven. Overall, it’s celebrated for its warmth and imagination despite minor flaws.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Journey to the River Sea?

A reader who enjoys Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson is likely enchanted by historical adventure tales set in exotic locations. Fans of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and A Little Princess by Burnett will appreciate the rich storytelling, strong-willed protagonists, and themes of discovery and resilience.

Recommended

Reading Age

8-12years

Lexile Level

860L

Book Details

Genre

Action / Adventure

Historical Fiction

Children's Literature

Themes

Self Discovery

Natural World: Place

Natural World: Animals