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 The book contains outdated and offensive terms for Indigenous cultures and depictions of colonial stereotypes and racist attitudes.

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.

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.

Adventurous / Inspirational / Heartwarming / Fantastical / Hopeful

- Eva Ibbotson, author of Journey to the River Sea, won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for the novel in the 9 to 11 years category.
- The book was inspired by Ibbotson's lifelong fascination with the Amazon Rainforest, a place she regarded as one of the last great wildernesses.
- Journey to the River Sea was frequently compared to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic The Secret Garden for its thematic exploration of a young girl's discovery of new worlds.

Eva Ibbotson

Middle grade

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Journey to the River Sea and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Journey to the River Sea Summary

Background

Journey to the River Sea Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Journey to the River Sea Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 6-10

Journey to the River Sea Chapters 6-10 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 11-15

Journey to the River Sea Chapters 11-15 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 16-19

Journey to the River Sea Chapters 16-19 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 20-24 

Journey to the River Sea Chapters 20-24  Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Journey to the River Sea Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Journey to the River Sea Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Journey to the River Sea Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

Journey to the River Sea Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

Journey to the River Sea Essay Topics

Journey to the River Sea

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Journey to the River Sea?

Reading Age

Book Details