Title of book: Journey to the river
sea.
Author: Eva Ibbotson (1925-2010)
Publication date: 2002
The novel is
set in the early 1900s, and it focuses mainly on Maia who is an orphan, at the
start of the novel she goes to live in the Amazon, with the Carter’s and their
twin daughters, the family hate everything about the outdoors, and they refuse
to go outdoors because of the nasty insects, the tribes people and
the animals. As the story progresses we learn more about the boy she befriends
on the journey to the Amazon; Clovis, who’s an actor, and later on Finn Taverner.
The story mainly focuses on friendship; the friendship
between Finn, Clovis and Maia being one of the important aspects of the story.
There are also mentions of greed, and how being greedy almost destroyed the
family when they get their hands on a marvelous fortune
Maia is the main protagonist in the novel, and in more
ways than one you can feel sorry for her throughout the novel, she has to
overcome several obstacles throughout the novel, yet unlike the twins she sees
every day as an adventure, and is shocked when she realizes that the Carter’s
despise going outdoors.
I also find that it is good, how Minty (her governess)
fits in with everything, as the novel progresses we find more about Minty’s
strange past which fits in with the whole novel, making it all somewhat
connected. Finn and Clovis are also well written likeable characters and I find
it interesting how Ibbotson devotes equal attention to each of these characters
so that each one has their own backstory.
The twins; being the main antagonist of the story are
also very well written, and it makes you think of them as your own worst enemy!
They seem to live in their own little world, and in the novel they appear to
separate themselves from the other children as they only enjoy their own
company, they are vain and selfish and they don’t like to share anything. For
the best part of the novel they are plotting some way to get rid of Maia.
I was drawn by the unusual plot and setting, and I loved
learning about Finn, Maia and Clovis, who were all portrayed as quirky,
individual and interesting characters.
Buy it here
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-Kat