Journey to the River Sea

An epic trip into the Amazon’s lush jungle, complete with sinister relatives, exotic beasts and poison-tip arrows. Think Northern Lights in a dugout canoe. No greater adventure can be imagined. In 1910, orphan Maia is sent from her English boarding school to the fabulous wilderness of the Amazon jungle. She’s meant to live with distant relatives there. But soon Maia and a mysterious Indian boy, Finn, must flee for their lives up the mighty river. How will they survive in this uncharted world of anacondas and crocodiles, poisonous trees and strange, impossible animals?

  • A majestic winner of the Nestlé Smarties Gold Award
  • Vivid, sensual fiction with a rich cast of characters
  • The late Eva Ibbotson was an iconic children’s writer
  • This is probably her most famous and best-loved book

“Too exciting to put down. Sheer pleasure.” The Times

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Recent reviews

  • loved it

    It is a very nice story, and if you love adventure stories this is the exact book you should read.

    It is a wonderful story, probably one of my favorites and i love how it makes you know what is probably going to happen next.

    So PLEASE PLEASE read it!!!!!!

    21 November 2018

  • liked it

    This is a story about a girl called Maia who leaves her English boarding school to go and live in Brazil with her Aunt, Uncle and twin cousins. But everything is not all that it seems! A rollercoaster of twists and turns and a brilliant book.

    27 August 2014

  • loved it

    I love all of Eva Ibbotson’s books, but my favourite has to be Journey to the River sea. When the poor orphan Maia cries, you cry. when she laughs, you laugh, and when she is surprised you are! I really wish the great author of this book was still alive today to create more amazing stories!!!

    10 June 2014

  • loved it

    Awesome book, very cool, love Eva Ibbotson, and she’s great. Though, I have to say, it’s not that difficult. To be honest, I could read it with my eyes shut: but this is coming from the most difficult person you’ll find on this review site, so don’t listen to me. I love this book. It’s so sweet and nice. Read.

    12 April 2014

  • loved it

    My friend ruby has read this as well and I think it is good. We had to read a book about the amazon because this term we were doing a project about the rainforest. It described a lot and really helped me with information and interesting facts. If you’re doing a project about the rainforest this is the book for you he perfect match.

    23 March 2014

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Authors

  • Photo of Eva Ibbotson

    Eva Ibbotson

    Eva Ibbotson is the award-winning author of many books including Journey to the River Sea.

    Awards

    Eva has twice been awarded the Smarties Book Prize, for Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan, and was awarded the Independent Bookseller’s Book Prize for One Dog and His Boy in 2012.

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